Strategic Planning
Planning Phases
Phase 0
Taking stock of the Asheville City Schools History (January - February)
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Qualitative Data Review
- Explore the history, implementation, and current reality of:
- School district formation
- Desegregation order
- Implementation of special programs and school communities
- (e.g. Asheville Primary, KIPP, Silsa, Willian Randolph, and AVID)
- (e.g. Asheville Primary, KIPP, Silsa, Willian Randolph, and AVID)
- Revisit listening session data to date
- What have stakeholders stated they want to see in ACS schools
- What have stakeholders identified as significant challenges, barriers, and historical inequities/harms (e.g. Education Reparations Report)
- What have stakeholders seen as the value or strengths of Asheville
- Refine data collection with oral history from key groups
- Conduct data gathering and fact-checking sessions with veteran teachers, long-standing community members, and the ACS Strategic Planning Steering Committee to review the gathered history and understanding of the district.
- Conduct data gathering and fact-checking sessions with veteran teachers, long-standing community members, and the ACS Strategic Planning Steering Committee to review the gathered history and understanding of the district.
- Explore the history, implementation, and current reality of:
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Quantitative Data Review
- Hanover, Mentimeter, a potential transcript pull of postsecondary attendees (National Clearinghouse reports), and Instructional walkthrough data related to current goals.
- Significant enrollment and population trends
- Significant funding decisions (budget cuts, etc.)
Deliverable:
- Compilation of ACS history, previous listening session findings, and quantitative data into an ACS historical report and a report of key findings to inform the next steps in the strategic planning process.
Phase 1
Setting a vision for the future (March - April)
Objectives:
Foster a community vision for Asheville City Schools students with a defined trajectory for student experience within the district from K-14.
Data and topics to explore to inform visioning:
- ACS historical report and report of key findings from Phase 0
- 21st century workforce skill trends (local, national, global)
- Contemporary and future economic impact, housing displacement, and workforce trends as a result of Hurricane Helene
- Types of educational approaches that support student skill development in alignment with future needs
Deliverables:
- Defined vision for an ACS graduate by designing an ACS graduate profile outlining the skills ALL ACS students would attain as a result of their trajectory through Asheville City Schools.
- A defined vision for ACS schools outlining the experiences students will have that will enable them to develop the skills outlined in the ACS graduate profile.
- Identifying structures, systems, and practices adults need to enact across the district (classroom, schools, central office, etc.) for these experiences to be possible.
Stakeholder groups: Parents, students, community members, business/industry community, strategic planning committee, counseling staff, Board of Education members
Phase 2
Mapping the current state (May - June)
Objectives:
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Identify existing assets to be leveraged and scaled to meet the vision for ACS.
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Map and identify gaps and barriers in the current state of ACS education and the desired vision for ACS.
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Identify root causes for gaps and barriers.
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Identify strategic priorities for action.
Data and topics to explore to clarify the current state.
- Locus of control for school districts around the needs of students
- Mapping current state
- Structures in place that support or might hinder the vision
- Professional practices that support vision
- Policies that support vision
- Identify new practices/structures/policies needed to meet the vision
- Identify existing practices/structures/policies to scale and/or continue
- Identify existing practices/structures/policies to de-implement or abandon
Deliverables:
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Culminating Strategic Plan Report that identifies:
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The history of ACS
- Vision for ACS future
- Existing assets to be leveraged to meet the vision
- Challenges and barriers that need to be addressed
- Articulated milestones for growth and improvement over 3 -5 years
- Priority areas for actions
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Phase 3
Mapping the current state (June and Beyond)
Objectives:
-
Transition the work of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and Project Managers to the staff and educators of Asheville City Schools. These staff members will lead the practical implementation of priority areas and goals, envisioning what a school environment that nurtures the passions and purpose of our students will look like on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis.
Questions?
Dr. Maggie Fehrman
Superintendent
Phone: (828) 350-6145
Email: maggie.fehrman@acsgmail.net
Tanya Presha
Special Assistant to the Superintendent
Phone: (828) 350-6168
Email: tanya.presha@acsgmail.net