Early voting has kicked off in Memphis, and 5 of the 9 seats on Memphis-Shelby County Colleges board are on the poll within the Aug. 1 election. Twenty candidates are vying for board seats in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and seven.
Marie Feagins, the brand new Memphis superintendent, formally began main Tennessee’s largest faculty district in April. As a result of one of many board’s fundamental obligations is to rent, handle, and consider the district’s prime chief, Feagins’ actions are particularly related this election cycle.
As the college board awaits Feagins’ first strategic plan for the district, candidates to serve on the board have completely different definitions of what a profitable blueprint would seem like.
We requested candidates: Feagins expects to have a brand new district strategic plan in place by September 2024. Describe a profitable strategic plan, and the way you’d use the plan to guage the district’s progress and finances suggestions as a board member.
Their responses are beneath. Chalkbeat flippantly edited and condensed the candidates’ bios for readability, however not their responses, apart from adjusting the formatting to enhance readability. (Alvin Criminal for District 4 and Chavez Donelson for District 7 didn’t reply to our voter information questions). Discover candidate responses on extra matters — like power absenteeism and struggling faculty buildings — in our in-depth voter information for the Memphis-Shelby County faculty board race.
I sit up for reviewing Supt. Feagins strategic plan for the district. I consider any robust strategic plan ought to have a transparent tutorial technique for development with a finances that’s aligned for educational development.
A profitable strategic plan requires efficient strategic planning. Efficient strategic planning contains taking the time to find out the targets essential to succeed in our said imaginative and prescient and mission, whereas staying true to our core values (which we should decide). Given our district’s imaginative and prescient and mission, the Board, Superintendent, and all stakeholders would want to speculate the time to set our core values that may drive our work in direction of every of our targets. These targets ought to embody tutorial proficiency and preparedness, efficient and environment friendly enterprise operations, strategic infrastructure funding (services, academics and workers), security, strategic methods alignment, and financial sustainability. We should then clearly perceive our district’s capability, be open and trustworthy, embody all related stakeholders to offer enter and suggestions, prioritize, and supply an implementation plan that features the actions/applications/ways to satisfy the said targets, anticipated outcomes and influence, SWOT evaluation (strengths, weaknesses, alternatives and threats), set metrics, benchmarks, a timeline, and price projections. Clear expectations, processes, metrics, and analysis present us with knowledge to tell how we allocate district assets and deal with challenges. As one in every of 9 Board members, it’s our collective duty to carry the superintendent chargeable for implementing, with constancy and demonstrated progress, the strategic plan; develop, approve and monitor a finances aligned to the district’s strategic plan; by means of coverage, set, comply with, and maintain ourselves, and others, accountable to the parameters for governance and the strategic plan; and advocate for native, state and federal insurance policies and sustainable assets to efficiently implement the strategic plan.
A profitable strategic plan can be the blueprint or schematic. It ought to embody an educational, security and safety, honest compensation, facility upkeep, constituent inclusion, and efficient educator deployment parts. The best way I’d use the plan to guage the district’s progress and finances suggestions boils all the way down to a easy matrix. I’d ask the 2 particular questions. Did you comply with your blueprint to the letter? Have been you capable of obtain your plan throughout the allotted finances? The reply to those questions would inform my opinion of success or failure.
Supt. Feagins has not shared a plan with the college board but. A profitable plan shall be one which addresses development in teachers and methods round acquiring extra funding assets that we want for our college district.
A profitable strategic plan ought to have a mission, imaginative and prescient, core, and targets.
The mission and imaginative and prescient have to be clear, concise, and attainable. It needs to be one which your complete board, directors, academics, workers, college students, and neighborhood can really purchase into.
The targets ought to concentrate on –
- Upkeep & Upgrades of Amenities
- Employees Recruitment & Retention – Pupil Readiness & Holistic Properly Being
- Neighborhood Engagement & Partnerships
I consider in Dr. Feagin and can absolutely help her.
A profitable strategic plan is one which has scoped out and assessed the wants of the goal inhabitants and put a plan in place to deal with the wants. A profitable strategic plan reveals properly thought by means of strengths and capacities to satisfy the wants and has recognized the obstacles that present alternatives to companion for the success of the mission and targets. Our superintendent is spot on along with her plan from what I’ve seen. I belief it. I’m able to lock in, partnering along with her and holding her accountable for the comply with by means of.
