Twelve-Month Entry Plan

Twelve-Month Entry Plan

Eric Trager

EDL 289: Organizational Management

Dr. Dan Mart

EDL 292: Final Seminar

Dr. Trent Grundmeyer

June 28, 2014

PERSONAL VISION

Act as a public servant in leading a school district with a laser like focus on learning; academically, socially, and civically for the benefit of society as a whole.

PERSONAL MISSION

Create a collaborative system of interdependently working teams, accepting learning as our fundamental purpose.

CORE VALUES

Be Competent

Act with Integrity

Be Visionary

Be Trustworthy

Be Visible

Be Accountable

This entry plan was designed to guide my work in my role as a new superintendent. It outlines primary tasks for the first year on the job. Tasks are organized by the Iowa Standards for School Leaders. Tasks were selected for alignment to the following transitional goals.

Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the district’s academic programs
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the district’s extracurricular programs
Assess the districts current financial condition
Assess needs for district infrastructure including buildings, grounds, and transportation fleet
Establish a positive Superintendent – Board relationship
Establish productive working relationships with district administrators, teachers and support staff
Assess and develop positive community support for the district

A calendar listing tasks chronologically by month and a preliminary Board agenda for each month is attached to the end of the entry plan. Entry plan tasks are in addition to requirements as outlined in the attached calendar of school district critical filing dates. Entry plan tasks are limited to those activities necessary to learn about the district in order to meet the transitional goals.

Standard 1: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community. (Visionary Leadership)

Tasks:

Listening Sessions – Listening sessions will be conducted in order to assess the current condition of the district in terms of perceived strengths and weaknesses. My purpose in these sessions is to listen and record what is being said.
Conduct sessions with the following people or groups
Individual Board Members
Individual Principals
Teachers (either individually or in small groups)
Activities Director
Directors of Food Service, Buildings, Transportation and Grounds Individually
Non-Certified staff (either individually or in small groups on a voluntary basis)
Use the following discussion points
Tell me about yourself.
What are the things we should not change here? What are you proud of?
What are some things that need to change? How can we get better at what we do?
What is your greatest concern for the district? What worries you?
What advice do you have for me?
Use the following specific questions for Board members
What are your general expectations of me?
Are you satisfied with current Board meetings? What changes need to be made?
What are your personal goals for the district?

Develop Board Goals – Work with the board in a retreat setting to develop goals based on input from the listening sessions. Goals will be written in each of the following areas:
Instructional Programs
Extracurricular Programs
District Financial Goals
Long Range Buildings, Grounds and Transportation Goals
Communicate expectations and develop administrative and individual principal goals. These goals will serve as a framework for principal and superintendent evaluations. Goals will be written in each of the following areas.
Administrative practice – management and instructional leadership
Professional development for administrators
Professional development for teachers
Procedures and expectations for completing state reports
Attend SAI new superintendent workshop

Standard 2: A school administrator is an educational leaderwho promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional development. (Instructional Leadership)

Tasks:

Identify and analyze student performance data
Determine who is responsible for synthesizing district data
Identify data points utilized by the district and determine if more are needed
Work with the data person and the building principals to assess the plan for improving student achievement going forward
Write student achievement goals in collaboration with the district SIAC committee
Increase knowledge of elementary school practices and procedures
Meet with elementary principals
Explain that I have not worked at the elementary level
Discuss current elementary policies and procedures specific to the following areas
Class size
Assigning students to teachers
Early literacy initiatives
Pre-school standards
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Conduct building walkthroughs with principals
Conduct walkthroughs at least once per month for the until January and then at least once every other month
Look for evidence of implementation of building initiatives
Assess needs in regard to buildings and grounds
Meet with District Leadership Team
Discuss current and past professional development
Discuss future PD plans
Discuss PLCs
Determine the district’s current status in regard to implementation
Articulate my desire to make the district a true PLC
Collaborate with principals to review evaluation procedures for all staff
Conduct weekly administrative team meetings
Include principals and teacher leaders as needed
Focus on programs and current issues
Monthly updates on progress toward goals
Monthly updates on progress on staff evaluations
Review District Developed Service Delivery Plan
Work with special education director

Standard 3: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and

resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment. (Organizational Leadership)

Tasks:

Review job descriptions including:
Principals
Central office staff
Administrative assistants
Non-certified staff

Attend IASB conference
Increase knowledge of budgetary, policy, legislative and personnel issues.

