School officials focus on strategic planning

By Lynn Hotaling

Members of the Jackson County Board of Education and McCary talked about the role of the "school board and superintendent team" in improving the level of student achievement, McCary said. The discussion was based on research into things school leaders need to concentrate on to promote high student achievement, he said.

A major component of increased student achievement is the idea of "creating and mobilizing" community vision through a strategic planning process, the superintendent said. To assist local officials with this step, Roger Metcalf, director of the Western Regional Education office in Canton, will attend the board's Monday, Aug. 13, work session to describe his experience with such programs.

McCary said he envisions a yearlong process that would involve not only school board members but other leadership in each school district to "engage groups in dialogue" about expectations for children and schools.

"We're learning better how to listen to Ścustomers,'" McCary said. The superintendent said the school system's "customers" are its parents and students.

"One important group is students. We're not used to talking about them as customers," McCary said. "We can make them come to school, but we can't necessarily make them achieve without proper motivation. And parents are the people we're partnering with to make sure kids achieve their potential."

Local officials recently sought help from a consulting firm to aid them in redefining the school system's image.

Jungle Marketing was paid $6,677 to conduct a one-day seminar for the school system's administrative team (principals, assistant principals and Central Office administrators), said finance officer David Steinbicker.

That expense was justified, McCary said, even in light of recent cuts to the school system budget.

"Look at the relative size of the investment," he said. "How do you get better? You don't get better without rethinking your business."

Having the consultant was the beginning of the school system's effort to unite the community behind raising student achievement, the superintendent said.

"School systems are gradually realizing they have to build consensus rather than getting distracted and bickering," McCary said. "We needed someone who was not an educator - someone who could help us think outside the box."

McCary said that during the July 18 session he and the five school board members identified six key points as the goals of their strategic plan:

1) Adequate facilities for children, especially at Smoky Mountain High School (construction and maintenance).

2) Alternatives and options available to all students who need them, not just students who are misbehaving but more ways to help all students be successful.

3) Increased student success, including higher student achievement - competitive, among the best in the region and the state.

4) Better decision-making process district wide, especially site-based decision making.

5) Equalization of educational opportunities district wide including continuity in all curriculum areas.

6) The "star" among public systems; perception among the public that there is a better education for students here than anywhere else; parents want their children to go here.

Principals joined McCary and school board members in the afternoon to "brainstorm strategies" and planned to continue that discussion during a principals' meeting this past Wednesday (July 25), the superintendent said.

Local school officials were scheduled to meet last night (July 25) for a regular meeting postponed from July 23.

Back to Archive: 07/26/01.