From my expertise, the superintendent strategic plan ought to align first with the targets that the Board has set for the district. Secondly, the plan ought to present a transparent snapshots of the district present standing associated to these set targets with outcomes with a minimal of a 3 12 months development knowledge. Lastly, the superintendent will prioritize targets that she’s going to deal with within the first three years that may embody the who will do it, what it can seem like, when will probably be performed, how will probably be performed, and what price, and there needs to be an aggressive timeline to display the urgency of the plan. Lastly, it ought to present clear communication on how every division, division and college strategic shall be related to the district’s plan. Additionally, if there are finances considerations, the plan should present what you’ll cease doing, how or if what you cease will influence the district and the way the funds shall be redirected to cowl the brand new initiatives price. This construction of a strategic plan will guarantee alignment of the Board’s targets, confirmed clear knowledge pushed image, prioritized, well timed, and financially accountable. As a board, the power to forecast from the plan ought to result in making a finances resolution to maneuver ahead as is or with suggestions to contemplate.
A profitable strategic plan for MSCS will clearly talk the priorities and targets of the district and element how the district plans to realize them inside a set timeframe. It needs to be a guiding doc for the college and bigger Memphis neighborhood about how the district can reply to essential wants whereas at all times prioritizing constructive advantages for our college students. As soon as adopted, the board (and subsequently public) ought to obtain quarterly updates on the district’s progress to evaluate which insurance policies and applications are serving to us attain our supposed outcomes. Equally, finances issues should even be weighed on how they additional the district’s skill to satisfy our said priorities and targets within the strategic plan.
A profitable strategic plan for the district would prioritize security, tutorial excellence, psychological well being, and neighborhood engagement. In mild of recent legal guidelines corresponding to weapons in lecture rooms and the correlation between third-grade studying ranges and jail mattress projections, the plan should embody sturdy security protocols and focused literacy applications. Pupil suggestions can be integral to the planning course of, guaranteeing the plan displays their wants and experiences.
As a board member, I’d use the strategic plan to guage progress by means of common assessments and quarterly opinions in every division, together with sanitation and security. Making certain a safe and clear studying setting is foundational to pupil well-being and tutorial success. The plan also needs to embody psychological well being help, increasing the variety of counselors and assets to deal with college students’ emotional wants.
Parental involvement is one other essential element. I’d advocate for applications that educate and empower dad and mom to help their kids’s studying at dwelling, reinforcing the connection between faculty and residential environments. Wholesome meals applications have to be a part of the plan, guaranteeing college students have entry to nutritious meals that gasoline their tutorial efficiency.
By setting clear targets and metrics, the strategic plan will information finances suggestions, guaranteeing assets are allotted successfully to satisfy these priorities. Quarterly opinions shall be important to make sure that every division is assembly its targets and addressing any rising points promptly. This complete method will assist create a thriving academic setting the place each pupil can succeed. Common evaluations and changes primarily based on knowledge and suggestions will maintain the district on monitor, guaranteeing we aren’t failing our college students.
A profitable strategic plan would concentrate on the next strategic framework as outlined by the Chief Counsel of State Faculty Officers (CCSSO) as it’s applied within the MSCS neighborhood:
- Response & restoration
- Fairness, entry & essential infrastructure
- Modernizing the schooling system
These requirements deal with most of the points that plague faculty districts at this time, together with literacy, digital entry, and up to date evaluation fashions. Each resolution and greenback needs to be accountable to the folks of this nice neighborhood.
Any group or company that owns services ought to have a daily evaluation and a plan to make selections about these buildings (we now have about 200 services). Is that this in the very best curiosity of scholars? Is the power enough, secure, and efficient? Can we correctly maintain it? A profitable plan will embody a constructing evaluation of its situation and restore wants. The plan will even take a look at the under-over pupil capability of the college, the lessons and actions supplied, and our skill to adequately workers academics. Parental and pupil enter is one other consideration; nevertheless, I’ll make selections primarily based on the information and in the very best curiosity of present college students.
