D i s t r i c t   1 2 6
Alsip, Hazelgreen and Oak Lawn Elementary Schools
11900 South Kostner Avenue Alsip, Illinois  60803
  phone:  (708) 389-1900 fax:  (708) 396-3793

District 126 Strategic Plan
  Download  Strategic Plan Update April 2008
Download Strategic Plan 2007
Download Focus Group Discussion Summary

Dear Parents and other Members of the District 126 Community,

Back in the fall, the Board of Education began a planning process to take District 126 into the future. Having passed a tax rate referendum and gained a measure of financial stability, the Board is now in a position to think long-term; visionary rather than reactionary. The question had been “how do we survive this year?” It is now “what might we become over the next five years while preserving limited resources?” Before beginning its own design, the Board wanted to obtain broad-based input from all stakeholders in the community and school district.

The first step was to convene Focus Groups composed of staff members, parents and other community members. One evening in January, they were gathered into small groups and asked to respond to questions such as “what do you really like about District 126, “what can be enhanced”, and “what does the ideal school district look like”. About 100 people participated and their responses were recorded and disseminated to participants and the Board of Education; copies will be on our website.

The second step was to put together a Strategic Planning Committee consisting of about 30 staff, parents and other community members; a list of committee members is posted on the website. They met over four evenings in January and February to identify critical areas for the future, establish goals and created strategies for goal accomplishment. The end product of their work is a Strategic Plan posted on the website and, because it is a critical document, it is also printed and attached hereto. The Plan was presented by the Committee to the Board of Education this month.

The next step will be for the Board to study the plan, determine feasibility, establish priorities, commit resources, set time frames and develop specific activities to implement strategies found to be most beneficial and viable. Further input and community participation in the implementation process will be sought as targeted components come to reality.

The Strategic Plan does not represent a promise. Further discussion and analysis must take place before commitments, if any, can be made. The Strategic Plan, however, will serve as a vision for innovations and improvements that may come. It is an inspiration; a dream without which no progress is possible at all. It is a road map for the future containing various paths to various desirable outcomes. It represents an embarkation point for the District 126 journey into an even brighter future.

Please call me with questions, comment and suggestions. It is hoped that the distribution of the Plan will promote further thought and discussion. Let us know if you would like to be part of planning ventures to come. It is an exciting time in District 126. All aboard!

Sincerely,

Robert K. Berger
Superintendent

© 2002-08 School District 126
Last updated on 09/24/2008
This site contains work contributed by District 126 staff.