HOWARD – East Knox Local Schools has launched a community-based strategic planning initiative to help define the district’s short- and longer-term goals.
Twenty-seven district residents and staff members accepted an invitation from Lindsay Bush, board of education president, to serve as strategic planning core team members,
The group met Feb. 25 at East Knox Elementary School for the first of four 2½-hour sessions scheduled through April. Cheryl Ryan of the Ohio School Boards Association and consultant Kristi Robbins moderated the meeting and set the stage for sessions on March 18, April 1 and April 22.
OSBA is facilitating the two-month planning process through a contract with the district.
“This strategic plan will build on current initiatives and assist the district in aligning its vision, mission and key goals, Bush said in a letter explaining the project. “We hope the process will be inclusive and highly effective, resulting in a solid and workable plan that will serve as a roadmap for decision-making, continued school improvement and student success over the next several years.”
Much of the planning will center on the results of a recent survey about the district which generated 546 community responses.
“The Feb. 25 session was a great start to the strategic planning process. Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Robbins and core team members will prepare for more in-depth discussion on March 18,” said Superintendent Richard Baird. “We look forward to sharing our planning results after the final meeting in April.”
Participants in the initial strategic core planning meeting included:
Mikhailon Brady, student
Julie Brodie, Kenyon College
Lindsey Bush, president, EK board of education
Merry Cassetto, AV Insurance Group, community partner
Ron Fannin, EK district leadership team
Brooke Fox, elementary school parent
Larry Gibbs, high school grandparent, Knox Educational Service Center
Jeff Gottke, president, Area Development Foundation
Misty Hammond, PTO junior/senior high representative
Alan Huffman, AH board nominee
Nathan Keirns, district parent
Darcy Knight, president, Athletic Boosters
Lindsey Lamp, director, New Directions
Missy Moreland, EK Elementary principal
Rebecca Nourse, PTO elementary representative
Jim Riggle, KCCC principal, EK junior-senior high at-large parent
Sheri Ryals, EK district leadership team
Emily Scardena, community member
Ben Snedeker, EK director of student services
Kailee Wallace, EK Elementary School
Bria Warner, EK district leadership team
Shawn Wears, EK Elementary student
Audrey Williams, EK Elementary student
Katrina Wobbecke, EK district leadership team
Chris Wolford, Howard Hilton, community partner
Tish Melick, EK district leadership team
Superintendent Baird