School Board Hires Strategy Consultants

FARMINGTON — Farmington School District will seek advice from a leadership consulting firm in developing a strategic action plan with a vision, goals and outlining specific steps to reach those objectives.

At the recommendation of Superintendent Bryan Law, the School Board agreed last week to pay $22,300 to Soderquist Leadership of Siloam Springs. Soderquist is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 by Don Soderquist, retired senior vice chairman of Walmart Stores Inc. The firm’s website says it is a “provider of leadership development for organizations of all sizes.”

Law, in recommending the firm, said his only hesitation was cost. He said, however, that as the school district continues to grow, he believes it is important “we are all headed together.” He added he thinks working with Soderquist would be an excellent opportunity for the school.

“I think the timing is right. I feel excited about you coming in,” Law said.

Brock Erdman, director of business development with Soderquist, presented the firm’s proposal to board members at their Feb. 21 meeting.

During the first six weeks, Soderquist will have a kick-off meeting and review different aspects of the district’s history. The Soderquist team will interview School Board members, administrators and key community stakeholders. It will provide online surveys for teachers and parents.

Level one of the process involves developing a mission, vision and values statements for the school district. During level two, the team will create a plan with goals, objectives, strategies and measures. Level three is building and executing an action plan.

The process will take about 14 weeks, according to the proposal.

Erdman said Soderquist will help the district develop a “simple, clear, strategic plan.” In all, the plan probably only would be five to seven pages long. He said, for example, the plan would have no more than five strategies and the end result would not be a plan stored away in a drawer but a plan the District could accomplish with greater success.

Terri Strope, assistant superintendent, said she thought it was a good idea to bring in an outside source with an objective view.

Board members Amy Hill and Travis Warren also agreed with the proposal.

“I think it’s good to have a set of outside eyes,” Warren said.

In other business, Aliza Jones, the district’s facilities consultant, said she would prepare a letter of intent that the school plans to apply for FEMA grants to build safe rooms. The district will request funds to construct safe rooms at Williams, Folsom, Ledbetter and Lynch schools. Jones warned that if approved for funding, the district probably would only receive money for one school at this time and would have to choose which school.

FEMA would provide 75 percent of the money for a safe room and the district would be responsible for the balance, an estimated $200,000.

The Board also voted to purchase a new dishwasher for Lynch Middle School for $9,950 and an oven for Ledbetter Intermediate for $3,700.

In personnel matters, the board rehired all administrators, including principals and assistant principals, for the 2016-17 school year.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Olivia Robbins, a student at Williams Elementary School in Farmington, teaches School Board member Travis Warren how to play “Hot Cross Buns” on a keyboard in the music room. Students wear headphones and microphones and are able to communicate with...