Mega issues are issues of strategic importance,
which represent choices the school district will need to make in defining the
ultimate direction of its long-range plan. These issues represent potential
impediments to achievement of the Envisioned Future, and form a basis for
dialogue about the choices facing the school district. These questions can
serve as an ongoing "menu" of strategic issues that, using a
knowledge-based approach in gathering insights relative to St. Ignatius Public
Schools’ strategic position and directional choices for each of the issues, can
be used by the Board to create regular opportunities for strategic dialogue
about the future issues facing the school district.
Note: The mega-issue questions
are not necessarily arranged in priority order.
v Mega-Issue Questions for consideration by the
District:
- How can we effectively
engage the support of the community to enhance parental support of the
educational system and subsequently improve student outcomes?
- How can we broaden the
awareness to all employees of the District the importance of delivering a
consistent, high quality education to the students regardless of
background or capabilities?
- What can we do to
encourage and support at-risk students to become fully engaged in (completing)
their educational program?
- How do we instill the
value of education?
- What can we do to decrease
the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATODs)?
- As a district, what do we
need to do to stay in front of the continued advancements in technology
and science as it pertains to the culture of our students?
- How do we adjust with the
possible sequestering of federal funding?
- MEGA ISSUES: Reviewed and
updated on February 26, 2013.
Knowledge-Based Decision Making Questions
The Board should prioritize the above-referenced mega issues and decide
which of these issues require immediate attention on the part of the
Board. Once the identified mega-issues
are prioritized, the Board will set aside time at scheduled meetings to analyze
a particular mega issue. At such meetings, the Board's primary focus will be on
the mega-issue at hand. All other
business (routine or otherwise) will be conducted at the end of the meeting
once the dialogue and deliberation on the mega-issue has been concluded for
that meeting. When analyzing mega
issues, the Board will utilize a knowledge-based decision making process. This will keep the focus of the Board on
relevant factors to consider as it develops strategies to overcome particular
impediments/barriers that may impact the Board's strategic direction. The Board will analyze mega-issues by
answering the following questions:
1.
What do we know about the wants, needs and preferences of our
constituents that are relevant to this decision?
2.
What do we know about the current realities and evolving dynamics
facing our constituents/community that is relevant to this decision?
3.
What do we know about the capacity/strategic position of our school
district that is relevant to this decision?
4.
What are the ethical implications of our choices?
