Achieving the "right size" with appropriately distributed staff involves multiple factors including enrollment trends and facility use as well as academic needs and student diversity. A strategic, long-term plan for right-sizing benefits the school community, district employees, and the overall budget. Lakewood City Schools (LCS) is currently navigating this process as we strategically assess the utilization of our elementary school buildings.
Understanding Staffing Needs
Like much of the state, LCS is experiencing a decline in enrollment. Partnering with Future Think, our district conducted an enrollment study to understand how declining birth rates and the economic conditions in Lakewood could impact our district and its financial outlook. These projections guide us in preparing for future staffing needs and building utilization.
Our student body has decreased from 6,748 in the 2003-2004 school year to 4,275 currently, with further declines expected by 2031-2032. This reduction affects staffing, resource allocation, and building usage as we plan for the future.
Creating a Shared Vision
In response to these challenges, we are focusing on strategic long-term goals to minimize disruption and reduce hasty decision-making due to declining enrollment. We established guiding principles for the district, outlining clear financial and educational goals. Collaborating with the LCS superintendent, we devised solutions and plans aligning with the board’s vision while ensuring fiscal responsibility and prioritizing student education.
Developing a Long-Term Plan
Over the past six to eight years, we have managed staff reduction through attrition, eliminating 36 positions while minimizing disruption. This, along with evolving student needs and declining enrollment, led to the formation of a Facilities Task Force. The task force aimed to address our facility’s needs, including a new home for our Franklin School of Opportunity and more career-technical education space. The growing focus on our elementary buildings and declining enrollment prompted the creation of a dedicated Elementary Task Force.
The Elementary Task Force, comprised of community members, parents, staff, teachers, and board members, is currently reviewing and collecting information to guide recommendations from the superintendent to the board of education on repurposing some of our spaces. The task force began collaborating with The Impact Group, a communications agency specializing in strategic planning and communication, to facilitate the discussion. As a result, the Elementary Task Force has identified key points for clarity and community feedback, soon to be collected through surveys and focus groups.
Communicating Effectively
Integral to this process has been timely, transparent communication with task force members, board members, staff, families, and the broader school community. We are addressing complex issues that are subject to change for various reasons. Building an understanding of the rationale behind necessary changes, coupled with timely and honest communication, is crucial. Working with our in-house communications team and The Impact Group’s expertise, we are sharing consistent messaging and key timelines with stakeholders. This includes regular updates during board meetings, communications with task force members, scheduled press releases, community meetings for feedback and engagement, and dedicated online space for meeting recaps and key details.
“Right-sizing" can generate concerns about job security, so it is important to develop a logical and strategic plan to preserve key relationships with staff and the community. Using LCS as an example, here are some key takeaways for districts considering their staff and resource allocation needs:
Key Takeaways:
- Understand Staffing Needs: Review enrollment projections, student demographics, and resource availability through the lens of academic standards and desired school climate. This ensures a long-term staffing plan that aligns with educational goals and priorities.
- Create a Shared Vision: Collaborate with your superintendent to develop a vision guiding staffing decisions and effective resource allocation within constraints.
- Develop a Long-Term Plan: Long-term planning helps prevent drastic staffing cuts as enrollment declines across your district and the state.
- Communicate Effectively: Highlight why changes are necessary and the district's data-driven approach. Consistent, timely, and transparent communication is crucial.
- Partner with Experts: Organizations like Future Think or The Impact Group can support the process, demonstrating investment in decision-making, enhancing credibility, and broadening perspectives. They can offer valuable guidance in opportunities for strategic planning, communication, and feedback, building trust within the community.
By analyzing class size distribution, building capacity, and enrollment, school treasurers can create more effective staffing plans that meet student needs and improve educational outcomes. Implementing strategies to optimize class sizes and enhance teacher effectiveness allows districts to provide a high-quality education for all students, even during challenging economic times.