Charting the Course for the Villa ’ s Future
Building on the strengths , identifying the opportunities , and exploring the challenges was the charge of the 100 + volunteers and staff who came together to create a 2022 Strategic Plan .
St . Ursula Villa ' s last strategic plan was conducted in 2015 and provided a visionary roadmap for the school to follow . This plan focused on the critical planning areas that have guided us for the past seven years . As with any plan , conditions change , environments are altered and new opportunities present themselves . With all that we have faced these past few years , The Board of Trustees felt strongly that we needed to identify and understand future needs of the school , students , and families to strengthen and broaden our mission .
Earlier this year , the school contracted with the Institute for School and Parish Development ( ISPD ) to launch the 2022 Strategic Growth Plan . The planning process involved the entire Villa community with participation from hundreds of stakeholders — including current and past parents , grandparents , administration , board members , faculty , staff , alumni , and friends of the school — who participated in an initial assessment and planning sessions . The goal was to engage a broad base of connected individuals to gain insight and consider their thoughts , ideas and recommendations , to guide the Villa ’ s leadership for the future of the school .
Members of the Steering Committee listen to Frank as he discusses next steps in the Strategic Planning process .
The process began in January with an Initial Assessment . Initially , ISPD interviewed 31 members of the school community , reviewed materials and publications , and talked about the process . ISPD then worked with school leaders to access our present situation in several areas including : governance , finance , engagement , enrollment management , communication , development , marketing , staffing , and more .
Over 350 people responded to a survey that offered a better understanding of the school ’ s strengths and opportunities for growth .
Planning Team Area Members present their findings during a Strategic Planning session .
Armed with all this information — the assessment , interviews , and survey results — the Steering Committee felt they were prepared for the next phase of the process where over 100 participants attended planning sessions focused on four domains : Misson and Catholic Identity , Governance and Leadership , Academic Excellence , and Operational Vitality .
A Convocation was held gathering members of the Steering Committee , Planning Area Team members , and community members ( who have expertise in the four domains but are not necessarily affiliated with the Villa ), who developed strategic solutions for the identified challenges and opportunities that came about from the four planning sessions . Later this summer , ISPD will deliver to the Board of Trustees a final document of St . Ursula Villa ' s Strategic Growth Plan . This plan will provide a framework for the next six years so that we can build on our successes and face our challenges with actionable information that will support our priorities , so our students ’ educational success is achieved .
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