Attend ISFIS trainings
Increase knowledge of budgetary, policy, legislative and personnel issues.
Tour facilities with Building, Grounds and Transportation Directors
Seek input on future needs in these areas
Assess the current plan to meet these needs
Create a prioritized needs assessment from input provided
Develop long range plans for buildings, grounds and transportation
Develop the plan with the Board in a retreat setting
Develop a school closing procedure for inclement weather
Assess the current plan with principals and the activities director
Seek input in regard to needed changes
Assess the current financial condition of the district and develop financial projections
Meet with the School Business Official
Review the CAR, auditors report and financial indicators from IASB and ISFIS
Review certified enrollment and enrollment projections
Review policies and procedures
Review insurance coverage (health, workman’s comp, EMC)
Meet with Food Service Director
Review the food service account and budget
Determine needs for the coming year
Meet with Principals – handbooks, pre-service days
Review teacher and student handbooks
Develop new teacher induction protocol and induction day agenda
Develop returning teacher pre-service agenda
Plan for new staff barbeque
Meet with Administrative Assistants
Review policies and procedures
Determine needs for the coming year
Meet with principals and directors of special education, buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service to determine staffing needs for the coming year
Assess and current hiring procedures
Develop a human resources plan of action

Conduct a mid-year review with the Board and principals in a retreat setting
Assess progress on meeting district and administrative goals
Develop a plan for meeting targets by the end of the fiscal year
Conduct monthly meetings with buildings, grounds, transportation and food service directors
Focus on current issues in each area
Develop plans for meeting appropriate board goals
Budgeting
Review the current line item agenda
Develop a line item budget
Certify the budget
Certify Enrollment
Work with principals and SBO
Review Emergency Management Plan
Work with building principals
Work with building and grounds directors
Develop drill schedule
Conduct Board training session
Utilize services of IASB
Clarify roles and responsibilities of the board
Clarify procedures for board meetings
Communicate Board member dos and don’ts in accordance with open meetings law

Standard 4: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs and mobilizing community resources. (Collaborative Leadership)

Tasks:

Listening Sessions (See Standard 1)
Work with principals to create a “State of the District” presentation
Develop a 30 minute presentation
Identify groups that would benefit from hearing the presentation
Schedule presentations
Community School Update Meetings – “State of the District” meetings will be held with the community groups to keep them apprised of the current condition and long range plans of the district. Principals will assist with the presentations
Conduct meetings with the following groups
Chamber of Commerce
Service groups (Lions, Rotary)
Largest employers
Ministerial association
Farm Bureau Board of Directors
Utilize the following agenda items
Current financial condition
Current student achievement data
Long range plans for buildings, grounds, and transportation
PLC work with Principals
Assess current reality in regard to implementing PLCs
Communicate importance of PLCs in improving student achievement
Develop a plan for moving the PLC process forward from it’s current reality
Attend PLC Conference with principals and district leadership team

Standard 5: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.

(Ethical Leadership)

Tasks:

Meet with teacher union representative to review master contract agreement
Assess the current reality of the contract
Discuss perceptions of issues
Introduce interest based bargaining

Collective Bargaining
Work with Board to develop a collective bargaining plan
Communicate importance of transparent and ethical bargaining
Communicate my desire to negotiate total package
Determine bargaining limits
Determine bargaining committee
Bargain with teachers
Determine salaries for employees not covered by the collective bargaining agreement
Develop welcome back speech for faculty and staff
Introduce myself and communicate my personal mission, vision and core values
Clarify expectations
Communicate Board and administrative goals and commitments
Conduct a new staff barbeque at my residence
Invite principals and Board members
Welcome new staff to the district

