BIRMINGHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN. Birmingham Board of Education 1 Strategic Plan Spring 2009.

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1 BIRMINGHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN Birmingham Board of Education 1 Birmingham, AL

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT / BOARD PRESIDENT.. 3 MISSION / VISION / CORE VALUES BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS... 8 PRIORITIES ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FINANCE HUMAN CAPITAL COMMUNICATION SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT MEASURING OUR PROGRESS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BOARD OF EDUCATION Birmingham Board of Education 2

3 LETTER OF SUPPORT Dear Community Supporter, In a time of tremendous global challenges, our world is changing drastically; and, unfortunately, education is not insulated from the impact. While our immediate sphere of influence on world challenges may be limited, we do have a tremendous opportunity within our school district to chart a new course to ensure our children are prepared to effectively meet these challenges with the kind of fortitude and knowledge necessary to be successful and productive citizens. It is because of these challenges that Birmingham City Schools is seizing the opportunity to create a new vision of the district s future direction through the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan. This is not the district s first plan, and we are confident in saying it will not be the last. But it is the plan for now. With focus on five strategic priorities which include academic excellence, financial stability, superior teacher and staff quality, effective communication and partnerships, and safe and secure learning environments, the strategic plan will set a clear standard of expectations and accountability leading to greater student achievement and district success. The plan has and will continue to serve as a channel of communication with stakeholders. With opportunity for community input and feedback, the plan will help to establish a baseline of community concerns and expectations. With focus on partnerships, it is our hope to develop a sense of community ownership of the plan, resulting in a positive impact on our strategic priorities. Yes, times are challenging -- but we are confident that a successful course has been charted. Adjustments can be made along the way, but we will stay focused on our destination. With determination, support and hard work, we will move forward with a renewed sense of hope toward our goal of student success. We hope that each of you will join us on this journey. Sincerely, Barbara S. Allen Interim Superintendent April M. Williams Board President Birmingham Board of Education 3

4 OUR MISSION The mission of the Birmingham City School System is to guide all students to achieve excellence in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment. OUR VISION Birmingham City Schools will be a recognized leader in public education, meeting the needs of a diverse student population prepared to succeed in a global society. Birmingham Board of Education 4

5 OUR CORE VALUES DIVERSITY WE EXPRESS THIS VALUE WHEN WE: Embrace class and cultural distinctions. Are intentional about engaging the minority/different. INTEGRITY WE EXPRESS THIS VALUE WHEN WE: Keep our word. Are truthful. Are consistent in our actions. Remain steadfast to our commitments. RESPECT WE EXPRESS THIS VALUE WHEN WE: Are responsive. Are fair. Show appreciation. EXCELLENCE WE EXPRESS THIS VALUE WHEN WE: Set high expectations. Commit to the highest level of quality in all we do. Have a clear vision of where we are going. Have a clear mission. COMPASSION WE EXPRESS THIS VALUE WHEN WE: Are committed/dedicated to those we serve. Are passionate about serving. Lead from our heart. Care about those we serve. TEAMWORK WE EXPRESS THIS VALUE WHEN WE: Create openness and trust. Seek the input of all stakeholders. Seek collaboration/work together. Birmingham Board of Education 5

6 BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE A look at who we are... OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM: Is the 4th largest school system in the state of Alabama Is a city-wide school system Includes 60 school campuses: 31 Elementary schools 13 Middle schools 8 K-8 schools 7 High schools 1 Alternative school OUR BOARD IS: Governed by nine board members elected by constituents of the districts within the city OUR STUDENT BODY: Includes 27,525 students according to day ADM (avg. daily membership) OUR STAFF: Consists of 3,000+ employees OUR BUDGET: Total budget for fiscal year 2009: $640,000,000 [includes both operational and capital projects] Birmingham Board of Education 6

