The Future of The Westview School: A Strategic Plan

The Westview School Board of Directors has a clear vision for our school. It is for Westview to be “the best little school on the planet.” The men and women who serve on our board have a long history with The Westview School, and autism is something near and dear to their hearts. Our trustees have a passion for our school’s mission and supporting us in serving our students. One of the first tasks that I was assigned by the board was to begin the process of strategic planning for the school. The goal of a strategic plan is to identify priorities that will guide our work for the next 3-5 years. We interviewed three consultants to lead this process and hired Gershenson Consulting to guide us through the development of a strategic plan. We appreciated that they shared our commitment to ensuring ours was an inclusive process in which all voices are heard. Phase 1 of the plan involved surveying Upper Elementary and Middle School students, staff, families (current and former), and Westview alumni. We had excellent response rates (students – 94%; staff – 60%; families – 45%). The surveys provided us with feedback on virtually every aspect of the school, from our facilities to our programs. Phase 2 of the process involved focus groups to gather more insight from stakeholders as to how well we are meeting the needs of our community. Elliott Gershenson conducted three focus groups with staff, five focus groups with families, and one focus group with the board.

The major themes that emerged from these robust conversations were fairly consistent across the different constituencies and help us better understand the quantitative survey results. Phase 3 is currently underway and involves the analysis and assimilation of all of the quantitative and qualitative data provided in the first two phases. We sincerely appreciate everyone who took the time to share their experiences, priorities, and ideas for the future through their participation in surveys and focus groups. Phase 4 will begin in August when a small working group comprised of trustees, administrators, and staff will develop a Strategy On A Page (SOAP) that includes the top priorities identified throughout this process. The SOAP will specify the action steps that will guide the work of school leaders and the board for the next few years. We are very excited about this process, and we hope that this brings excitement to our staff, faculty, and families too. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we continue to look for ways to build on the success of the past to ensure an even brighter future.