Different Aspects of the Proposed Strategic Plan

Over the next couple of days I will share different aspects of the proposed Strategic Plan as it relates to different departments. You will hear from each of the following departments: Athletics, Finance, Gifted Education, Program for Exceptional Children, School Improvement and Redesign, Student Affairs, Teaching and Learning, and Transportation. I am sharing these because it is my wish for you to better understand what we are trying to accomplish with the "Macon Miracle."

First, I will share a message with you from Ron Collier, Chief Financial Officer for the Bibb County School District:

Questions have been raised about where the funding will come from to support the Strategic Plan. Please keep in mind, the purpose of our Strategic Plan is to set the direction for the District for at least the next 10 years. Our goal has been and continues to be that we will operate within our budget. Our current mill rate of 17.945 has not increased in three years. We intend to continue to operate within that mill rate. As a matter of fact, our initial presentation of the Strategic Plan included a proposal that would have lowered our millage rate by 4 mills over the next five to seven years.

When we present this plan to the Board it will include an Operating budget based upon the current mill rate. Presently, our budget is based upon federal, state and local funding.  A number of our new initiatives will be funded through collaborations with other local, state and national organizations. Locally, we will partner with the Department of Family and Children Services, the Office of Workforce Development, and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. By combining our resources, we will better be able to serve our students and this community without increasing taxes.

In order to fulfill our mission of preparing our students to be college ready and enhance their strength of character, it will take the entire community pulling its resources together. The education of our students is paramount to the survival of our community. We must do everything we can to ensure their success. Instead of requiring additional resources, this plan merely redirects our current resources. We must prepare our students to be successful in this 21^st century multi-ethnic global economy. The success of this mission requires that we research new solutions. If we cannot implement the new solutions within our budget then we will have to forego them. We will operate within the budget.