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DRAFT MOTION 20191211_5-D:

I move to approve the strategic plans for the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually

Impaired and the South Dakota School for the Deaf as presented.

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS

Academic and Student Affairs

AGENDA ITEM: 5 – D

DATE: December 11-12, 2019

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SUBJECT

Strategic Plans for the SDSBVI and SDSD

CONTROLLING STATUTE, RULE, OR POLICY

None

BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION

The South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SDSBVI) and the South

Dakota School for the Deaf (SDSD) have completed the strategic planning process. Both

schools worked with Margaret Sumption to gather information from both internal and

external constituents, reaffirm institutional values, and create an action plan.

IMPACT AND RECOMMENDATION

The Strategic Plans are presented for Board of Regents review and adoption.

Board staff recommend approval.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I – SDSBVI Strategic Plan

Attachment II – SDSD Strategic Plan

South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Mission ForwardTM Plan

Stepping Forward

June 2019

ATTACHMENT I 2

MISSIONPreparing students to step forward with confidence and a vision of lifetime success.

All South Dakota children who are blind or visually

impaired will have full access to educational resources that

prepare them for life.

VISION

Mission, Vision, & Values

ATTACHMENT I 3

CORE VALUESWE VALUE:Each child as an individual, deserving of uniquely designed learning opportunities focused to help them achieve their highest level of independence.

Families, communities, and school districts as key partners in meeting the needs of each child.

Knowledgeable and caring professionals who provide experiences for each child in the least restrictive environment.

Innovative use of technological tools adapted for each child.

Safety and security in a positive healthy environment.

A commitment to the highest level of independent readiness as each child embraces adulthood with a sense of opportunity.

ATTACHMENT I 4

Strategic Priority AExpand, deepen, and strengthen continuity

of outreach services to assure critical support

for children within homes, schools, and

communities.

Strategic Priority BBuild on the partnership

with Northern State University to be a

Laboratory of Excellence in workforce readiness for services to the blind and visually impaired.

Strategic Priority CEstablish a center of

excellence in transition resources for children

who are blind or visually impaired in South

Dakota.

Strategic Priority DIncrease local, state and national understanding of SDSBVI’s roles and responsibilities as a resource for children in need of specialized

vision services.

Program

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Partnerships

Transitions Brand Promise

ATTACHMENT I 5

STRATEGIC PRIORITY AExpand, deepen, and strengthen continuity of outreach services to assure critical support for children within homes, schools, and

communities.

GOALS:

1. Strengthen model of statewide services for students who are blind or visually impaired.

2. Expand the assessment program to better serve students.

3. Further develop consistent procedures organization-wide.

4. Build a collection of resources for parents and school districts to expand learning for children receiving services.

5. Expand SDSBVI campus-based experiences for students served in their home school districts.

Program

ATTACHMENT I 6

Partnerships

STRATEGIC PRIORITY BBuild on the partnership with Northern State University to be a

Laboratory of Excellence in workforce readiness for services to the blind and visually impaired.

GOALS:

1. Strengthen and bring awareness to Northern State University (NSU) students to build interest and engagement in the field of vision loss.

2. Partner with the Distance Learning Network of NSU (Technical and Media Relations) offering college credits in the area of Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI).

3. Finalize a TVI masters degree within the School of Education at NSU that includes internship opportunities at SDSBVI.

4. Partner with NSU to market the TVI program across the state, region, and nation.

ATTACHMENT I 7

STRATEGIC PRIORITY CEstablish a center of excellence in transition resources for children

who are blind or visually impaired in South Dakota.

GOALS:

1. Make investments to expand the readiness of staff to meet the unique needs of students of transition age.

2. Market our “Learning to be Equipped for Adulthood Program” (LEAP) that delivers customized transition services for students who are seeking work or post secondary education.

Transitions

ATTACHMENT I 8

STRATEGIC PRIORITY DIncrease local, state, and national understanding of SDSBVI’s roles and responsibilities as a resource for children in need of specialized

vision services.

