District+Improvement+Plans

 It is my opinion; the District Improvement Plan from Austin Independent School District is largely different from the District Improvement Plan for the Lumberton Independent School District. The format of this plan is different than the format that I am familiar with in our district. As I was analyzing the Austin District Improvement Plan, my first criteria that I was searching for was an assessment of the District’s Comprehensive Needs Assessment. It was evident that there were some assessments that were discussed in the plan, and minutes of various meetings supported the assessment. However, in comparison with the Lumberton ISD District Improvement Plan the ease of finding like information is difficult due to the formatted differences. In reference to the Needs Assessment, the information found in the Austin ISD Improvement Plan supported the assessment, but no performance goals were identified in the plan from the results of the various assessments. The Lumberton ISD Improvement Plan focuses on the Needs Assessment, and identifies performance goals to be achieved in the current year, unlike the Austin ISD Improvement Plan that focused on past data.

 Both plans are similar in the area of budgeted decision making. The Austin ISD District Improvement Plan easily supported the programs that are funded through district funds. In the appendix sections, the programs were identified with the various budgetary allocations targeted to support the program. The only item missing was the objective focuses of the goals for the year planned. In the Lumberton ISD Improvement Plan, the identification of programs is evident within the plan, and the targeted funds support the objectives that are to be accomplished.  In the Lumberton ISD Improvement Plan, the school board performance indicators that support the goals of the district are easily identified and supported by allocated funds. The work of the plan involves the District Site Base Management Team, the School Board, and the Superintendent of Schools. All together, the plan is created and submitted to the school board for final approval. In comparing other school district plans, such as the Irving ISD and San Angelo ISD District Improvement Plans, our District plan easily compares to these school districts. It is my personal opinion that the Austin Independent School District plan is different in design, and not easily followed.