7 BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE A look at who we are... OUR STUDENTS Year Total # Students African- American Caucasian Hispanic Other Special Education [includes gifted & talented] English as a Second Language [ESL] ,774 30,454 (96%) 434 (1.4%) 521 (1.6%) 365 (1.1%) 5,225 (16%) 521 (1.6%) ,601 29,334 (96%) 393 (1.3%) 509 (1.7%) 365 (1.2%) 4,776 (15.6%) 509 (1.7%) ,128 27,846 (96%) 356 (1.2%) 553 (1.9%) 373 (1.3%) 4,106 (14.1%) 552 (1.9%) ,942 26,709 (96%) 302 (1.1%) 565 (2.0%) 366 (1.3%) 3,622 (13.0%) 479 (1.7%) ,517 26,186 (95%) 302 (1.1%) 668 (2.4%) 356 (1.3%) 3,504 (12.7%) 552 (2.0%) Birmingham City Schools has 90 Nationally Board Certified Teachers.* *Board Certified Teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet rigorous standards as determined by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (Source: OUR EMPLOYEES Total Staff 3345 Administrators 45 Instructional Administrative Support Principals & Asst. Principals 110 Classroom Teachers 1753 Guidance Counselors 70 Librarians/Audio Visual Staff 63 Other Professional Staff 429 Teacher Aides 184 Laborers 463 Service Workers 46 Skilled Crafts 67 Technicians 9 Birmingham Board of Education 7 73 Operational Support 33

8 STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS Since the summer of 2007 Birmingham City Schools have been engaged in an evaluation process to assess the system s strengths and challenges. This work has been conducted in part by The Council of Great City Schools as well as ongoing internal assessments. In 2008 the Board of Education developed a scope of work for the development of a strategic plan to be used for defining future direction, resource allocation and priorities. The Board also identified the importance of a strategic plan in identifying successful candidates in the search for a new superintendent. The Board engaged the Clarus Consulting Group to facilitate the planning process as well as an ad hoc planning committee of the Board and interim superintendent to work with Clarus throughout the process. They worked closely with the District staff and numerous stakeholders to create the plan. After analysis of data from our employees, community and the board we discovered common goals. APRIL WILLIAMS, BOARD PRESIDENT This Strategic Plan is an active document that will be visited, refined, and re-visited over the next three years. The work created in this document was developed in four phases: Phase I Organization & Planning: September 2008 Birmingham Board of Education announces the planning process; creates an ad hoc strategic planning committee of the board; and contracts with Clarus Consulting Group to facilitate the process. Phase II Research & Development: September- December 2008 Research school districts across the country to determine best practices and products of strategic planning processes. Collect current data from Birmingham system looking at student achievement, enrollment and finances. Interview and survey board members, staff, community members, and other stakeholders to gather recommendations, challenges and opportunities for the District. Consult Council of Great City Schools and Alabama Association of School Boards to include insight into Birmingham District challenges as well as urban educational trends. Phase III Design & Creation: January 2009 School Board and Interim Superintendent engage in two and a half day retreat to develop core priorities for the district based on input from school, community, other educational initiatives, and educational consultants. Phase IV Dissemination, Feedback & Action Planning: Spring December 2009 Strategic Plan with five core priorities, goals and objectives finalized by Board and materials created to present to the public for feedback through public school and neighborhood meetings. Integration of public feedback into core strategies, goals, and objectives. Board approval of core strategies. Detailed implementation and action plans developed by administration and staff. Birmingham Board of Education 8

9 OUR PRIORITY AREAS The Birmingham Board of Education has set an ambitious direction through its mission and vision statements. The plan is supported by five priority areas forming the cornerstone of the Board s commitment to the academic achievement of all students. The school system is committed to supporting fiscal responsibility and transparency in the exchange of information, while working to support a talented and dedicated workforce that places student success as priority. Ongoing engagement with the greater Birmingham community is essential to ensuring excellence in our schools. Promoting a safe environment conducive to learning also is the foundation to the overall success of every child in the system. The following strategic priorities are identified as the focal points for the district over the next 3-5 years: PRIORITIES Academic Achievement Finance Human Capital Communication/Partnership Safe and Nurturing Environment Birmingham Board of Education 9

10 PRIORITY: Academic Achievement Strategic Intent Birmingham City Schools provides academic excellence for all students to reach their personal best by providing qualified teachers who challenge and motivate students and offering curriculum instruction to encourage growth and meet the needs of every student. Goals and Objectives Acknowledge and support the belief that all children can learn Provide a rich and diverse curriculum that prepares students to excel in a global society Recruit, retain, and develop highly qualified administrators, teachers and staff Numerous action plans outlining tactics to achieve the goals and objectives will be developed by the district staff and administration. Action plans will address, but not be limited to: Increasing the number of children performing at grade level or above Increasing ACT/SAT test scores Increasing the number of services and learning opportunities available to special education students Increasing the number of students entering post-secondary education Increasing the number of graduates identified as job ready by the business community through career technical opportunities Increasing the number of National Board Certified teachers Increasing the diversity of curriculum and extracurricular offerings including cultural arts, career technology, and athletics Utilizing data to develop meaningful curriculum Birmingham Board of Education 10

