RSSAA Strategic Plan 2012-17 Progress Report I. Achieve Greater Financial Stability FINANCE COMMITTEE Strategy 1: Provide the Board with financial projections, reports and recommendations to facilitate strategic decision making. Short Term Goals 1. Develop and maintain a database of financial trends/policies in local and Waldorf schools. 2. Develop ways to make our endowments more visible within the committee and community. IN PROGRESS 3. Develop reporting by functional areas (LS, HS, Store, Before/Aftercare, etc.) and include benchmarks (other institutions or RSSAA prior year(s) data). 4. Ensure that our reserve study is updated as needed. 5. Develop a financial model that provides for the long-term financial health of the school. COMPLETED 6. Oversee Tuition Assistance. 7. Make the annual reserve line item non-negotiable. 8. Expand our work with capacity analysis and long range financial planning. 9. Standardize reporting formats, quarterly/annual, etc. 10. Create approval process for reserve fund expansions. 11. Refine budget process. 12. Develop tuition benchmarking data and maintain annually. Page 1
ENROLLMENT Enrollment Committee and College of Teachers Strategy 1: Strive to provide a robust Waldorf education to as many students as possible. Increase enrollment to achieve the following with a focus on a full 1 st and 9 th grade with waiting lists: Grade Budget Range Transition Total Kindergarten 18,18,10 16-20, 8-12 70% to Grade 1 46 Grades 1-8 28 per grade 25-30 70% to Grade 9 224 High School 30 per grade 28-31 n/a 120 Strategy 390 2. Strengthen the Kindergarten and Upper Elementary grades as key points of entrance to provide strong, full grades and transition through monitoring, innovation, and action. (FOCUS AREA) Strategy 3: Maintain a high level of enrollment and retention of students at the High School. (GOOD PROGRESS) Strategy 4: Attract and retain a diverse population of students, Pre K-12 that reflects the diversity of the Ann Arbor Community. (GOOD PROGRESS- CULTURAL AWARENESS) Short Term Goals Intermediate Long-term Aspirational 1. Develop tuition 1. Fill the school to scholarships to promote capacity with waiting diversity lists 1. Refine messaging -Why we do what we do. (on College list) 2. Determine if facilities maintenance and expansion will increase and accommodate enrollment IN PROGRESS 3. Ensure full 9 th grade (great results for last two years, 2014-15 will need extra attention due to low LS enrollment) 4. Promote K enrollment to ensure full 1 st grade (good progress, still needs focus as new faculty gain momentum) 5. Strengthen our relationships to in-home pre-schools and feeder schools (good progress some capacity issues) 6. Consider transportation and boarding to strengthen HS enrollment (proposal will be finalized by April 30) Page 2
7. Strengthen the work of Cultural Awareness Committee (great progress) 8. Strengthen Butterfly Garden and Pre K as feeders to K (the EC faculty feel it is essential, space issues and need to fill 1 st grade with additional Kindergarten class is being discussed) DEVELOPMENT Board/Development Director and Committee Strategy 1: Expand our capacity for fundraising and create a culture of philanthropy, which includes alumni relations, capital campaigns, and planned giving. Short Term Goals Intermediate Long-term Aspirational 1. Increase alumni giving 1. Implement a capital (cultivation events, campaign (i.e. phone solicitation, email endowment, early updates) (in progress - childhood center, HS planning more gathering gym/performance opportunities and space) (pending) communications for next 2. Implement a planned year) giving program 2. Analyze the giving (pending) capacity of our donor 3. 2 FT Development staff base(in progress - 1/3 of (pending!) the way through data from Wealth Engine) 1. Cultivate alumni through spring event and annual fund campaign (in progress special alum ticket to spring event & alum dancing, special message to alums for AF) 2. Raise money and in-kind donations for the second phase of the natural playground (pending) 3. Create and implement a plan to increase development staffing (IFT) (in progress) In Progress 1. Provide timely communications to donors and constituents (completed) 1. Reach the fundraising goals for annual fund, tuition grant fund, spring fundraiser (in progress - surpassed AF goal, anticipate surpassing spring benefit goal, under goal for TG) 2. Recognize designated giving opportunities(completed). (Wish List) 3. Consider Business Partner Program (in progress - working on redeveloping this program) Page 3
II. Expand and Improve In-Reach and Outreach INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS LS and HS Coordinators Strategy 1: Ensure engaging and intentional communication with the parent community throughout the PreK-12 experience so that they understand the curriculum, how it evolves and builds academic success and personal development for our students. Short Term Goals HS 1. Series of Parent evenings/talks designed to expand understanding of curriculum (in progress) 2. Expand Web resources to support current and entering families (in progress, facebook etc) Intermediate HS 1. New HS Profile (completed) Short Term Goals LS 1. Work on Announcements aesthetic appeal (scheduled to happen this summer 2013) 2. Bring in outside guest speakers-awsna, other schools (still relevant)? 1. Support Parent council (happening) Intermediate LS ADMISSIONS LS and HS Coordinators Strategy 1: Actively support families as they enter the school. Strategy 2: Better understand the different communications needs specific to Lower School and High School parents Strategy 3: Consolidate admissions responsibilities to streamline the process and ensure constant and clear communication to increase enrollment. (completed) Short Term Goals HS 1. Develop ongoing relations between RSSAA parents and parents at feeder schools (in progress) 2. Continue to develop effective orientation materials (in progress) Short Term Goals LS 1. Provide more communication about tuition structure (in progress) 2. Provide more info on extra cost per grade (completed) 3. Improve Orientation Packet (has been upgraded) 4. Improve communication about Early Childhood programs (in progress focus area) 5. Upgrade web (major upgrades planned for summer 2013) Page 4
