
Strategic Plan Working Group
The Strategic Plan Working Group provides valuable insights and serves as a sounding board that will help shape a long-term plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of our entire community as our strategic planning process moves forward.
The group began its work in January 2025 by reviewing the high-level feedback our district received during the first few months of the 2025-2025 school year, including Superintendent Perkowski’s Coffee & Connect events, the staff and community Blank Canvas sessions, and student and staff surveys.
They will continue to meet monthly to collaboratively work through this data in more depth, gather feedback and input from our colleagues and other stakeholders, and use it to inform strategies that will move our district forward.
Who is in the Strategic Plan Working Group?
Group members were selected carefully to ensure that all schools and grade levels are represented, a wide range of interests are included, and community-wide perspectives are considered as this important planning process moves forward.
Many of us on this team have intersecting and overlapping roles as staff members, parents, and members of the community. Each of our roles and our experiences within them are going to help impact the conversations we will have over the next several months and, ultimately, help shape a plan for the future of our district.
What do they do?
The group was brought together to review and analyze data, identify information gaps, ask questions, and share insights that will help shape a strategic plan focused on the education and experiences of our students and staff.
This team provides valuable insights and serves as a sounding board that will help shape a long-term plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of our entire community as our strategic planning process moves forward.
The group began its work in January 2025 by reviewing the high-level feedback our district has received over the last several months, including Superintendent Perkowski’s Coffee & Connect events, the staff and community Blank Canvas sessions, and student and staff surveys.
The group will continue to meet monthly to collaboratively work through this data in more depth, gather feedback and input from our colleagues and other stakeholders, and use it to inform strategies that will move our district forward and inform a long-term strategic plan.
Will this group make final decisions about buildings and the future of the district?
No, this group will not make any final decisions about the future of GHAPS.
After review from the Working Group and approval by the school board, the strategic plan will serve as the district’s North Star to guide future discussions that may come up, such as new or expanded educational offerings, major facility upgrades, or redistricting.
While each of these topics, along with many others, have come up through our listening tour and certainly warrant deeper discussion, no plans are underway, no decisions have been made, nor will any decisions be made regarding these topics through the work of our Strategic Plan Working Group.
Was this group formed to work on another bond?
No, this group's focus is not on a bond.
- Much of this group’s focus has been and will continue to be on teaching and learning, and the education we envision for students in our district in the future. Before jumping to operational needs, we are working to develop a shared understanding of our goals for teaching and learning, although the two certainly go hand-in-hand.
- This team’s aim is to help shape that plan so that the district is able to make informed decisions that align to a clear vision moving forward.
- We have continued to receive feedback from staff, students, parents, and others throughout the community about the age and wide-ranging needs of our buildings.
- We hear, acknowledge, and feel these concerns; discussions around another bond measure will likely be on the horizon in the near future to ensure our buildings are able to meet the needs of our students and staff.
- However, those discussions cannot and will not take place until after we have solidified a plan for the future of GHAPS with a clear focus on teaching and learning.
What is the timeline for this work?
The group's first meeting was held on Monday, January 15. The team met for two hours and will continue to do so on a monthly basis between now and the end of the school year.
Here is the anticipated timeline:
January: Kickoff meeting, data collection overview
February: In-depth data review
March: Developing themes and goals, draft goal statements
April: Discussing initiatives and metrics, draft key initiatives
May: Monitoring and communication, draft roadmap
June: Monitoring and governance, present final strategic plan to GHAPS School Board
How can other voices be included?
During the first half of the 2024-2025 school year, we spent time laying the foundation for this work by gathering feedback from staff, students, families, and the community through our community meetings, Coffee and Connect sessions, student surveys, and more.
As we continue to collect and analyze data, there will be more opportunities for surveys, superintendent engagement sessions, focus groups, and more.
Those with feedback and ideas can feel free to share those with a Strategic Plan Working Group team member so they can bring them to our next meeting.
If you have a question or comment you would like to submit for the Strategic Plan Working Group's consideration, please complete our questions and comments submission form.