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Strategic Planning for School/Parish
Even with limited budgets, it is essential that a parish and/or school have a strategic planning that is realistic and workable. Several essential aspects will be part of the planning process.

Strategic Planning
Strategic planning begins with strategic thinking. It is a continuous, systematic thought process that identifies a desired future and ways to bring it about by linking strategic plans with medium-range programs and short range operating and budgeting plans.

Planning is getting people involved in collecting good information and then using that information to make intelligent decisions about the future.

Some Steps:

    1. Form an appropriate team.
    2. Establish a Plan-to-Plan.
    3. Gather appropriate data - perform a situation audit.
    4. Develop or clarify tenets.
    5. Create a Mission Statement
    6. Create a Strategic Vision
    7. Identify strategic issues and needs.
    8. Formulate strategies for managing issues and programs.
    9. Examine current programs; develop new programs.
    10. Devise Action Plans which include timelines to manage issues and programs.
    11. Perform Financial Projections.
    12. Review feasibility of Vision.
    13. Establish a system to Monitor Progress.

A Coordinating Team should decide on the possibility of using an outside consultant to coordinate a major strategic planning process and meet with that person to decide on the exact next steps that would be appropriate for your school (Plan-to-Plan). They should establish a Strategic Planning Committee made of the major stakeholders of the school or parish (e.g., members of the following groups: teachers, parents, school council, parish council, staff, finance council, booster club, etc.).

Possible Agenda/Steps for the Meetings

Meeting 1

Meeting 2

Meeting 3

Meeting 4

Meeting 5

For more information about either of these services, please contact Bro. William J. Campbell, S.M., Ed.D. at 571-257-0026 or email at wcampbell@ncea.org.