Week 5 R/D8

Pick out two trends or issues that particularly surprised you and/or hit home and explain why.

There have been many of these processes at work in our Battle Creek school districts. Lakeview in particular has made a huge effort to to evaluate and improve. On a district wide level they have opted for systemic change. I don't know the actual approach they are taking, but they are certainly going in for the overhaul. Through different committees and administrative effort they are reflecting on every aspect of their processes. It has been in the works for several years.
I can think of another district that is on hard times and is trying to go at everything piecemeal. Their are fundamental problems with communication, public relation, moral and their numbers keep dropping. I think they have put some pretty big projects in place but have not opted to transform in a calculated and sustained way. Individuals and groups within the organization have been hamstrung as a result. There is a vision for the district but it doesn't filter down in a constructive way. Strategic alignment would eliminate many of the barriers. Some of the schools in our area are considering banding together administratively. Maybe that will help.
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Peltier, Reed, Wellman, and Swanson