Building Community Through a Strategic Planning Process

In this episode, Bob talks with Dr. Michael Thomas, superintendent of Prior Lake Savage Area Schools, about strategic planning as a tool to bring a community together. Dr. Thomas discusses the importance of leading with your "why" in strategic planning, being data-informed, and empowering the community to take ownership of the plan. He also emphasizes the need for multiple stakeholders and perspectives to be involved in the process. Dr. Thomas shares the background work he did to involve the community, build a guiding coalition, and create a timeline for the process. He also talks about the role of communication, using a website and direct mailers to keep the community updated on the progress.