Jeff Dieffenbach

for Wayland School Committee

The Wayland Public Schools and Long Range Strategic Planning By Jeff Dieffenbach Wayland Town Crier Thu Mar 12, 2009 WAYLAND – I’m writing to offer my thoughts on the Wayland Public Schools’ (WPS) Long Range Strategic Planning (LRSP) initiative as spelled out below and in an accompanying presentation. Such an effort is by definition never complete, of course, but in my opinion, the work completed to date represents the reaching of an important milestone: the codification of a plan ready as a springboard for next steps. The objective of the LRSP initiative is to articulate a path forward in the context of the district’s mission statement and its core values, for two purposes: to drive internal decision-making and frame a dialogue with the community. My definition of a long range strategic plan is the identification of a desired outcome and the coupling of that outcome with a mission statement, core values, specific initiatives and the measurement of those initiatives, and reporting back internally and to the community. With respect to educational outcomes, the schools are here for one primary reason: to help students maximize their growth potential as they find the best possible fit with whatever next steps they take in life. Measuring our success in this endeavor is by no means straight-forward. What we can do, however, is craft together sound practices and gauge their success on a range of individually limited measures. Before continuing, I’d like to offer up a brief summary of the recent planning progress. In the winter of 2005, the Superintendent initiated an effort to develop a set of core district values. The next spring, in 2006, the School Committee began early conversations on the question of planning and how best to go about evolving it. That summer, the Committee held its first formal discussion at its June retreat in open meeting at the Public Safety Building. Work continued in the fall with an outside advisor who guided the Committee in establishing four targeted working groups focusing on (1) strategic goals, (2) measures, (3) private fund-raising, and (4) communicating with the community. In the fall of 2007, the Administration began integrating its core values work throughout the district. In the summer of 2008, a small advisory group met to discuss the consolidation of the work to date and the next steps. “Personal and civic responsibility, love of learning, and empathy for others: these are the qualities that the Wayland Public Schools seek to instill in its students.” So begins the Wayland Public Schools’ Mission Statement, available in its entirety here: http://www.wayland.k12.ma.us/district/district_info/mission.htm. Accompanying this mission are four “Strategic Goal Areas” into which various district initiatives fit (details for each may be found in the accompanying presentation). SGA1. Curriculum, instruction and assessment that maximize each student’s learning and achievement SGA2. A diverse knowledgeable and skilled community of educators and leaders SGA3. Family and community partnerships to support the learning and growth of every student SGA4. Strategic management of operations, resources, and facilities to enable and empower the educational community In parallel with these Strategic Goal Areas, the district has developed four sometimes overlapping Core Values to guide educational behaviors (again, details in the accompanying presentation). CV1. Teaching and learning: The WPS believes that the teaching and learning of all children are the fundamental goals of its educators; believes in the full potential of all children; and … CV2. Collegiality: The WPS will establish, maintain, and nurture a culture in which collegial relationships, risk-taking, and mutual support are encouraged. … CV3. Respect for differences: The WPS value the full range of human differences. … CV4. Community: The WPS recognize the importance of the individual’s place in and responsibility to the community, including his/her place as a member of a family, classroom, school, town and the world; and that communication fosters strong community. … Taken together the Mission Statement and associated Strategic Goal Areas, coupled with the Core Values, define an environment in which specific educational initiatives may be implemented, measured, and reported. To elaborate a bit on the initiatives and reporting side of the equation, consider two types of initiatives. The first type of initiative is one that is continually ongoing: for instance, curriculum, professional development, communication, and general operations. The second type of initiative is more specific to a given time, such as the Superintendent’s five current targeted initiatives: closing the achievement gap, the Technology Task Force, health and wellness, green buildings, and the exploration of the addition of Chinese as a foreign language. Rounding things out is reporting in the form of the “district report card” available on the Wayland Public Schools Web site. http://www.wayland.k12.ma.us/district/district_info/departments/personnel/FastFacts.htm. In sum, the Wayland Public School’s Long Range Strategic Plan is the synergy of desired outcomes, our Mission Statement, the district’s Core Values, the specific educational initiatives that we undertake, and the measurement and reporting thereof. The value of a Long Range Strategic Plan is less about its documentation at any point in time than it is about the evolutionary course that it follows. Jeff Dieffenbach is a candidate for re-election to the School Committee. You may visit his web site at www.deepbrook.com/schools.

If you have any questions or comments, call me at 508-353-3175 or send me email at dieffenbach @ alum.mit.edu.