VSBA outlines facilitated strategic-planning service; board asks about cost and timeline

Sam Bosmer, deputy executive director of the Virginia School Boards Association, told the Prince George County School Board that VSBA’s strategic-planning service centers on a facilitated process of board involvement, community engagement and implementation support. “The VSBA Strategic Planning Services guides school divisions to create a student-centered, clear, and effective pathway to success through a proven process of inclusive community and staff voice,” Bosmer said.

Rodney Jordan, a consultant who works with VSBA on strategic plans, said the service typically includes a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis with full board participation, two to three community engagement sessions and a stakeholder group of roughly 40 people. Jordan said stakeholder groups usually combine school leaders, parents, students and community representatives.

Board members asked for details about cost, travel and timing. Bosmer said travel depends on how many sessions the board wants VSBA staff to attend and that they try to minimize overnight stays. “We do our best to keep travel expenses down,” she said. Jordan said the length of the process depends on scope: some districts span the work across four to five months, while others build it out over a longer period if they update vision and mission statements.

In a brief exchange about pricing, a board member noted a $20,000-plus estimate and asked for specifics; VSBA representatives said cost varies by the number of meetings, scope and whether the district updates vision/mission statements and pledged to follow up with tailored estimates. The board asked administration to gather final costs and contract terms before moving to an action item.

Next steps: VSBA will provide a clearer cost and scope proposal for board review, and the board requested follow-up information on travel estimates and possible schedules for community sessions.