2019-20 Strategic Plan

Greater Albany Public Schools embarked on the implementation of a comprehensive Strategic Plan and asked for public guidance in the process. The core values, goals, expectations, and growth opportunities for the district are imperative for success in giving our children an education that will prepare them for successful adult lives.

Coinciding with the creation of our Strategic Plan was an opportunity for additional funding provided by the Oregon Legislature’s $2 billion Student Success Act. This historic investment in k-12 schools throughout the state could allow Albany to receive $5.5 million per year through a state application process. The 2019-20 Strategic Plan did not only guide our work for the next several years but also inform our investments from the Student Success Act.

The planning process began in October 2019, as Greater Albany Public Schools held a series of focus groups and community forums while distributing a survey throughout all of our schools and the community at large. The district reached a diverse group of stakeholders reflecting the students in our schools and helping determine how best we can meet their needs.

Input from parents, teachers, staff, students, and the community at large will shape the future of Greater Albany Public Schools.

In November, a strategic planning team began analyzing community feedback to help determine a vision statement outlining what the district wants to become in the next three-five years. In weekly meetings the strategic planning developed broad-based strategies to achieve the district’s vision for the future in the form of strategic goals.

All strategic planning survey and focus group data has been given to a contracted partner, Qualtrics, to analyze and summarize the results. When the disaggregated data is returned it will be shared with the school board and used in the next Strategic Panning Team meeting.

Update – January 23, 2020

The strategic goals will then by developed and presented to the school board and district staff for approval and implementation. The development of specific, measurable, realistic, and time-bound performance indicators will ensure that each of the strategic goals are met.

As part of the Oregon Student Success Act (SSA), districts across the state were required to submit grant applications for the Student Investment Account (SIA) to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) in mid April.

The SIA was estimated to provide close to a $500 million investment directly to Oregon school districts as a non-competitive grant program used to meet students’ mental and behavioral health needs, increase academic achievement for students and reduce academic disparities. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, availability of funds will be significantly reduced by statewide budgetary shortfalls, but GAPS administration completed and submitted the SIA application and asks for feedback from the community.

A tactical strategy was put in place prior to the 2020-21 school year as the strategic plan is engaged.