Planning Process

strategic plan graphic

 

Introduction to Planning Process
Our community took steps to create what the future of learning looks like in the Shawnee Mission School District by embarking on a strategic planning process.

The strategic plan was designed to engage the community, providing multiple and varied opportunities for public input, in order to ensure the ultimate plan serves the needs of all students in the Shawnee Mission School District.

The planning process relied on input, data, and research to benchmark the district, and challenge the community to address critically important issues. 

The process was led by a Steering Committee, appointed by Dr. Mike Fulton, superintendent, and was made up of a diverse cross-section of Shawnee Mission stakeholders, including parents, community members, students, and staff. This committee developed beliefs, a mission, objectives, strategies and parameters.

Strategic Plan Development

Board of Education 
The board of education oversaw the process of strategic planning, including final approval of the Strategic Plan. Their oversight included:

  • Outlining intentional and explicit outcomes and definitions of process to guide the work.
  • Defining factors for the steering committee to consider.
  • Approving the final plan

Superintendent
The superintendent of schools was responsible for engaging a stakeholder-rich process that results in the effective development and implementation of the strategic plan. The superintendent was an active participant on the district steering committee, and brought final recommendations to the board of education for consideration and action.

District Steering Committee
The district steering committee was comprised of approximately 30 district stakeholders representing both the school and district communities. This committee, representing a broad range of stakeholder groups (parents, students, classified and licensed staff, PTA representatives, business leaders, community services, etc.) and representative of the district’s demographic profile, worked to implement the strategic planning process, including: 

  • Overseeing the work
  • Developing a mission, beliefs, objective, strategies and parameters
  • Supporting continuous improvement

Stakeholder Input
The Shawnee Mission School District values input from all stakeholders. Through the Strategic Planning development process, SMSD gathered input from interested participants. Stakeholders were invited to contribute throughout the process in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: online quantitative surveys; qualitative feedback loops (e.g. ThoughtExchange); participation on district strategic planning committees and action teams, building site councils, and other defined avenues for input and engagement.

Strategies
Strategies were developed based on student outcome data, research, on-going defined needs/issues (e.g. facilities) and community input. The steering committee used this information to inform the creation of action teams. The steering committee ensures recommendations from the action teams meet beliefs, mission, objectives, and parameters and propose a strategic plan to the superintendent. 

Strategy Action Teams
These teams (25-30 people) work on the identified strategies to establish action plans as well as costs associated with these plans.

Action Team Information 

These plans should be reflective of current and projected resources available to the District and be fiscally responsible and sustainable. These teams will be appointed by the superintendent and/or designee. Action team memberships will include community volunteers, building and district level leadership team members, teachers, classified staff, site council members, students and parents. Action teams will have a specific task and exist for a defined period of time, with recommendations presented to the district steering committee. Work by the action teams will support meeting the requirements of the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) process, which include: 

  • Academic Readiness - Kindergarten Readiness, High School Readiness, College/Career Readiness  
  • Student Success
  • Facilities
  • Connecting Community

District Facilities Task Force 
As part of the strategic planning process, the Shawnee Mission School District developed five action teams, one of which was focused on facilities planning. Click here to read more about this work