Training: Board Retreats and Strategic Planning

Want to know how to approach strategic planning at your school? Kim Dohrer, President, Academica West and Kara Findley, Lead Board Liasion, Academica West join us to discuss board retreats and strategic planning. We discuss the following:

• Why board retreats are important
• Key components to planning 
  • What items does the director need to provide in the state of the school?
    • Academic data (achievement test results)
    • Staff data (teacher retention, salaries)
    • Stakeholder survey results
    • Finance (facility needs, curriculum costs)
  • Strategic Planning-ask questions!
    • Understand Director's responsibilities for alignment of goals
      • Know your charter
      • Know legal requirements
      • Understand your "sacred cows"
      • Identify expectations of your director
    • Where is the board at? 
      • Do we understand governance vs. management?
      • What are our roles?
    • What are the needs of the school?
      • Set short term goals
      • Follow up on goals in board meetings
      • What resources can we put toward goals?
    • Dealing with less-engaged board members
    • Requirements for Open Meeting Act and board retreats
    • Using a "parking lot" for issues brought up in board retreats/meetings. (You'll want to find out what this is!)

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

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