11 PRIORITY: Finance Strategic Intent Birmingham City Schools has sound financial policies and procedures to ensure adequate resources for academic excellence, high quality employees, and state-of-the-art facilities and technology. Goals and Objectives Ensure student achievement is the highest funding priority Align policies to ensure fiscal accountability, transparency, cost avoidance and stability across the system Advocate for education funding and inform all stakeholders Achieve and maintain an adequate fund balance Numerous action plans outlining tactics to achieve the goals and objectives will be developed by the district staff and administration. Action plans will address, but not be limited to: Completion of school consolidation plan Alignment of administrative staff/central office with reduced enrollment Increasing revenues by exploring sources of non-traditional funding Examining budget processes to ensure that system manages established budgets Monitoring and tracking key performance indicators (KPI) to ensure they are meeting or exceeding the national average Achieving a balanced budget Birmingham Board of Education 11

12 PRIORITY: Human Capital Strategic Intent Birmingham City Schools recruits, develops, and retains the highest quality employees, who have student success as their highest priority, and are committed to working collaboratively with parents, students, and all stakeholders. Goals and Objectives Develop and support a highly effective core of teachers and principals and ensure they have the resources needed to support high achievement for all students Build a stable and high performing employee pool Align employees with the strategic vision for the District Numerous action plans outlining tactics to achieve the goals and objectives will be developed by the district staff and administration. Action plans will address, but not be limited to: Supporting teachers and administrators through professional development plans that align with student achievement Developing board processes and training to ensure decision making is focused on student achievement Reorganizing and restructuring central office staff for efficiency and effectiveness Increasing partnership and volunteer opportunities Actively engaging parents and families in support of students Improving attendance among students, staff and teachers Birmingham Board of Education 12

13 PRIORITY: Communication/Partnership Strategic Intent Birmingham City Schools fully engages all stakeholders through effective communication and partnerships. Goals and Objectives Provide ongoing and diverse opportunities for family and community involvement in the education of our students Engage all stakeholders using a variety of communication vehicles Make customer service an integral component of how we conduct our business Numerous action plans outlining tactics to achieve the goals and objectives will be developed by the district staff and administration. Action plans will address, but not be limited to: Establishing a comprehensive communication plan to assure community engagement Utilizing data to communicate school system s progress Increasing the number of parents/families participating in school activities Increasing partnerships between schools and community Birmingham Board of Education 13

14 PRIORITY: Safe and nurturing environment Strategic Intent Birmingham City Schools provides safe learning environments where all students feel secure and valued. Goals and Objectives Support, and communicate school system values of health, safety, character, and the environment Build and maintain premiere educational facilities and efficient transportation systems Create physical school environments that ensure health and safety of the students and the care of the earth s natural resources Numerous action plans outlining tactics to achieve the goals and objectives will be developed by the district staff and administration. Action plans will address, but not be limited to: Providing 21st century learning environments and facilities Tracking and reducing maintenance costs Increasing use of environmentally friendly products Creating and supporting an effective health and safety program for all students and employees Building cost containment/accountability into all purchasing, maintenance and acquisition plans Birmingham Board of Education 14

15 METRICS: How are we doing? Proper planning is an ongoing process. The Birmingham Board of Education must continuously re-visit the district s vision, mission, and the core values in order to maintain a system of evaluation. It is important to consider what the district will look like in the next few years. Numerous initiatives have emerged that demand board attention, such as the implementation of No Child Left Behind, public demands for greater accountability, data-driven decision making, and the alignment of the system s five priorities with current instructional and administrative practices. Appropriate and relevant performance indicators for each of the five priority areas will result in an educational experience for the children of Birmingham that will develop the whole child. Alignment of policies that support Did you know that? Our students are involved in: Youth leadership programs Dual enrollment in post secondary programs Science internships Speech & debate teams Executive internships the five priorities will foster the closing of the achievement gap for Birmingham City School students. Specific indicators and measurements will be developed for each plan, evaluated, and modified as needed. Recurrent review on the status of indicators and measurements will aid in setting progressive benchmarks for each priority area of the strategic plan. Annual appraisals of indicators corresponding with the five priority areas allow for the modification of measurement tactics. The constant fine tuning of evaluation methods will result in solid identified indicators used to monitor and communicate the district s progress. The status and progress of the strategic plan will be a standing item on the Board of Education s agenda. Birmingham Board of Education 15

