Engaging Your Community Through Strategic Planning NJASBO Convention June 8, :45pm and 3:00pm Dr. Jerry Woehr: E.I.R.C. Noreen Boston: Business Administrator; Tabernacle / Pennsauken

Who we are and what we’ve done!

vision How do we create a vision in our schools everyone in the community can support?

Practice in BRANDING Why would a parent choose to send their child to your school? (or district) List the top 3 (do you have more?) reasons you would want your child to attend here.

A successful strategic plan: – Leads to action – Builds a values – based shared vision – Leads to inclusive and participatory (shared ownership) – Accepts accountability to the community – Is externally focused and sensitive to the environment of the organization – Is based on action research data – Requires an openness to questioning the status quo – Is a key component to effective leadership Why Have a Strategic Plan?

Goals: (What will be accomplished) everyone Involve everyone in the community in a comprehensive process that solicits and respects all opinions. vision Create a vision that can be used by the BOE and school district staff to move forward with appropriate goals and actions.

Strategic Plan Process: (How we will accomplish our goals) Through three 1 ½ hour sessions with the community we will: – Celebrate what makes you proud of your school system. – Brainstorm new initiatives and share ideas and interests worthy of pursuit. – Create an action plan together, as a community, with the entire organization in mind.

Engaging the Community Solicit input from everyone: parents, township officials, police, fire, first aid, community groups, business owners, general citizenry, and students.

Strategic Plan Core Strategic Plan Core Three ‘1 ½ Hour’ Community Sessions

Points of Pride Objectives Community Session I: Points of Pride Objectives Organize specific planning strategies that bring attendees together to develop a sense of unity of purpose; which will enable them to collaborate in seeking and developing solutions Further develop a sense of school pride among event participants Identify points of pride about what is working well in our local schools

Points of Pride Each tables’ summarized points are presented. All individual contributions are recorded / distributed.

Expectations for the Future Objectives Community Session II: Expectations for the Future Objectives Build on the sense of unity and purpose initiated during Session I Identify our school district needs Frame our improvement needs around creating a 21 st Century education

If we have this conversation 3 years from now, and you were looking back over those 3 years…. what would have happened in our school district for you to feel happy with the progress made?

Understanding each other “Help me to understand why you wrote ……” “What do you mean by …..” “Could you accept ….”

Creating an Action Plan Objectives Community Session III: Creating an Action Plan Objectives “Chunked” priority areas of interest developed during Session II Focused discussion around priority topics Identify and agree to three to five strategic goals

And as a result………. Edgewater Park Passed a referendum Focused budget ownership Research based progress toward common goals

EIRC Customized options Administration / BOE orientation Session Session IV Data Analysis Session Community demographics survey and report Support for developing / Writing Strategic Plan

Administration / BOE orientation Session

Session IV Data Analysis Session

Community demographics survey and report

Support for developing / writing Strategic Plan

Strategic Planning in Action Lacey Township

Thank you for your attention. Any questions? Dr. Jerry Woehr (609) Noreen Boston (609)