A profitable strategic plan for the district ought to embody clear, measurable targets, evidence-based methods, and an in depth implementation timeline. It ought to prioritize tutorial achievement, fairness, neighborhood engagement, and the well-being of scholars and workers. Key parts of this plan ought to embody:
Particular targets for bettering literacy and numeracy, commencement, and faculty and profession readiness.
Initiatives to shut achievement gaps, present assets for underserved communities, and promote inclusive practices.
Methods to boost communication with dad and mom, college students, and neighborhood companions, guaranteeing their enter shapes decision-making.
Packages to help psychological well being, cut back bullying, and guarantee secure, supportive studying environments.
Plans for environment friendly use of economic and human assets to help academic targets. As a member, I’d use the strategic plan to set benchmarks and consider progress by repeatedly reviewing efficiency metrics tied to every aim. This would come with analyzing knowledge on pupil achievement, fairness indicators, and suggestions from neighborhood surveys. By evaluating these metrics towards the strategic plan’s benchmarks, I might establish areas of success and people needing enchancment. Moreover, implementing a system for routine monitoring of progress stories to trace efficiency towards the benchmarks. When making finances suggestions, I’d be sure that funding priorities align with the strategic plan. As an illustration, if the plan highlights the necessity for extra psychological well being assets, I’d advocate for finances allocations to help this space. Common progress stories from the superintendent and district workers can be important to take care of transparency and accountability, guaranteeing that the strategic plan drives significant enhancements throughout the district.
As a faculty board member, a profitable strategic plan have to be complete, data-driven, and community-focused. My platform facilities on transparency, fairness, and pupil success, which aligns with greatest practices in strategic planning. A profitable strategic plan includes clear targets, measurable targets, and particular actions that deal with the wants of all college students.
For our district, I envision a strategic plan with three key pillars: tutorial excellence, neighborhood engagement, and useful resource optimization. Educational excellence focuses on enhancing curriculum, investing in instructor improvement, and supporting numerous studying wants. Neighborhood engagement ensures that oldsters, college students, and native stakeholders have a voice in decision-making processes. Useful resource optimization goals at maximizing finances effectivity, investing in important applications, and guaranteeing equitable useful resource distribution.
To guage the district’s progress, I’d use a steady enchancment mannequin. This includes setting particular, measurable, achievable, related, and time-bound (SMART) targets and repeatedly reviewing efficiency knowledge. For instance, we’d set a aim to enhance studying proficiency by 10% over two years. Common assessments and knowledge evaluation would assist us monitor progress, establish areas needing consideration, and modify methods accordingly.
Price range suggestions can be intently tied to our strategic targets. As an illustration, if knowledge reveals that studying intervention applications are extremely efficient, we might prioritize funding for these initiatives. Common finances opinions and neighborhood suggestions classes would guarantee transparency and accountability.
By aligning our strategic plan with finances selections and constantly evaluating our progress, we will create a dynamic and responsive academic setting that fosters pupil success and neighborhood belief.
When elected that is how I envision Superintendent Feagins new district plan. First the plan ought to have measurable targets and targets to focus on. Concentrate on increasing entry to early childhood schooling, extra help companies for college kids, and strengthening partnerships with neighborhood stakeholders. I’d use the plan to guage the district finances by the priorities outlined within the plan. Lastly, the plan might must be adjusted or tailored over time in response to the wants of the district. With Superintendent Feagins and administration I’ll revisit the plan periodically and make essential revisions.
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A plan of action that outlines the steps wanted to realize a particular aim. This plan needs to be clear, measurable, purpose-driven targets, and full workforce working collectively to collaborate on a plan and finances. This plan and finances needs to be constant and doable for all concerned. I can’t offer you a exact plan till I get in workplace, communicate with the Superintendent and the guy faculty board members to be able to provide you with a direct, proficient, profitable acceptable plan.
A profitable strategic plan will clearly talk the District’s priorities and targets. Key priorities I want to see within the strategic plan are strengthing household and neighborhood engagement, bettering tutorial success, and bettering our public faculty services. A profitable strategic plan will embody particular, measurable, achievable, lifelike, and time primarily based targets that I’d use as a Board member to guage the District’s progress and make finances suggestions primarily based on the information collected on every strategic plan benchmark.
