The Strategic Planning Process:
In accordance with the planning policy of Garden Valley School Division, a major strategic planning retreat, involving a cross-section of representatives of constituents, is held after each school board election. To provide for accountability and make adjustments to the plan, a retreat is held in subsequent years and involves trustees, senior administrators and school administrators. At yearly public consultation meetings the Board reports to the public on the accomplishment of major objectives, strategies and actions. Public input is also sought on recommended strategies and actions for the next school year.
A Bit of Background: Planning in 2007-2008
At a Strategic Planning Retreat on January 11 – 13, 2007 the 36-member division planning team reviewed the accomplishments of the previous four years as well as the belief statements and mission statement. Within the context of provincial priorities, the team acknowledged the climate of change, emphasized the value of teamwork, and suggested long and short term strategic directions for consideration by the Board. This laid the foundation for divisional action plans for the next four years.
The Refined Plan for 2009-2010
School Board trustees and senior administrators met on January 24, 2007 to review the deliberations of the planning team and determine the components to include in the published Strategic Plan. Subsequently, a draft plan was written. The draft plan was forwarded for feedback to all members of the planning team, school staffs, and Advisory Councils for School Leadership. Trustees considered the feedback received and finalized and adopted the plan in a regular Board meeting on March 13, 2007.
At the Board Planning Retreat on November 5-7, 2009, the 24-member division planning team consisting of Trustees, Senior Administration, Principals and the Human Resources Manager met to update the strategic plan. The strategies and actions of 2009-10 were reviewed, as were the strategies to be considered for implementation in future years. Presentations by school principals, division office and trustees focused on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT). After completing a Divisional SWOT analysis,time was spent identifying possible strategies to address the issues. School Board trustees and senior administrators met on November 25, 2009 to set the 2010-11 strategies. Trustees finalized and adopted the updated plan articulated herein at a regular Board meeting on December 15, 2009.
The 2011-2015 Strategic Plan
[Please see side menu for 2011-2015 Strategic Planning information and Strategic Planning documents]
The Plan for 2015-2019
On January 15, 2015 the GVSD Strategic Planning event was held in Winkler at a local church. An outside facilitator, Roy Siedler from ROAR Leadership, was brought into lead the process. Representatives from stakeholder groups included trustees, senior administration, principals, teachers, students, parents, a chamber of commerce rep, and a Winkler area youth leader. Common themes from school reports were reviewed and highlighted during the event. Based on common themes presented, the participant groups brainstormed possible new objectives for the division to pursue. Out of this process, five themes emerged.
The information gathered at the January 15 planning session was reviewed by Sr. Administratiom, the Principals Council, the board executive, board standing committees (Education, Operations, Finance), and the entire Board. Subsequently, the below three goals were selected as the 2015-2019 GVSD goals with the understanding that ‘student engagement’ and ‘student well being’, through existing division structures (Principal’s Council, Guidance Counsellors Committee), will be addressed on an as needed basis.
1.Literacy
2.Numeracy
3.Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
The Board felt the current mission statement captured the sentiments expressed at the Jan. 15/2015 planning session and, as over the past four years, continues to express the division’s primary mission for the communities it serves. Recognizing that relationships are the foundation of public education, the board has added one new additional belief statement: Positive relationshipsare the key to facilitating excellent education.
The Plan for 2019-2023
In January 2019, the board, along with senior administration and school principals, reviewed the GVSD Strategic Plan at their annual strategic planning retreat. The review resulted in the formaton of new GVSD Belief Statements and School Year Goals, and a new Mission Statement. The newest mission of Garden Valley School Division is "Learning and discovering together to be good neighbours, workers, and citizens." The beliefs of GVSD were also updated and organized into three belief statements. We believe:
- trusting relationships are the key to creating a safe, caring, and engaging learning environment
- in partnering with families and communities to meet the educational needs of all students;
- in educating students to be respectful people of integrity who are creative, collaborative, critical thinkers, and able to effectively communicate in a changing world.
Literacy, numeracy and student mental health and wellness have been identified as the 2019-2020 school year goals.