Stragetic Plan

After several years of talking about developing a long-term strategic plan for the Berryessa School District, the Board held a one-day retreat in early December to put together a plan with three-year goals for the district.  The retreat included a broad cross section of community members and district employees.  We spent the day brainstorming about the strengths and weaknesses of the district, developing three-year goals and then working in small teams to create a 6-month action plan. 

The Board officially approved the Strategic Plan at our Jan. 21 meeting and the goals have been disseminated out to the school sites so that everyone is aware of the primary objectives for the district.  Each month, the Board will receive a report on progress toward the 6-month objectives and the entire Strategic Planning group will reconvene in May to review the results, adjust the goals, and develop the next action plan.

The first exciting outcome from the retreat was a modernization of the district's Mission Statement.  We continue to focus on developing lifelong learners, but the statement now includes a nod to the 21st century and the global nature of our society.  We are proud to live in as diverse a community as Berryessa, which is a microcosm for the entire world.  All our students need to be prepared not just for college and career, but to be contributing members of an ever shrinking world.  Therefore, our new Mission Statement reads:

Berryessa Union School District provides all students the skills to become lifelong learners and successful 21st century global citizens.

We formulated 5 key 3-year goals for the district, which I hope you agree capture key things that will make our district successful in achieving our mission and improving the educational outcomes for the students we serve.  The five goals are:

1. Ensure a safe learning environment
2. Enhance proficiency in the 4 C's: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity
3. Enhance technology
4. Provide professional development for all staff
5. Increase parent and community involvement and education

Each of these broad goals is supported by a 6-month action plan to get the district on its way to being successful.  The full strategic plan with the action plans is posted on the district website.  These plans include detailed timelines and names of those responsible for implementation.  I look forward to regular reports from the district on how well each of these plans is being implemented.

Local Control Accountability Plan Testimony

California Governor Jerry Brown and the Legislature took bold action in 2013 to change the way funds are allocated to school districts.  The so-called Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) allocates additional money above baseline for targeted disadvantaged students.  One of the exciting things about the new funding model is that it provides flexibility to local school boards to tailor services to the local needs of students in their districts.  Rather than proscribe the way the supplemental money is spent, as traditionally done through categorical programs, districts are supposed to be able develop district- and school-wide programs that work best for their students' needs.  School boards will then be accountable for the success of their programs.

The legislation left it up to the State Board of Education (SBE) to develop spending regulations to guide districts through the process of creating a Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).  The Berryessa Union School District is sending out surveys and holding constituent meetings to gather input as we develop the LCAP for the 2014-15 school year.  As the SBE develops the regulations, they are under lots of pressure to put restrictions on the ways districts can spend their money.  This may end up taking much of the local control back from school boards.  

Next week, SBE is holding a hearing to gather input on the spending regulations.  Since I am unable to be in Sacramento on Thursday, I sent the following letter to SBE today in place of providing personal testimony.

January 9, 2014

President Michael Kirst and Members
California State Board of Education
1430 N. Steet, #5111
Sacramento, CA  95814

Re: January Meeting Agenda Items 20 & 21: Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP)

Dear President Kirst and Members of the State Board of Education:

As a member of the Berryessa School Board, I am very excited about the promise of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).  The flexibility afforded districts to spend resources as they see fit allows local priorities to be met and makes the board more accountable to local stakeholders.  Our district takes very seriously the requirements that LCFF planning needs requires a focus on equity and transparency.  We held a discussion at our December Board meeting to discuss plans for developing a Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) that meets the needs of our very diverse district.  

The process is beginning right away, with meetings being held at school sites and with other stakeholder groups in the district, to make sure that the plan reflects the needs of our students and families.  We will be surveying parents and members of the community and involving all constituents in the process.

One of the best parts of the spending regulations as proposed is that they allow districts to decide how best to serve their own students.  Districts will be held accountable for results without being proscribed on how to spend added resources.  In addition, LCFF allows for the development of both district- and school-wide programs and services.  Both are important in promoting student achievement and success.  There are many different educational models that can achieve good educational outcomes, and it should be left to local districts to decide the best way to allocate the money to achieve those outcomes.  

Thank you very much for the opportunity to share my comments with you and for your thoughtful approach to developing the spending regulations that govern the implementation of LCFF.  

Sincerely,
David Cohen
Trustee, Berryessa Union School District