East Williston Superintendent of Schools Elaine Kanas updated the East Williston School Board at its Monday night meeting on plans to issue a strategic planning survey to school district residents in mid-April.
Kanas said the purpose of conducting the survey is to enable the school board to devise a five-year strategic plan in light of the current financial strictures under the state-mandated tax cap.
“That was the impetus for us to plan our priorities for the next five years, thinking about how we could maximize our resources,” Kanas said.
She said the board struck upon formulating a long-term plan during its annual retreat before the current school year started.
Development of the survey, which is still in process, started with a community forum in September, Kanas said. That forum produced ideas for some of the 17 items from which district residents will be asked to select the five items they would give the highest priority and the lowest priority in the school district for the next five years.
“The survey is meant to get a quick screen of basic choices,” Kanas said. “Once we get responses, it will be possible for people amplify on that.”
As it is currently framed, specific subject areas are among the choices, including world languages, science, mathematics, and performing and visual arts. STEM, an integrated approach to science technology and mathematics not currently offered, is also list as well as non-academic priorities including security, facilities and social and emotional development, such as anti-bullying. Athletics, clubs and extracurricular activities, outside cultural arts programs to be brought into the schools and field trips are also on the list.
Those responding to the survey may also add an item as a high or low priority not included on the list that was ultimately compiled by the eight-member Strategic Planning Committee with Michael Porges, who was formerly with Andersen Consulting and McKinsey & Associates, as committee facilitator.
Members of the committee include a single representative from the school board’s educational, facilities, finance, and audit committees, one representative of the East Williston Parent Teacher Organization, a representative of the district teachers union, a representative of the district administrator union and a Wheatley School student.
The survey will be available online and also sent to residents by direct mail with a goal of achieving a 50 percent response rate, Kanas said. Results will be reviewed by the committee, which will then make recommendations to relevant academic and other district departments.
“They will make recommendations regarding the priorities by mid-May,” Kanas said.
Teachers and administrators will, in turn, provide options in June to the district Strategic Planning Committee, which formulate a plan to present to the school board trustees.
“The intention is in September the board of education will adopt a strategic plan for the next five years,” Kanas said.
Kanas said she had implemented a similar long-term planning strategy in Valley Stream 30, the school district where she was superintendent before being hired as East Williston schools superintendent.
In other developments:
• The board honored members of the Wheatley varsity basketball team, which won its division this season, and the varsity track team, recognized as a group as the top team of scholar athletes in their sport statewide.
• Elementary school winners of a New York State essay contest on “Why school makes me feel important” were also recognized.
