By Gary Lloyd
JEFFERSON COUNTY — Three online surveys have been posted on the Jefferson County Schools website regarding the direction of the system’s strategic plan.
Surveys are posted for parents who have students in the system, the public and the school system’s employees.
The Jefferson County Schools strategic planning sessions planned for this month will focus on six hallmarks to make them effective, according to a presentation made to the Jefferson County Board of Education by Burke Enterprises, LLC.
The 20-slide PowerPoint presentation by Marcia Burke begins by asking three questions: Where are we now? Where do we want to be? How will we get there?
Burke then lists six hallmarks of an “effective” strategic plan:
- Collaborative development
- Regular monitoring and evaluation
- Measured against recognized standards and benchmarks
- Changes to meet emerging needs and newly identified challenges
- A framework for decision making
- A tool for demonstrating accountability
The remaining forums will be at Hueytown High School on Oct. 14, at Gardendale High School on Oct. 27 and at Pinson Valley High School on Oct. 28. All community zone forums are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The month of October is dominantly for community forums and surveys. November is when all data will be compiled and analyzed, and a presentation will be made to the Jefferson County Board of Education for the adoption of the strategic plan.
The board in July voted to award an $80,000 contract to consulting firm Burke Enterprises, LLC to oversee the development of the five-year strategic plan. The goal of the development of the strategic plan is to include all municipal mayors, stakeholders, parents and school employees.
To take one of the three surveys, visit www.jefcoed.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.