2020 Vision: A Strategic

Planning Process for

Buckley Community
Schools
Copyright © 2010 by Buckley Community School

Presented by Rick Heitmeyer, Superintendent

“Reading, math and science are the

foundations of student achievement. But
to compete and win in the global economy,
today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders
need another set of knowledge and
skills. These 21st century skills include
the development of global awareness
and the ability to collaborate and
communicate and analyze and address
problems. And they need to rely on
critical thinking and problem solving to
create innovative solutions to the issues
facing our world. Every child should have
the opportunity to acquire and master these
skills and our schools play a vital role in
making this happen.” —

MICHAEL DELL, CEO, Dell, Inc.

Key Components
1. Perspective — Where are we going?
2. What’s Next? — Vision
3. Indicators of Success — Strategic Plan
4. What do you think? — Discussion
5. Strategic Plan Initiatives
6. This is all about KIDS — No exceptions
7. 21st Century Learning — Already 10 years into a new century
8. Time to be BOLD — Prepare today’s kids for tomorrow’s world!
9. What’s on the horizon: This process = kid focused, curriculum based,
achievement
10. Goals — We must have district goals that we want to accomplish
11. Strategic Planning is part of the process
12. Big Hairy Audacious Goal — Tom Peters
13. Curriculum = the backbone of a school
14. Hard work, determination, focus
15. 2020 Vision
16. Buckley Community Schools. First Class. Always.

2020 Vision: A Strategic Planning Model for Buckley Community Schools / Page 1
Perspective
Where are we going? This is where we really have to place our focus. This is
our VISION.

Vision = What can we become?

I have a picture in my office called “VISION.” I has Walt Disney in front of a
huge field with a faded in photo of Cinderella’s Castle in Orlando. It’s quite an
inspiring picture.

“The greater danger for most of us is not

that our aim is too high and we miss it, but
that it is too low and we hit it.”

— Michelangelo

What’s Next
Buckley Community Schools will continue to move forward! We have many
great things already happening. Our plan is to continue to offer the programs
and services we already offer.

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Strategic Plan ‘05
1. Goal #1 AN IMPROVED SCHOOL IMAGE
2. Goal #2 CURRICULUM /LEARNING ENHANCEMENT
3. Goal #3 TECHNOLOGY
4. Goal #4 COMMUNICATION
5. Goal #5 FINE ARTS OPTIONS
6. Goal #6 CONSISTENCY

Indicators of Success
1. Satisfactory test scores at all levels
2. Financial stability
3. High student retention rates
4. High graduation rates and adequately prepared students for post sec-
ondary education options
5. A positive district image

What do You think?

Well … what do you think?

Kids First!

2020 Vision: A Strategic Planning Model for Buckley Community Schools / Page 3
 “Should we be asking What should we
reasonably expect our education system
to achieve in the next ten years? or should
we ask What should today’s children
reasonably expect from our education
system over the next ten years? I think
that our children have every reason to
expect a lot more.” — http://davidwarlick.
com/2cents/2006/01/11/asking-the-
right-questions/

21st Century
We’re already 10 years into the 21st Century. People seem to get hung up on
the idea of learning in the 21st Century.

21st Century Learners Should Be:

ŠŠ Critical thinkers?
ŠŠ Problem solvers?
ŠŠ Good communicators?
ŠŠ Good collaborators?
ŠŠ Information and technology literate?
ŠŠ Flexible and adaptable?
ŠŠ Innovative and creative?
ŠŠ Globally competent?
ŠŠ Environmentally literate?

2020 Vision: A Strategic Planning Model for Buckley Community Schools / Page 4
The Horizon
What’s next? We need to be planning together.

Together =
Board + Admin + Teachers + Staff +
Parents + Community
We have a great opportunity to establish “the best kept secret in Northern
Michigan” as much more than a secret. The secret’s out …

Strategic Planning

Promises we will make: We will not waste anyone’s time. We will create goals
that are measurable and have meaning. We will KNOW our Vision, Mission,
and Strategic Plan components.

2020 Vision: A Strategic Planning Model for Buckley Community Schools / Page 5
BHAG
The term Big Hairy Audacious Goal (“BHAG”) was proposed by James
Collins and Jerry Porras in their 1996 article entitled Building Your Company’s
Vision. A BHAG encourages companies to define visionary goals that are more
strategic and emotionally compelling.

In the article, the authors define a BHAG (pronounced BEE-hag) as a form

of vision statement “...an audacious 10-to-30-year goal to progress towards an
envisioned future.”

A true BHAG is clear and compelling, serves as unifying focal point of effort,
and acts as a clear catalyst for team spirit. It has a clear finish line, so the
organization can know when it has achieved the goal; people like to shoot for
finish lines. — Collins and Porras, 1996

Curriculum
Curriculum is the backbone of our school. We will continue to work toward
a curriculum based on the Michigan Curriculum Framework, the Grade Level
Content Expectations, the High School Content Expectations — and, when
necessary, the National Standards.

Michigan has solid expectations already, so if we develop Power Standards

and unpack those standards (creating “I can” statements), we will be preparing
our students for success in their futures.

We never want students to tell us

“I wasn’t prepared.”

2020 Vision: A Strategic Planning Model for Buckley Community Schools / Page 6
Hard Work, Determination, & Focus
The best way to improve is to work hard, be determined, and focus on the
prize. (A little luck along the way doesn’t help, either.) Someone once said that

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

First Class. Always.

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