Onward Education Consultants began focus group sessions last week as part of the strategic planning process for the Salida School District.
They have had an amazing response, and shared that the Salida community is thoughtful, has brought incredible insight to the focus groups, and ideas for what the future of Salida Schools should look like.
As the initial focus group portion of the process is a critical component of the larger strategic planning process and they are interested in hearing from multiple perspectives from the community, additional focus group times have been added to the calendar. Anyone, (parents, staff, interested community members) should contact Kim LeTourneau at kletourneau@salidaschools.org or 719-530-5225 for information about attending upcoming sessions. Onward Education Consultants was selected by the district’s board of education following a unanimous yes vote at the board meeting held in June. Onward will facilitate the strategic planning process, with a particular focus on what our community hopes the district can provide a Salida graduate to be successful in life.
At the end of the first phase of the process which includes the community and staff focus groups, Onward will then report back to the community to ensure they captured the critical themes, before developing a community committee to refine the direction of the process. The Board of Education expects a final presentation by February to support improvement planning for next year.
Focus groups and community meetings will be held in person. There will be at least one dedicated Zoom meeting, and other meetings could be shifted to remote if deemed necessary due to viral circumstances. The current Salida School District strategic plan, last revised in 2017, can be found at salidaschools.com under the About the District tab. With the addition of Colorado Mountain College to the Salida community and significant shifts in the world in recent years, it is time for a fresh look at how to best serve our students.
If you are interested in sharing your feedback or want to know more about the process, reach out to Kim LeTourneau at 719-530-5225 or kletourneau@salidaschools.org.