MARKETING and OUTREACH Outreach Committee Strategy 1: Dramatically increase our school s visibility in Ann Arbor and the greater community and increase enrollment. Manage and maintain our PreK-12 brand and take the school s marketing to the next level through increased Internet presence and social networking, advertising, events, public relations and community partnerships. Strategy 2: Maintain a strategic marketing approach that identifies market capacity and saturation points for potential students, and implement a systematic referral program for prospective families. Strategy 3: Continue quantitative and qualitative process for tracking the success of our marketing efforts and their impact on enrollment. Strategy 4: Create a marketing training program for all employees so that it can become a school-wide activity. See attached goals Develop curriculum to meet needs of growing student over time, guided by the deep spiritual mission of Waldorf education. III. Provide Vibrant, Living Waldorf Curriculum College of Teachers Strategy 1: Strive to maximize the quality of our programs. (In Progress) Strategy 2: Strengthen and expand our remedial program in grades PreK-12. (In Progress) Strategy 3: Continue to strengthen curriculum oversight process through mentorship and FET visits.(in discussion) Strategy 4: Develop curriculum to meet needs of growing student over time, guided by the deep spiritual mission of Waldorf education. In Progress (updated 3/29/12) ( Strategy 5: Examine how technology can best be used in the curriculum to meet the needs of the growing child. Strategy 6: Attain staffing and facilities to implement a complete program (HS: 2 FT, K: 2 FT, Eurythmy: 1 FT, Remedial: 1 FT). (Eurythmy has been completed) Strategy 7: Further develop inter-waldorf school activities for grades 5-12-Bicycle Block, Pentathlon. (obsolete) Strategy 8: Improve our ability to communicate why we do what we do, and how our programs evolve from PreK-12. (In progress) Page 5
IV. Attract, Retain, and Foster the Development of Exceptional Faculty and Administration Faculty Development and Administration Strategy 1: Continue work of FET to evaluate faculty performance. Create and update job descriptions. (Change in this structure is being proposed to the College next week 4/4/13) Strategy 2: Attract Waldorf trained and experienced, qualified, and diverse faculty to fill teaching openings. Strategy 3: Assure that all Faculty and Administration are adequately mentored. Strategy 4: Provide adequate opportunities and funding for all Faculty and Administration to attain professional development opportunities. Strategy 5: Conduct compensation and benefits analysis (include sabbatical). (Partially complete, in progress) V. Improve and Maintain Facilities that Support a Robust Waldorf Curriculum Buildings and Grounds Committee HS and LS Strategy 1: Develop and maintain clean, safe physical facilities that creatively meet the needs of the community and employees with an emphasis on sustainability, accessibility, and flexibility and enrollment. Short Term Goals Lower School 1. Install two Basketball Hoops in Gym not sure still on wish list 2. Maintain Soccer field protocol/process/contractor still needed 3. Install pads in Gym Walls (Health & Safety Issue) no plan 4. Install Front Office Window (safety)- still on list to reorganize front office. 5. Maintain Storm Drain outside portion complete 8/2013; still need to focus on inside the building IN PROCESS 6. Regulate heat through boiler- in process 7. Purchase shades to be in compliance with Homeland Security shades being installed 4/8 COMPLETE 8. Improve Chair/stage storage complete, space created 9. Resize Soccer Field to Regulation complete 10. Purchase shades for Skylight in PreK-K complete 8/2013 11. Remove Elm Tree complete 8/2013 12. Replace windows in grade 4 room complete 8/2013 13. Install benches for Grades 7 and 8 (safety issue) - complete 8/2013 14. Improve Chair/stage storage complete, space created Page 6
Intermediate Lower School 1. Clean all HVAC units in classrooms in process 2. Systematically replace aluminum windows throughout school- in process 3. Create natural playground phasing - complete 1. Installation of modular/phasing still a possibility Long-term Aspirational Lower School 1. Resolve retention pond compliance issues to allow for future expansion of LS building- 2. Add additional parking lot out front last checked would cost at least $200,000K 1. Add a Permanent Early Childhood Center- still a future plan Short Term Goals High School 1. Expand regular maintenance and repair - complete 2. Expanded staffing to relieve staff of volunteer work -complete 3. $5000 a year for flooring replacement. The carpets throughout the building are beginning to wear significantly, and replacement in a regular cycle is needed. The highest priority is the math room which is currently in need of immediate replacement in progress 4. Fund parking lot expansion in progress 5. Install outdoor Basketball Hoop - complete 6. Remove Wall in Stone House (for rehearsals) complete 7. Cut curb for additional parking may not need to do it 8. Upgrade technology and repairs (Frame House) complete 9. Budget for additional gym rental (LS and HS) complete 10. Secure Choral Concert space rental (LS and HS) complete 11. Secure St. Paul gym space for 3 years- Complete but lots of conversation about how Christian it is so maybe need another Intermediate High School Pending Funding 1. Increase classroom space to meet demands of increased enrolment 2. Build a gym 3. Build a Performing Arts center VI. Achieve Improved and Focused Organizational Development HUB Board and College Strategy 1: Develop sustainable, adaptive organizational practices as pertain to all governance groups that result in the clarification of roles and responsibilities and improved processes. Refine governance and decision-making practices to reduce duplication of effort, increase responsiveness and professionalism. Page 7