Standard 6: A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by understanding, responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context. (Political Leadership)

Tasks:

Listening Sessions (see Standard 1)
Meet with City Council, ministerial association and Chamber of Commerce
Introduce myself and communicate my personal vision, mission and core values
Communicate my desire to work collaboratively for the benefit of our students
Ask the following questions:
What are our greatest strengths as a district?
What are our greatest needs going forward?
How can we collaborate to meet those needs?
What do we need to do to earn your support?
Develop an on-going web based communication tool
Create a blog to communicate current district news and issues
Update blog at least monthly

CALENDAR

JULY:

Conduct Listening Sessions (Standards 1, 4 and 6)
Attend IASB Conference (Standard 3)
Meet with the data person and building principals regarding student achievement data (Standard 2)
Meet with elementary principals regarding policies and procedures (Standard 2)
Conduct building and grounds tours with directors (Standard 3)
Meet with the food services director regarding budget and needs (Standard 3)
Meet with principals regarding handbooks and pre-service days (Standard 3)
Meet with administrative assistants regarding policies and procedures (Standard 3)
Meet with the school business official regarding policies and procedures and to review the current financial condition of the district (Standard 3)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Review job descriptions (Standard 3)
Meet with City Council (Standard 6)
Meet with ministerial association (Standard 6)
Meet with Chamber of Commerce (Standard 6)
Create blog and post first entry (Standard 6)

AUGUST:

Board Retreat (Standards 1 and 3)
SIAC meeting – Write student achievement goals (Standard 2)
Meet with the District Leadership team (Standard 2)
Review evaluation procedures for all staff (Standard 2)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Develop welcome back speech for faculty and staff (Standard 5)
New staff barbeque (Standard 5)
Review District Developed Service Delivery Plan (Standard 2)
Review emergency management plan (Standard 3)
Update blog (Standard 6)
SAI new superintendent workshop (Standard 1)

SEPTEMBER:

Conduct building walkthroughs with the building principals (Standard 2)
Develop administrative goals and individual principal goals (Standard 1)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
PLC work with principals (Standard 4)
Board training work session (Standard 3)
Update blog (Standard 6)

OCTOBER:

Conduct building walkthroughs with the building principals (Standard 2)
Develop inclement weather plan (Standard 3)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Certify enrollment (Standard 3)
Update blog (Standard 6)

NOVEMBER:

Conduct building walkthroughs with the building principals (Standard 2)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Develop “State of the District” presentations (Standard 4)
Update blog (Standard 6)

DECEMBER:

Conduct building walkthroughs with the building principals (Standard 2)
“State of the District” community meetings (Standard 4)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Meet with teacher union representative (Standard 5)
Update blog (Standard 6)

JANUARY:

Conduct building walkthroughs with the building principals (Standard 2)

Attend ISFIS Budget Workshop (Standard 3)
“State of the District” community meetings (Standard 4)
Conduct mid-year review with the Board and principals (Standard 3)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Develop collective bargaining plan with the Board (Standard 5)
Update blog (Standard 6)

FEBRUARY:

Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Collective bargaining (Standard 5)
Update blog (Standard 6)
Budgeting (Standard 3)

MARCH:

Conduct building walkthroughs with the building principals (Standard 2)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Collective bargaining (Standard 5)
Update blog (Standard 6)
Budgeting (Standard 3)

APRIL:

Meet with principals and directors (special education, buildings, grounds, transportation, food service) to review hiring practices and determine staffing needs for the coming year (Standard 3)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Update blog (Standard 6)
Budgeting (Standard 3)

MAY:

Conduct building walkthroughs with the building principals (Standard 2)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Update blog (Standard 6)

JUNE:

Attend ISFIS Conference (Standard 3)
Attend PLC Conference with principals and district leadership team (Standard 4)
Administrative team meetings (Standard 2)
Buildings, grounds, transportation, and food service director meeting (Standard 3)
Update blog (Standard 6)

