Community Engagement and Three Year Plans
Parents and community members may wonder how school boards set priorities and goals. Stakeholders around Northern Lights School Division No. 69 no longer have to guess. Three years ago students, teachers, administrators, business owners, retired individuals, and other stakeholders were invited to give input using a variety of means. Some people received personal invitations to round table discussions. Others were contacted by phone. Several public consultations were held in areas around the division. Stakeholders were also invited to send feedback using email. We received input from more than 2,500 individuals. This is a summary of what they told us:
- Develop a clear, shared sense of purpose
- Examine and clarify the "core" business of the school
- Build strong relationships with community agencies
- Continue to provide up-to-date technology in the schools and use the technology to expand program offerings
- Provide practical hands-on learning experiences for students
- Continue to recruit and retain highly qualified staff
- Ensure all students have the opportunity to be successful
- Provide a safe and caring environment to maximize student success
- Increase public awareness and improve communication
- Improve public perception of the Board of Trustees
As of this year, 80 percent of the above list has been accomplished. The board will be meeting in March to discuss plans for the next three years.
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True North |
"In a season when Alberta Education is envisioning transformation in education and facilitating change, we have the opportunity to look twenty years ahead and plan the next three," said Superintendent Roger Nippard. To help us with this process, we have hired Gregory Schroeder from IntegroWellness. He has already started meeting with individuals whom community members have identified as key people. He reminded the board that people in our communities have the answers we need, but we have to make time to build relationships and listen. Using the imagery of a compass, Schroeder is asking stakeholders to identify "true north" for Northern Lights School Division No. 69. In other words, "What is the one unchanging thing we can set the course of education by?" He will also be asking what Northern Lights School Division No. 69 needs to do to make sure today's students are prepared personally, relationally, and vocationally for the future.
A series of ten open houses will take place in communities across the Lakeland in February and March. Stakeholders are also being invited to provide feedback through email. Once the feedback is collected, our consultant will work with a steering committee to compile the feedback and report to the board. We are looking forward to hearing what our communities want to tell us.
Does your school board have a similar process? I would like to hear what is working in your community.
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