There are significant disconnects, inconsistencies and mis-sequencing of varying planning processes. Often the data required by one planning process is held by another and out of sequence when needed.

Here are just a few examples.

  
The budget planning process for the upcoming year occurs before the School Annual Action Plans (SAAP) which are supposed to give, but seldom do, specific spending requests as part of the budget. Too bad the budget already passed: “overcome by events” (OBE).

The Academic Improvement Committee (AIC) has a 5 year plan for the District but the plan is static in that it doesn’t advance year to year in response to actual SAAP performance. Unfortunately much of the hard data in previous School Improvement Plans (renamed SAAP) has been dropped as well as midyear evaluations. How then can the AIC evaluate the current 5 year plan or even plan for the future? It can’t.

The Board’s Legislative Representative’s responsibilities are detailed in Policy 1225 and include: “Inform the board of pending legislative issues and existing or proposed WSSDA legislative positions”. The 2023/4 legislative session opened (9 January 2023) with 182 bills pending. Yet a
month later not one of these bills has been brought before the Board for consideration. Indeed the door for subcommittee testimony on many of these bills has already closed or will close by February 17th. Many of these bills will have a direct impact on the District and Board policy.

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Too often the Board is caught up short in the planning processes with the vast majority of work done out of sight with few updates until it comes time to vote. The recommendations made are “take it or leave it” with no options to choose from. Lacking debate these plans are passed whether they actually work or not. The results are predictable.