FY2014-15 SchoolDistrict Critical Filing Dates

July 2014

1–Newjointemploymentwholegradesharingapplications

due

15 –CompletionofSPEDbillingstuition-in

August2014

1–ProgressReporttowardReorganizationdueto DE/SBRC

1–FosterCareclaimdue

1–SpecialEducationclaimsdue:

Fostercare

ProvidedtoNon-publicstudents

HighCostFund

DistrictCourtplacedclaims

1–JuvenileHomeclaimdue(AEAs)

September2014

1–Lastdayto filea timelyapplicationforKindergartenopen

enrollmentfor2014-15schoolyear

1–NewRegionalAcademyapplicationsdue

1–Updateto VehicleInformationSystemdue

5–SBRChearingrequestdue;Exhibitsdue

9–Specialelectiondate

15 –Datebywhicha studentmustbe schoolage for Certified

Enrollment

15 –AnnualTransportationReport(ATR)due

15 –CertifiedAnnualReport(CAR)andSpecialEd

Supplement(SES)due

30 –Facilities,ElectionandSalesTaxReportdue

October2014

1–Boardresolutionsfor studyingreorganizationand

receivingWGS weightingdue

1–CAR,SES,ATRdueifhaveDEapprovedextension

1–WholeGradeSharing(WGS)countdate forfirstsemester tuitiondue

7–SBRChearing

15 –Lastdateto notifySBRCifdistrictincurrednegative unspentbalance

15 – EASIER/CertifiedEnrollmentcertificationdeadline

15 –AEASupplementaryWeightingTeacherFTEdue

15 –NonpublicCertifiedEnrollmentdue

15 –NonpublicTextbookServicesrequestdue

31 – EASIER/CertifiedInter-Districtresolutiondeadline

November2014

1–SpecialEducationstudentweightingcalculated

1–WGS:lastdayforpublicnoticeofboardintent

1– Innovativecalendarwaiverapplication(newand continued)deadline

1-SchoolBoardOfficersreportdue

14 –SBRChearingrequest;Exhibitsdue

December2014

1–SBRCapplication-IncreasedEnrollment,Open

EnrollmentOutandLEP

2–Specialelectiondate

15 –DropoutpreventionprogramsforModified

SupplementalAmount-lastdayto submitapplication

16 –SBRChearing

January 2015

1–ReorganizationsordissolutionseffectiveonnextJuly1;

lastdayto notifyDE

1–AEAnon-fiscalbudgetsdueto DE(proposedstaffing, numberofclassroomsforJuvenileHomes)

31 –Nonpublicschooltransportation:Reimbursementclaim-

1stsemester

February2015

1–Dropoutpreventionprogram:lastdayto resubmitan

unapprovedapplication

1–Lastdayto requestauthorityto chargeadministrative coststo SPEDfor next year

1–WGSagreement:lastdayforboard to sign

3–Specialelectiondate

10 –AEAproposedbudgetsdue

15 –Lastdayto bill for1stsemestertuition

20 –WGScountdate for secondsemestertuition

20 –SBRChearingrequest:Exhibitsdue

March2015

1–AEABudget:lastdayforpublichearing

1–Openenrollmentdeadlineforreceivingdistrictto acton timelyfiledopenenrollmentapplication281-17.0(2)

24 –SBRChearing

31 –Annualauditsubmission/extensionrequest

April2015

7–Specialelectiondate

15 –AEAbudgetproposal-resubmitunapproved

15 –Budgetcertificationdate

15 -BudgetGuarantee-BoardResolutionsdueto DOM

15 –AEAslastdateto submitunapprovedbudgetto State

Boardforfinalapproval

15 -ISL- Copyofboardresolutionorballotresolutiondueto

DOM

May 2015

1–Bondresolutionfiling(ifany) withControlcounty

auditor.

1-CompetentPrivateInstruction/Homeschooling:deadline forconductingannualassessmentfor homeschooledstudents,

281-IAC31.8

1-VPPEL:copyofballotresolutiondueto DOM(100%