From student outcomes and teacher retention to facility planning and resource alignment, strategic planning is essential for school districts of every size. Implementing a multi-year plan and tracking progress over time requires focus and discipline by the district’s leadership team and board. Leaders often must wrestle with key questions, such as: 

• How should we share about our new strategic plan to build understanding and support for the district’s strategic direction among all employees, families and community members? 
• What is the best way to address the focus areas or goals that are specific to improving communication? 
• How will we create buy-in with the people who are directly affected by different areas of the plan? 
• How should we share our strategic plan updates and progress, and how often? 

A district communication plan is the solution to these questions, with even more added value throughout implementation. And KASB is ready to help. 

“A district communication plan is one of the smartest investments a district can make to advance key priorities and goals,” said Kristin Magette, KASB’s assistant executive director of communication services. “And there’s no better time to do this work than when a new strategic plan is finalized.” 

Using KASB’s new service, members will receive a customized communication plan that is practical, actionable and tailored to your new strategic plan focus areas and goals.  

KASB’s communication services team follows best practices of communication planning, including focused strategies and tactics, as well as evaluation measures. As added support, the communications planning service also includes key messages, webpage content, sample social media and newsletter content, presentation decks and other tools — all customized to the district’s strategic plan and visual brand. 

Districts that select KASB’s strategic planning service have the opportunity to add a communication plan in advance. Committing to a strategic plan and communication plan at the same time gives districts a discounted rate and locks in the communication services team schedule well in advance. A communication plan is available to KASB members at any time at the full rate, subject to the team’s schedule and availability.  

“Now that I’ve been through this process with KASB, I can’t imagine doing a strategic plan without a communication plan. It is going to make our strategic plan implementation so much more focused and effective.”

– Rob McKim, Superintendent 

To learn more about adding a communication plan to your strategic plan, contact Linsey Evans at levans@kasb.org or 785-271-4512.