Education Catalyst™ (“EduCat™”) Case Study
District 225 Board of Education is a public two high school district in Glenbrook in the North Suburbs of Chicago with approximately 5,000 students. An economic downturn forced the district to make budget cuts. All departments were cut back, necessary capital projects were deferred, and the administration staff was reduced. These cuts coincided with turnover of four out of six of the high school’s top administrators.
The school board sought help and interviewed several consultants. Influenced by the business experience of a board member, the Education Catalyst™ was selected. A diverse task force of some 80 volunteers was assembled. School district board members, administrators, staff and teachers were represented, but the majority comprised community and business leaders, parents – and students.
In an intense three day workshop the priorities of the district were set out, a number of separate initiatives were identified, and a comprehensive plan was produced. The plan was presented to the community at large in multiple outreach meetings, and less than four months later it was approved and finalized. Within six months thereafter a referendum was successfully passed (even though the district was not in crisis) and the key initiatives were funded.
Leaders attributed the success and support of the strategic plan to the effectiveness of the “EduCat™” process in stimulating and synthesizing the best thinking of all vested constituencies. The participants discovered issues and solutions that had not been noticed before. Because the outcome was so wise and complete there was no minority opposition. The process was transparent and the truth produced transformation.
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