MinnewaskaCEI

MINNEWASKA STAFF ENGAGES IN VISION & VALUES DEVELOPMENT

Final day of the school year spent launching strategic development process

Alexandria, MN - June 2, 2011 Members of the Minnewaska Areas Schools staff gathered on their final day of the school year for a working session to develop their vision for the future of the school and to work together to identify shared team values to guide future strategic direction.

The half-day session was facilitated by Barb Ostrander of The Competitive Edge, a management and training consulting company based in Alexandria.

“The Vision and Values session was held to align all of us atMinnewaska on the future we seek to create for our students and our schools,” said Pat Falk who is moving from the elementary principal role to replace Lyle Katzemeyer, retiring high school principal.

Falk said the district is working to update their strategic direction given the changes in education since the school last developed their strategic plan.

“We started the process with the staff whose responsibility it is to work with our district’s students and parents daily. They play a key role in the success of our children and the school and it’s imperative they have a voice in this process,” said Falk.

The group spent a significant portion of their time identifying their shared values that will guide decision making and create unity among the large team as well as with the families and the communities.

“The creation of the vision has a few more steps to go through,” said Diane Cordes, principal for Minnewaska Alternative Options School and special education. “We will be meeting with the PTA and focus groups from the community and students this summer to continue working through the process.”

Cordes added that by developing a solid strategy it allows the school to use its limited resources with discipline and focus. “We feel the pain of budget cuts year after year. By having a solid direction we can better allocate where we spend dollars and time and hopefully increase the involvement of families and the communities with specific goals.”

Alexandria, MN 56308 (320) 762-2515 info@thecompedge.com