Times of Crisis Call for Rapid Adjustments

In EdSource, Founder and CEO Robert Tagorda makes the case for dynamic strategic planning during difficult times.

“School systems will have a hard time executing their plans as presently designed,” Tagorda writes about district approaches to COVID recovery. “In light of pressing student needs, they should take immediate steps to modify their strategies.”

This argument stems from the fact that most school systems have allocated substantial portions of their federal relief funds to human capital. They have staked their learning acceleration plans on staff increases, including new teachers who can help extend instructional time and mental health professionals who can address students’ social-emotional well-being.

Yet preliminary data show that districts have struggled to attract talent. These challenges have exacerbated ongoing labor shortages, particularly in the areas that their strategic plans have prioritized.

Given the circumstances, Tagorda urges school systems to begin making adjustments. They could, for instance, explore “greater use of partnerships with service providers from different sectors.” Ultimately, “the point is less about specific programs than about the process.” Districts must act swiftly to prevent students from falling further behind.

In general, times of crisis call for rapid adjustments. Organizations must be agile and treat their strategic plans as genuine “living documents.”