16 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Why is the District creating a strategic plan? There are many successful students and schools within the Birmingham City School System, and the District is committed to closing the achievement gap. To accomplish this opportunity for all students to achieve, plans must be carefully set and clear directions given so that all resources personnel, financial, instructional, facilities and partnerships-offer every child what they deserve: a world class education. Who is involved in creating the plan? The Board of Education, district leadership, local educational initiatives, state and national educational organizations and representatives from business, civic organizations, parents teachers and additional community members through interviews and surveys. The Clarus Consulting Group facilitated the planning process. How is the plan being paid for? Funding for this process was made available through an array of community partners. Both internal and external support was provided with generous support from AT&T and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. In addition, consultation was provided by the Council of Great City Schools and the Alabama Association of School Boards at no additional cost other than regular membership dues. What s in the Plan? The Plan contains five strategic priorities designed to provide academic excellence and rigor for all students to reach their personal best; implement sound financial policies and procedures to ensure adequate resources; recruit, develop and retain the highest quality staff focused on student success; develop strong partnerships and effective communication with all stakeholders; and provide safe and secure learning environments where all students are able to succeed. What are the next steps? When will this be implemented? After we have received feedback on the strategic priorities, action plans will be developed by the staff and administration to ensure that each recommendation is well executed and measured over the next few years. Action plans include tactics, timelines, assigned personnel and metrics by which progress will be measured. Birmingham Board of Education 16

17 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How will we know we re following the plan? Metrics or performance indicators will be developed for each action plan so that progress can be measured. Short term evaluation tools will be used to measure the success of action plans along the way. Goals for each of the five overall priorities will be set at the beginning of the implementation and re-visited on a regular basis. There will be standing agenda items for the board to address the status of the strategic plan on a regular basis. This will allow the public to hear updates. How does the strategic plan work with other education initiatives? The Plan will be implemented over several years and will integrate ongoing initiatives into recommendations and tactics. The district has incorporated recommendations of the Council of Great City Schools and Yes We Can! Birmingham into the overall strategic priorities and will continue to work with these organizations during implementation of the plan. Birmingham City Schools has the only Nationally Board Certified English Language Learner (ELL) instructor in the state. Why will this plan work when other plans have not? This is the most comprehensive plan created by the District in many years. The number of stakeholders involved in its creation; the amount of feedback received on the plan; and the ongoing communication and transparency regarding the implementation of the plan provide the factors we feel are critical for the plan s success. The communal commitment to this plan bodes well for accomplishing the high standards established during the planning process. How will the next superintendent use the Plan? The District is currently working closely with the interim superintendent in the development of the strategic plan. In addition, the search committee for the next superintendent will use this Plan to communicate to potential candidates the long-term direction that the Birmingham City School District has set. A well conceived and documented strategic plan can contribute to a successful fit between a school district and superintendent allowing for a smooth transition of leadership driven by clear direction and expectation. How can I provide feedback on the Plan? Attend public forums held by the School Board in your neighborhood. Schedules for forums are listed on the website Submit feedback online at Contact the Birmingham City School District by sending an to: strategicplan@bhamcityschools.org or faxing a letter to (205) or mailing your comments to: Strategic Plan Birmingham Board of Education P.O. Box Birmingham, AL Birmingham Board of Education 17

18 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to the many people who helped develop our vision. Along with the numerous community members who contributed their thoughts to the strategic plan, we want to recognize the following for their contributions: The Council of Great City Schools The Alabama Association of School Boards Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Yes We Can! Community Agreement AT&T The Greater Birmingham Community Birmingham Board of Education 18

19 BIRMINGHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION Birmingham Board of Education Mrs. Barbara S. Allen, Interim Superintendent Mrs. Martha J. Wixom, District 1 Ms. Virginia S. Volker, District 2 Mr. Howard Bayless, III, District 3 Ms. Carolyn Hollman Cobb, District 4 Dr. Dannetta K. Thornton Owens, District 5 Mr. W. J. Maye, Jr., District 6 Mrs. Odessa R. Ashley, Board Vice-President District 7 Mrs. April M. Williams, Board President District 8 Ms. Phyllis F. Wyne, District 9 District Map For more information: For further information, visit and click on Strategic Plan Birmingham Board of Education 19

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