GOALS:

1. Develop an internal leadership culture within the SDSBVI design to build capacity and engagement of staff.

2. Use the new SDSBVI facility as a marketing tool to develop a national “Center of Excellence” for educational services and technology.

Brand Promise

ATTACHMENT I 9

The South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired retained the consulting services of Sioux Falls, SD based company Sumption & Wyland, LLC for strategic

planning. This Mission ForwardTM plan and report is the result of this effort.

The South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Mission ForwardTM plan and report was completed in June 2019. The work-plan for the strategic plan is

contained in a separate, internal document.

ATTACHMENT I 10

Mission ForwardTM Plan

THE NEXT CHAPTER

August 2019

ATTACHMENT II 11

MISSIONSouth Dakota School for the Deaf – Partners in educational success.

It is the vision of the South Dakota School for the Deaf to provide the

specialized educational services and resources for South Dakota children who are deaf and hard of hearing

leading to their full and active participation.

VISION

Mission, Vision, & Values

ATTACHMENT II 12

CORE VALUES

WE VALUE:

WE ASSURE:

WE DEDICATE:

WE BELIEVE:Every child has the right to access the tools they need to grow and live a successful life.

That children who are deaf and hard of hearing have the right to full participation in social and educational experiences in their homes, schools, and communities.

A connection and collaboration with parents, families, schools, health care providers, and others to serve children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Our time and talents to furthering knowledge and best practices in understanding the educational, cultural, medical, and social needs of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

ATTACHMENT II 13

Strategic Priority 1Build capacity of SDSD to meet the needs of students across the state.

Strategic Priority 2Increase local,

state and national understanding of SDSD roles and

responsibilities as a resource for children.

Strategic Priority 3Build a center

of excellence in transition resources for children across

South Dakota.

Strategic Priority 4Extend and equalize Audiology services

across the state.

Service Capacity

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Brand Promise

Student Transition Audiology Access

The Next Chapter in:

ATTACHMENT II 14

SERVICE CAPACITYStrategic Priority 1

Build capacity of SDSD to meet the needs of students across the state.

Goals

1. Build enhancement experiences for students and their families including communication immersion and socialization for children and families.

2. Enhance services of SDSD that support school districts and families in meeting the needs of students concentrating online community that meet unique needs of students.

3. Add additional personnel in SDSD outreach to meet the needs of expanded population of students seeking services.

4. Partnering with higher education in South Dakota and other states, build a network of credentialed educational resources to assure trained personnel to support the needs of students.

ATTACHMENT II 15

BRAND PROMISE

Goals

1. Increase social media, public policy, public information, and good-new messaging to inform the South Dakota citizens of the role of SDSD.

2. Build on-line presence of resource materials, educational materials, social supports, and related materials supporting students, families, and home schools.

Strategic Priority 2Increase local, state and national understanding of SDSD roles and

responsibilities as a resource for children.

ATTACHMENT II 16

STUDENT TRANSITION

Goals

1. Build, through in-service development and unique experiences, the capacity of SDSD consultants and Audiology personnel to support the needs of students in early education school transitions.

2. Develop transitions resource materials for distribution in all areas of student transition.

Strategic Priority 3Build a center of excellence in transition

resources for children across South Dakota.

ATTACHMENT II 17

AUDIOLOGY ACCESS

Goals

1. Provide statewide awareness of the impact of audiology screenings delivered by the SDSD Audiology Program.

2. Prioritize access to audiology screening to very rural and frontier communities of the state.

3. Develop and promote expanded materials, resources, and tools for schools and parents to meet the audiology service needs of South Dakotans.

Strategic Priority 4Extend and equalize Audiology services

across the state.

ATTACHMENT II 18

South Dakota School for the Deaf retained the consulting services of Sioux Falls, SD based company Sumption & Wyland, LLC for strategic planning. This Mission

ForwardTM plan and report is the result of this effort.

The South Dakota School for the Deaf Mission ForwardTM plan and report was completed in August 2019. The companion work plan for the strategic report is

contained in a separate, internal document.

ATTACHMENT II 19