Step One, Identify the Problem

The first and the most important step in developing a crisis plan is defining the problem in a statement.

A problem statement is a concise description of the issues that need to be addressed by a problem solving team (you) and should be presented to them (you) before they try to solve the problem.

A good problem statement should answer these 2 questions:

What is the problem? This will explain why the team (you) is needed.

Who has the problem? This should explain who needs the solution.

From what I have read and know of your problem it a financial.  The NKASD is considering making many cut in services because: they could get fewer funds from the state, no funds from federal government, has little in reserve, has no plan to raise taxes, has to pay more out in retirement and is concerned that school choice (vouchers) will further reduce their funds.

Will each of you (the problem solving team) try to better explain (to me) and add dollar amounts to any or all of the financial issues just noted?

Also, in addition to students of the district, can you also try and explain who else and why they will be hurt if this problem is not resolved?

Is there another problem?  Please identify?

With your help we will all better understand what is going on, who will be hurt, and then, we can develop a strategy and change outcomes.

Thank you for your participation.

 

 

 

Developing a Crisis Plan

Hello,

My name is Harry and over the next week to ten days I would like to receive input from students, teachers, parents, administrators and taxpayers on the looming budget crisis faced by NKASD.  The goal will be to develop a Crisis Plan.

The crisis plan we will be developing will have little to do with downsizing your school district, but rather, our plan will be a high level summary of strategy and goals with a primary focus on key stakeholders and influencing change.

Our plan building process will work in this way, I will make statements and/or ask a question and you respond.  I will then take the data and comments, and build a plan that if you so desire, can take to your school board and ask that they implement part or all.

As you will note, all of the previous posts and comments have been removed.  While this page has been used to comment on a number of areas pertaining to your school district, we need to now focus on financial problem and solutions.  To do this right, we will need information from many sources, and rather than offend any possible contributor to our plan, I ask that you refrain from name calling.  Additionally, it will be my prerogative to edit or not publish any comments that I feel doesn’t keep with the spirit of what we are trying to accomplish.

In many ways we each have much to contribute to this plan.  Choose to participate.  Choose to ask others in the community to do so as well

What is a Crisis Plan?

Many organizations brainstorm possible scenarios or types of disasters that could happen, and start planning for them.  They then assign public relations staff to draft a crisis plan.

A crisis takes many shapes. It might be a fire; a death; or in this case a financial problem. Each crisis requires a different response.

A key component of the crisis plan will be its communication.  Today, we have many forms of communications (e-mail, texting, twitter, etc…) and all are useful.  Consider BP and the oil spilling into the Gulf.  Had they reacted differently, it could have cost them dearly.  Yet, while I am certainly not comparing NKASD to BP, NKASD is not without options or the means to control its future.

With your help, we can develop a crisis plan that shows concern, speaks concern, and will tell the truth about NKASD and public education in Pennsylvania.

Until a crisis plan is put in place, there will be a vacuum of information, and that breeds hostility and public loss of confidence.