Inter-Lakes board now unanimously behind effort to create strategic plan for school district

MEREDITH — Although some initially expressed doubt that the exercise was worth the effort, the Inter-Lakes School Board voted unanimously last night to contract with a consultant to help develop a strategic plan for the school district.

Strategic plans have played a role at several points in the district's history and have resulted in developments such as the Middle Tier grade grouping. When the idea was brought up at an earlier meeting, though, not all board members were convinced that there was a need to undertake such an effort and the proposal was tabled.

The initiative was given new life at last night's meeting, though, as board members voted without dissension to hire Dr. George Ladd, at an estimated cost of $5,000, to facilitate the effort. Part of the process will include the creation of a steering committee comprised of community members.

Board Member Carol Baggaley said her initial reluctance was reversed after speaking with members of the community. "I feel like I'm ready to go forward with this... I am much more open to it."

The process will begin later this year.

Prior to the board's discussion of the issue, Meredith resident Mark Billings urged the board to consider developing the plan. "I am hugely in support of this initiative." He referenced the looming possibility for significant changes to the way the federal and state governments approach education, likening them to tectonic plates moving beneath the school district. "Think about the ground moving beneath our feet," he said.

NOTES: Superintendent Phil McCormack said a press release from the Obama administration alluded to the possibility that New Hampshire could relieve itself of the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law, providing the state holds itself accountable to the law's original intentions of improvement and accountability. "You'd like to think rational thinking would prevail at some level," he said, observing that the law's initial wording contained fatal flaws that were never corrected through amendments. . . . . . The board reaffirmed its support of shared athletic programs with Moultonborough Academy, an arrangement which includes football, spirit (cheerleading), ice hockey and cross-country. . . . . . McCormack reported that former athletic director Anne Galligan received an award from the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association for advancement of women's sports. . . . . . McCormack also briefed the board on the beginnings of the 2011-12 budget-building process, in which he instructed administrators to propose budgets with a priority on maintaining the present quality of education without asking for additional programs or staff.