Derek Keenan, Ed.D., ACSI Vice President for Academic Affairs
School planning is an area that school boards and administrators often relegate to a “once in a while” status. But in today’s world, to put off or neglect school planning is neither responsible nor appropriate. Thankfully there are now a number of tools available to help schools set down, in writing, their course for the future.
When it is well done, school planning produces a lively and dynamic document that assists the board and administration in making decisions. Such plans form an important part of the message that the school and its supporting constituencies need to hear. It is a part of the story of the school that includes where we have been, where we are now, and—the planning component—where we are going.
School planning is the next step once you have focused on a school’s mission and its impact on admitting students and families to the school. The planning documents of the school are just as integrally linked to its mission. The school must have formulated a clear statement of mission and vision if it is to plan effectively for the future.
Planning generally falls into two categories—strategic planning and long-range planning. Some use the words interchangeably. In common usage the strategic plan is a component of the long-range plan. The strategic components are those aspects that are usually for the near term of about three years or less, and have been fleshed out with such components as responsibilities, costs, a time line, and a schedule. Long-range plans often include the strategic plan but extend it several years and may amount to little more than a wish and dream list.
The subject of school planning is presented in the summer issue of CSE by design. For busy administrators it may be the only time of year when you have enough time to work on the long-range plan. For others, if this is an area in which your school needs to develop, now is a good time to begin the spadework for the board and staff involvement in the coming year. This summer Dr. David Greenhalgh, author of this issue’s lead article, is on the faculty at the ACSI/CIU (Columbia International University) International Institute for Christian School Education (IICSE) at CIU.
We would love to hear from you with suggestions, contributions, and helpful criticisms. May God give you rest and refreshment during these weeks of summer.
Editor's Note: School Planning 1.5