By Jason Emerson
Editor
The Cazenovia school district administration last week postponed the official rollout of its district strategic plan update process and rescheduled the meeting for mid-February.
It has been nearly 10 years since the Cazenovia Central School District updated its strategic plan, and the district has hired a consulting firm, PLC Associates, Inc., of Pittsford, N.Y., to assist with the process. PLC facilitators were expected to present information about the update process at the school board’s Dec. 19 regular monthly meeting, but scheduling conflicts forced a cancellation.
The board scheduled a special meeting for the strategic planning presentation for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in the board meeting room (although it may be moved to a larger location if necessary).
The strategic plan update process will be a collaborative one, said Superintendent Matt Reilly. “We’re looking for input from all groups to understand how we do this, find our collective vision and chart a course for the next five years,” Reilly said.
The new strategic plan will focus on the areas of curriculum and instruction, financial management, facilities, and community relations. There will be a core group of stakeholders participating in the process — students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, community members — and individual task forces assigned to specific topics that will be data-driven to focus on specific areas through surveys, interviews, public forums and other types of community interaction.
Also at the Dec. 16 school board meeting, the board approved the formation of a high school DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) Club and approved the reinstatement of a high school Model UN Club.
DECA is an international association of high school and college students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality and marketing sales and service. The organization prepares leaders and entrepreneurs for careers and education in marketing, finance, hospitality, management and other business areas.
Model UN is an educational simulation and/or academic competition in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations and the United Nations. The club involves and teaches researching, public speaking, debating and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork and leadership abilities.
The next regular meeting of the board of education will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23. Before that, the board will hold a work session and public forum at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9.
