Schools want feedback on completed Class of 2020 strategic plan
- Published: October 6, 2011
After a year of brainstorming, researching and discussing the wide world of education, the Yellow Springs school district presents its first draft of the Class of 2020 10-year strategic plan. The plan is a rough guide to creating “a school of creativity and innovation” to prepare its student body for success beyond high school.
While the most intense work of implementation has yet to be done, the 2020 Steering Committee has asked that the public use this site to give feedback on all or any part of the plan before Oct. 24. Below the 118-page document is broken into sections, beginning with a condensed “executive summary” of the plan, followed by sections 1–3 that give context to the plan, sections 4–5 that constitute the heart of the plan, appendix 1 that gives socioeconomic data about the district, and appendix 2 that details the past year’s process to create the plan.
There will also be an opportunity to give feedback in person at a public forum on Thursday, Oct. 20, 5–7 p.m. at the Senior Center.
If this is your first interactive connection to the News Web site, you must register in order to comment (it takes about 30 seconds).
1. Click “LOGIN” on the black bar at the bottom of this post and choose “Register for a free account.”
2. Enter your user name, password, full name and e-mail address, then go to your e-mail to open the message from “WordPress.”
3. Use the link in the e-mail message to return to the News Web site and Log in again with your user name and password.
You are ready to comment! (And you can comment automatically next time you return.)
Executive Summary
[Read the summary]
Section 1: A Strategic Plan for Yellow Springs Schools
Section 2: Yellow Springs School District
Section 3: The Process to Create the Plan
[View the PDF]
Section 4: Strategic Priorities
Section 5: Strategic Plan Implementation
[View the PDF]
Appendix 1:
Yellow Springs social and economic data
Yellow Springs school district data
Yellow Springs local revenue data
Population, district, revenues and expenditures tables
[View the PDF]
Appendix 2:
Strategic planning process
KnowledgeWorks Report
Guest speaker series
Small group discussions
Survey of the district
Public forum
[View the PDF]
3 Responses to “Schools want feedback on completed Class of 2020 strategic plan”
The Yellow Springs News encourages respectful discussion of this article.
You must login to post a comment.
Don't have a login? Register for a free YSNews.com account.
It appears to me that the budget cuts that occurred after the economy tanked were emergency measures that had to be taken for short-term needs. The strategic plan takes the opposite approach to prepare for long-term needs. The plan seems to support education through an interdisciplinary, creative problem-solving curriculum, which is inclusive of all of the arts. It’s learning by way of the arts — learning about the science of sound (acoustics) by playing an instrument and explaining why the music sounds more beautiful in the Presbyterian Church chapel than in the basement, for instance.
We have yet to see how that vision will be implemented, whether it means fewer teachers and staff or more. But it can’t be done outside the context of the district’s financial capacity. And in order to allow for real change, it’s probably best to make room for trial and error and to expect an extended period adjustment.
Excuse me, I meant potential students. I know of many YS Alums who moved here or chose YS for open enrollment because of the music and/or art program. One in particular chose to move here instead of Oakwood because of the Orchestra Program and arts offerings 10 years ago. Marketing, folks?
I really don’t see much about the Arts (music, art, drama) other than integrating them. Not only has Yellow Springs traditionally had a STRONG program in these areas, but studies have shown what the arts can do for students of all levels and abilities. Paring the music and art program staffing down to its minimum staffing is NOT in its best interest and I think the effect of this will show up in the year or so. It will also affect open enrollment numbers; the arts offerings we have had are also a plus for students from other districts when choosing a school. As a community member, I’m disappointed not to see more in this area. Colleges DO look for a well-rounded student.