Every school district has a Strategic Plan. In Abbotsford, the Strategic Plan was recently updated and encompasses four main areas. Student Success - as it should be - is the first priority, and focuses on early learning, improved student achievement, and increased graduation rates. These are fairly specific goals, and it is easier to narrow down budget spending priorities when determining if the funds needed will address one of these areas. Fiscal responsibility is addressed in the second goal, which is Optimized Resources. This involves both spending money wisely, and providing excellent customer service to parents and the community working with the school district. Through a focus on Engaging Opportunities, the school district has shown a desire to work alongside parents in building a strong and healthy community in which children can thrive. I have done quite a lot of research into the benefits of creating this home-school-community connection, and it is clear that this is among the very best ways that a school district can empower its members. Allocating funds toward programs that allow for this community building is crucial for meeting the needs of the whole child - not just the academic ones. Finally, the Strategic Plan addresses how imperative it is that all members of the Progressive Workforce strive for excellence. Education is rapidly changing, and many of the strategies and methods teachers learned when they were starting out are no longer the most effective ways to teach kids. Inquiry based learning, hands-on encounters with the real world, critical thinking opportunities and a technology based platform are but some of the major changes to which educators have to adapt. Enabling teachers to build capacity in these areas requires an investment in professional development, and by doing so the district is bringing the focus back to Student Success. Only by remaining lifelong learners dedicated to seeking the best ways to support kids will educators be able to achieve that which matters most: successful learning for all students.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
The Strategic Plan is the Foundation
As we've been working our way through our School Finance and Operations course, we have realized just what a juggling act the school budget can be. So how does an administrator - or the superintendent of schools, for that matter - decide where the money goes? It all comes down to the Strategic Plan.
Every school district has a Strategic Plan. In Abbotsford, the Strategic Plan was recently updated and encompasses four main areas. Student Success - as it should be - is the first priority, and focuses on early learning, improved student achievement, and increased graduation rates. These are fairly specific goals, and it is easier to narrow down budget spending priorities when determining if the funds needed will address one of these areas. Fiscal responsibility is addressed in the second goal, which is Optimized Resources. This involves both spending money wisely, and providing excellent customer service to parents and the community working with the school district. Through a focus on Engaging Opportunities, the school district has shown a desire to work alongside parents in building a strong and healthy community in which children can thrive. I have done quite a lot of research into the benefits of creating this home-school-community connection, and it is clear that this is among the very best ways that a school district can empower its members. Allocating funds toward programs that allow for this community building is crucial for meeting the needs of the whole child - not just the academic ones. Finally, the Strategic Plan addresses how imperative it is that all members of the Progressive Workforce strive for excellence. Education is rapidly changing, and many of the strategies and methods teachers learned when they were starting out are no longer the most effective ways to teach kids. Inquiry based learning, hands-on encounters with the real world, critical thinking opportunities and a technology based platform are but some of the major changes to which educators have to adapt. Enabling teachers to build capacity in these areas requires an investment in professional development, and by doing so the district is bringing the focus back to Student Success. Only by remaining lifelong learners dedicated to seeking the best ways to support kids will educators be able to achieve that which matters most: successful learning for all students.
Every school district has a Strategic Plan. In Abbotsford, the Strategic Plan was recently updated and encompasses four main areas. Student Success - as it should be - is the first priority, and focuses on early learning, improved student achievement, and increased graduation rates. These are fairly specific goals, and it is easier to narrow down budget spending priorities when determining if the funds needed will address one of these areas. Fiscal responsibility is addressed in the second goal, which is Optimized Resources. This involves both spending money wisely, and providing excellent customer service to parents and the community working with the school district. Through a focus on Engaging Opportunities, the school district has shown a desire to work alongside parents in building a strong and healthy community in which children can thrive. I have done quite a lot of research into the benefits of creating this home-school-community connection, and it is clear that this is among the very best ways that a school district can empower its members. Allocating funds toward programs that allow for this community building is crucial for meeting the needs of the whole child - not just the academic ones. Finally, the Strategic Plan addresses how imperative it is that all members of the Progressive Workforce strive for excellence. Education is rapidly changing, and many of the strategies and methods teachers learned when they were starting out are no longer the most effective ways to teach kids. Inquiry based learning, hands-on encounters with the real world, critical thinking opportunities and a technology based platform are but some of the major changes to which educators have to adapt. Enabling teachers to build capacity in these areas requires an investment in professional development, and by doing so the district is bringing the focus back to Student Success. Only by remaining lifelong learners dedicated to seeking the best ways to support kids will educators be able to achieve that which matters most: successful learning for all students.
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