Strategic planning in progress
by Sue Mroz of The Review staff
PLYMOUTH – The School Board’s Strategic Planning Subcommittee is making some lists and checking them twice.
Actually, members of the subcommittee – Mark Rhyan, Tim St. Clair and Pam Holzhaeuser – are checking these lists more frequently, to ensure they cover all bases.
At Tuesday’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Clark Reinke presented an update on the strategic planning.
“The board and the DLT continue strategic planning, and the subcommittee has been meeting,” he said.
Reinke noted that subcommittee members have analyzed projections for financing the budget through the 2010-12 school year and the needs the district will face in that timeframe.
“Between 2011 and 2013 we will have serious financial issues,” he said.
The superintendent informed The Review Wednesday that projections for 2010-11, with the current educational programs in place, reveal the district faces a $300,000 deficit.
“We think we can address next year without making major changes to our programs,” Reinke said.
However, for 2011-12, the budget deficit is projected at $1.2 million. And that same deficit is projected for the 2012-13 school year.
Meanwhile, he noted at Tuesday’s meeting that subcommittee members have prepared a list of strategies to address the deficit. Among these are:
. Improving the quality of the district’s educational programs. . Attracting new families to the district through the open- enrollment program. . Increasing technology opportunities. . Improving the district’s math and science programs and
. Improving parent communication.
“Another thing we discussed is that in the event we have to reduce costs, where to reduce from programs and services,” Reinke said. “A list was developed.
“We talked about how many dollars would be gained with each proposed cut and the ease of implementing each cut.”
Reinke added that subcommittee members studied the effects of reducing specific programs and the negative impact each program reduction would have on student enrollment.
“At the Feb. 23 subcommittee meeting, we will look at the strategies and the time line to implement them,” he said.
He noted too that at the Feb. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting, the board formed a Graduation Requirements Subcommittee.
“The graduation requirements have not been reviewed since the 2000-01 school year,” he said. “The subcommittee will review how the requirements are impacting the educational program.”
Reinke noted that at the next Committee of the Whole meeting, the board will discuss how to better engage the community in becoming more involved in the planning process to move the district forward in a positive fashion.
He invited the public to attend upcoming committee meetings, which are held in the boardroom at Plymouth High School. They are as follows:
. Strategic Planning Subcommittee meeting – 5 p.m., Feb. 23. . Committee of the Whole meeting – 6 p.m., March 8. . Graduation Subcommittee meeting – 3 p.m., March 10.
