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Fort Atkinson begins community outreach for 2026 strategic plan; board reviews draft guiding principles
Summary
District leaders presented a draft of guiding principles and district beliefs to frame a new five‑year strategic plan. Staff will hold focus groups and public surveys in November and December; no action was taken at the Oct. 21 meeting.
District administration presented draft guiding principles and district beliefs on Oct. 21 as the first step in drafting a five‑year strategic plan that would take effect in 2026. The board received an update and provided feedback; the district will convene staff and community focus groups and run a public survey before returning a fuller plan in late winter or early spring.
The presentation traced the history of the district’s current plan and said staff sought to make the guiding principles and beliefs concise and public facing so they can serve as the foundation for the next plan. The document groups guiding principles under categories such as academic accountability, fiscal responsibility, community engagement, federal and state accountability, safety, and physical and human capital. District beliefs are organized under headings such as distinction in learning, distinction in belonging and stewardship, reflecting academic, social‑emotional and community expectations.
Administrators told the board the district conducted a staff and community survey on the draft and that responses were used to revise the materials now under review. The district plans two days of facilitator‑led sessions in November that will run roughly 16 micro focus groups with external and internal stakeholders — business leaders, health‑care partners, municipal leaders, teachers, staff and high‑school students — led by a facilitator the district has used previously. The facilitator will compile input alongside a public survey, and the district will present the results to the board in December.
Board members voiced support for the participatory process and emphasized the importance of an actionable plan that the district can measure and report on regularly. No board action was taken on the draft guiding principles on Oct. 21; staff said the board will see further revisions after the November‑December outreach and again before a final plan is presented in late winter or early spring.
