By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Henning School District is taking proactive steps to address key challenges it could face over the next 3-5 years. What those potential challenges may be, how the school district will address the issues and what the school district will look like in the near-to-distant future is the subject of a new strategic plan that is in the early stages of development at Henning School.

Earlier this year the Henning School Board approved a proposal to develop a new 3-5 year strategic plan for the Henning School District. The plan covers everything from what community members and school officials view as important for the future success of students both in and out of the classroom, as well as strengths and weaknesses of Henning School as a whole. 

Henning School Superintendent Melissa Sparks said one of the important aspects of developing a new strategic plan is community engagement and input during the early stages of development. 

“We just want to engage everyone in designing a framework for where they want to see the district in the next 3-5 years,” she said. “What do they value in our school district. What do they feel our kids need and how do we get there.”

In order to get the input from the public a survey was available during the school open house at the end of August and can also be taken on the school’s website at www.henning.k12.mn.us. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Henning School District office. The deadline to complete the online survey is Friday, Sept. 12. 

The survey takes just a few minutes to take online, but getting a large cross section of the community can help the school board and ministration get an idea of what the community values about Henning School. Sparks reiterated that just because the school district is working on a strategic plan doesn’t mean it is looking into a new school referendum. Instead, she said the school district wants to develop a plan of goals to shape future decisions for future generations of Henning students. 

“What is everybody’s thoughts. What priorities come to the top of the list and how do we address those issues,” said Sparks. “What do we need to do to prepare kids for the future.”

In addition to the survey, Sparks said the school district is looking for 25-30 people to be part of a core planning team. She said all of the school board members and administration will be part of the committee, as well staff and community members. There will be four meetings in all with the first meeting being held on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Any community members who would like to be a part of the core planning team should contact the Henning School District office at 583-2927. 

An outside company will collect all of the data and compile it for the Henning School District. The company will also help to guide the school district and planning committee through the brainstorming process as well. 

Sparks said the school district has received a great response to the surveys so far, and the plan is to have the process wrapped up by December 1 and up for discussion at the December school board meeting.

Some goals identified in the last strategic plan, which expired in 2020, was to increase enrollment, developing a marketing plan and looking at why people leave the school district and enter the school district through open enrollment, as well as a number of other items.