Hello:
Ahh, I'm just back from a quick walk on the local dikes of the Fraser River near our office. Some days I just need to get out from in front of the computer to get some fresh air to clear my head. Do you set aside time for yourself during the day? Sigh, did I mention our Vancouver Canucks have lost 2 in a row? Let’s move on to another topic.I’m working on contracts for projects in Egypt and India, as well as locally, and I’m also making preparations to speak at the ECIS Administrator’s Conference in Malta later in April. I’ll provide further details as they emerge.
Today I want to share some tips on the roles and relationships of participats in your school’s strategic plan. There are essentially two types of approaches to engaging stakeholders in the strategic planning: (1) Staff only; or (2) Participant led. Both are acceptable in terms of output, but each has a different affect on the engagement of your stakeholders, with the process involving your community having more buy-in. Of course the latter approach takes more time, but the results speak for themselves. Please read on to find out more about utilizing participants in your strategic plan.
To your success,
Doug Halladay
President
Halladay Education Group
P.S. Don’t forget to go to our secure Online Store to invest in our Strategic Planning or School Start-Up Toolkits.
IN THIS ISSUE
1. In The News
2. Solutions For Your School
3. Roles and Relationships Of Planning Team Participants
4. Products At Our Online Store
1. IN THE NEWS
Los Angeles Times: One example of private money shaping school reform was the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's emphasis over the last decade on smaller schools…
WSAW - Private schools are under a constant struggle to keep their student's cost low, while maintaining a high level of education. This can mean cutting back on...
2. SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR SCHOOL
Starting a school can be challenging and you never have a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. That’s why you need a turn-key firm with experience starting schools in the USA, Canada, and Internationally.
We can lead the development of your school’s Strategic Plan, which will build consensus, motivate donors, and define critical priorities for your Board and Administration for school improvement. No school should be without one.
Do you want your school to have the best board possible? Great schools have great boards (can you afford not to have one?). Our full-day governance workshop (in combination with our unique online self-assessment survey) fine-tunes your board’s performance and annual priorities.
A school review is critical to knowing if you’re heading in the right direction. As a board member, are you sure your school is doing the best it can? Get the whole picture now with our “In-Depth School Performance Review and Action Plan.”
HEG and our certified Brokerage Associates assist buyers/sellers with the purchase and sale of for-profit Private K-12 Schools, Post Secondary Institutions, and Career Colleges in Canada, US, and Internationally. HEG and our Licensed Brokers are experienced in acquisitions, mergers, and advising established schools.
3. Role + Relationship Of YOUR Planning Participants
Strategic planning for a new or established school or non-profit is a team effort. Without appropriate input and feedback from all of your stakeholders groups, it’s difficult to address all of your school’s options, combined wisdom, or buy-in. However, each stakeholder group will contribute to the development of your plan in different ways and at different stages. The key is to maintain a balanced group interaction to sustain momentum in the process and achieve success.
STAKEHOLDER ROLES
1). Head of School/CEO:
The Head is to ensure agreement on the school’s goals and process to achieve them. Thus, the Head will drive the planning process and takes the lead in recognizing the need for a plan and the timing to develop one. S/he will enlist the support of the board’s strategic planning committee to:
- Define participants and their roles
- Prepare board and staff for planning
- Coordinate and integrate participants’ input and regular updates
- Manage and contribute to the process
- Determine whether to include a consultant in the process
- Determine who will be on the Board Planning Committee and their responsibilities
2). Board Planning Committee:
- The Board Planning Committee typically includes the board chair, key board members, staff executives, and staff members who will be responsible for implementing the plan.
- Conduct research on relevant issues
- Ensure the planning process is not sidetracked and is completed
- Produce/review the planning document drafts
- Determine the budget and timelines
3). Board:
Board participation is critical to developing a strong strategic plan. They can help reconcile the ambitions of the Head with the constraints of the school’s realities. They need to offer different perspectives that will eventually find consensus in the plan’s goals. Additionally, the plan’s priorities will become the basis of the board’s agenda and decision making, so engagement is important. The board’s responsibilities for planning include:
- Balance short- and long-term goals
- Work with the Head to guide the operationalizing of the plan
- Represent the school’s constituents in the planning process
- Add value to discussions by sharing expertise and counsel on the impact of the plan
- Approve and adopt the plan
4). Staff:
Staff are responsible for the operational plan; the link between the top-level vision and it day-to-day activities. Having key staff involved in the development of the plan allows them to share unique perspectives and build trust (Note: this is important!!). Additionally, staff involved in developing the plan, and who will implement the plan, have a chance to shape it and buy into it.
- Bring their unique perspective and expertise to discussions
- Ensure the plan is realistic in a day-to-day reality
- Offer administrative support
5). Community (parents, alumni, students, businesses):
Your community stakeholders can provide valuable input to the plan’s development. Constituent perceptions of the school are sometimes different from leadership and can provide an opportunity to gauge the quality of the programs you provide.
6). Consultant/Facilitator:
You can develop your own plan using your own staff member. However, if is it your first time or you have issues at plan, it advisable to use an outside strategic planning consultant such as our firm. This approach provides neutrality since there is no vested interested on our part.
If you would like a quick snapshot of our Strategic Planning process and approach, please click on the following links:
To find out more about our firm’s strategic planning services, or learn more about how we can help provide you solutions, please email HEG to discuss your needs in more detail.
4. ONLINE STORE
Here are 2 popular Toolkits to help you to either start your own school or develop your own strategic plan, step-by-step.
(1). STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLKIT (#1 BEST SELLER)
Learn how to develop your own Strategic Plan with step-by-step instructions contained in our detailed Workbook and Manual, along with $500 worth of bonus CD’s. It’s all here to help you develop your own plan.
(2). START-A-SCHOOL TOOLKIT (#2 BEST SELLER)
Are you still struggling with starting your school? Four experienced school leaders share how they started their own school from the ground up. You’ll also receive our bonus CD on developing your strategic plan.
To your success,
Douglas Halladay
President
Halladay Education Group Inc.
