succeeding at strategic planning harry bloom

PEJE Assembly PresentationOctober 2010

SUCCEEDING AT STRATEGIC PLANNING:From SWOT to Board Agenda

Ida Crown Jewish Academy

Presenters:

! Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Dean, ICJA

! Michelle Friedman, Immediate Past­President ICJA Board

! Kevin Kirshenbaum, VP Strategic Planning

! Harry Bloom, Process Facilitator, Institute for University­School Partnership, Yeshiva University

2

Executive Summary

1. External Consultants

2. Proven Process (It’s a Process, not a meeting)

3. Goal Setting Based on Facts

4. Partnerships of Professionals and Lay Leaders

5. Long Term Financial Plan that Forces Tradeoffs and Promotes Affordability and Quality

6. Use as Platform for Strategic Governance

3

Strategic Planning Overview 2007­2008

" Committee formed

" Initial S.W.O.T. Analysis

" Laid groundwork

" Process not completed

4

Strategic Planning Overview 2007­2008

Lessons Learned:" Need for objective analysis to break ties" Need for outside consultants" Need for Multiple inputs

" Faculty" Administration" Board" Parents" Community Leaders

5

Strategic Planning Overview New Beginning: 2009­2010

! Yeshiva University (YU) Institute for University­School Partnership process facilitator! PEJE/YU financial support

! Use proven process adapted to ICJA

! Commitment to planning as part of evolution to strategic governance

! VP Strategic Planning as champion

6

Strategic Planning:Process Overview

7

S.W.O.T. AnalysisStrengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

! September, 2008 – Board Retreat / SWOT analysis! Foci of study

! Affordability! Fundraising! Faculty Compensation / Recruitment! Supervision / Professional Development /

Curriculum ! Student Achievement

“on a number of the above issues, there was a lack of consensus over how we are currently doing, and a desire for analytic work to validate ICJA’s position”

8

S.W.O.T. Analysis Outcomes9

Strategic Planning:Working Groups

! Student Achievement / Metrics

! Professional Faculty

! Curriculum Development

! Fiscal Viability! Affordability / Finances! Fundraising / Endowment

10

Strategic Planning:Committee Members! 9 ICJA Board Members

! 5 Professional Staff

! 3 Administrators / Principals

! 1 Associated Talmud Torahs (Central Agency)

! 5 Teachers

! 4 Community Leaders with expertise

! YU Institute for University­School Partnership consultants (Overall planning process, education, finance)

! PEJE / Measuring Success: Sacha Litman

! 3 Peer Schools ( Weinbaum ­ Boca, Fuchs Mizrachi – Cleveland, Maimonides – Brookline)

11

Strategic Planning:Timetable

! September, 2008 – Board Retreat / SWOT Working Session

! November­January: Sub Committees and SWOT Analysis

! December – February 2009! Committee Charters and Workplans! Data gathering / refinement! Benchmark / Comparative Data! Thorough Educational Audit (Dr. Jeffrey Glanz,

YU)

12

Strategic Planning:Timetable

! March­April 2009: Buy­in and Goal Setting

! May­June 2009: Board Presentation and Approval

! July 2009: Implementation Committees Begin to Work

! Ongoing Committee Reports to Board

13

14

Strategic PlanningAdministrative Tracking Report

15

Strategic Plan: Board ReportingOctober 13th Meeting

! Development: Deva Zwelling

! Finance: Michael London

! Faculty Recruitment/Compensation: D. Harris

! Professional Development: Jeremy Kahan

16

Strategic Planning“The BIG Picture” – Critical Elements

! Every school needs future direction >> not just those in trouble

! 360° perspective avoids tunnel vision

! Expert outside counsel breaks bottlenecks and helps identify solutions

! Administrative/Board partnership is imperative

! Long term financial planning is vital… as is flexibility

! Planning as doorway to strategic governance

17

Strategic Planning:

Chairing Strategic Planning

“Monday Morning Quarterback”

Kevin Kirshenbaum, M.D.

18

Strategic Planning: Role of the Chair

! Champion the Process! Lay Leadership! Administration! Board! Parents

! Keep Process Focused! S.W.O.T., Data Research / Interpretation,

Goal/Action Plan Development, etc! PER Strategic Area of Concentration

19

Strategic Planning:Successful Planning

! Developing Trust with Administration! Time! Research based data! Intermediary (consultants with “outside” view)! Buy in to every step along the way

! Keep Lay leadership focused! Individual parent agendas NOT the priority of

Strategic Planning! Buy in to every step along the way

20

Strategic Planning:Potential Pitfalls

! Administration! Data Driven Decision Making vs. Historical

Assumptions! Teacher sensitive areas of focus (benchmarking,

expectations for professional development, etc.)! Stressing Administration! Day to Day Operations! Strategic Planning Process

21

Strategic Planning:Potential Pitfalls

! Lay Leadership! Finding Sub Committee Leads that buy into

Strategic Planning! Hold Sub Committee Leads accountable ! Process! Deadlines

22

Strategic Planning:Lessons Learned

! Consultants / Intermediary / Experts! Impasses: Data, Goal /Action Plan Development,

Metric / Monitoring

! Set Firm Deadlines

! Board Communication! Report Progress: Keep Board Informed and

engaged in process along the way! Expected Timeline: holds ALL accountable

23

Strategic Planning:Implementation

! Head of School! Key to Implementation! True Partner in the process: EVERY STEP! Joint Effort! Cannot be Exclusively Board Driven

! Board President! Allow the Strategic Plan to drive Agenda of Board

( give up some autonomy, hold VP’s / Administration accountable to the Plan)

24

Strategic Planning:ICJA Accomplishments to Date

! Finances! Establish line item for Strategic Planning that

impacts tuition / fundraising ! Consistent reporting of critical drivers of the

budget to board ! Ongoing impact on budget of priorities set by

Strategic Planning per domain ! Scholarship: revised scholarship process based

on benchmarking with other schools

25

Strategic Planning:ICJA Accomplishments to Date

! Professional Development ! Mentoring program ! 3 Tier Plan

! Curriculum Review/Revision! Math! Tefillah(Prayer)

! Student Achievement! College Guidance: Revised process for both

students/parents! Data­based tracking of Achievement

26

Strategic Planning:ICJA Accomplishments to Date

! Student Achievement! College Guidance: Revised process for both

students/parents! Use of longitudinal standardized tests reports in

tracking of achievement

27

Strategic PlanningQuestions for Consideration and Discussion

! What would your school’s SWOT analysis indicate?

! What might your school’s top 3­5 year goals be? Why?

! What would your school’s top 3 strategic initiatives need to focus on?

! How can Board and Administrative readiness for strategic planning be enhanced?

28