District embarks on Excellence Study District embarks on Excellence Study (September 02, 2005)

Trustees want a price tag for expanding student opportunities
by Rebecca Guyon

Superintendent John Casey presented the Board of Trustees with plans to begin the Excellence Study, which was listed as the number one goal by the Board when it set its agenda for the upcoming school year. The Excellence study will identify what the district wants to deliver to students in terms of practices, policies and procedures, and exactly how much it would cost.

"We always say, 'What can we do with the money we have.' I like that we are changing that question to, 'What would it cost to do what we really want to do?'" said Trustee Kris Weaver.

In many respects the district has already identified its top priorities for students with the development of the strategic plan. However, the key difference between the strategic plan and the Excellence study is that the latter will give the district a price tag for the programs it wants to initiate. The strategic plan will still factor into the Excellence Study as a starting point, but the study will build on these goals by also looking at how the district can create "world class schools."

The state of California made plans several years ago to conduct a similar study on the state level for all school districts, but the study never got off the ground. Tired of waiting for the state to come around, the trustees agreed they want to see Pleasanton take the lead on the project and show that it can be done on the local level.

"This is our chance to say this is what Pleasanton wants for its education that has nothing to do with the state," said Trustee Pat Kernan. "It has to come from the bottom up."

With the recent passing of the state budget, the district received more money then it originally anticipated - a position it is rarely in - which is why now is a good opportunity to pursue the study, Casey said.

"This is an important aspect for us to bring up now because we are not talking about cutting programs," he said. "We weathered the storm, so it is timely to say, 'We have maintained where we are at, but is that enough?'"

The first step in the study is to assemble a committee of 55 members from different areas of the community. Committee members would include teachers, district administrators, principals, city staff, students, classified staff, PTA and Booster club members and community members at large. The district plans on having the committee complete the study in four evening and two all-day Saturday meetings. During the time period, the committee members would solicit input from parents and other community members to be included in the study. The committee is scheduled to present their report to the trustees at the March 14, 2006 Board meeting.

"Once we know, we can go to the community and say, 'this is what it will cost, and this is how we are going to achieve it,'" said Trustee Steve Pulido.

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