IESA Headlines

IESA Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning Menu

Board Adopts New Mission Statement, Beliefs and Strategies

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Board of Directors unanimously adopted a new mission statement, all 10 belief statements and all 12 strategies recommended by the IESA Strategic Planning Team in a teleconference call Tuesday (March 1).

The Board authorized the administrative staff to prepare a printed brochure regarding Strategic Planning. The brochure will be mailed to each member school. It will contain a review of the Strategic Planning process, the new mission statement, the IESA beliefs, an outline of the strategies, and an application for volunteer service on the action teams to be created to address the respective strategies. The brochure will be mailed to the member schools in the near future.

The Board will prioritize the order in which the strategies will be addressed by action teams.

At its fall meeting Sept. 10, 2004, the IESA Board of Directors endorsed the concept of Strategic Planning and the Association began its journey toward the initial planning session that was held Jan. 21-22, 2005. The planning process allowed for a broad based involvement in the goal setting process, leading to development of beliefs and strategies that reflect the needs and desires of IESA member schools.

The mission statement describes the unique purpose for which the IESA exists and the specific function it performs. The primary focus of the organization is provided in the mission statement which states:

The IESA will provide the leadership to ensure safe, equitable opportunities so students in our member schools can be enriched by participation in interscholastic activities which promote good sportsmanship, integrity and life skills.

The belief statements describe the organization's fundamental convictions. The belief statements represent non-negotiable ethical principles and were developed by the Strategic Planning Team during the Jan 21-22, 2005, initial planning session. They reflect the values which will guide the IESA as it strives to fulfill its mission.

Beliefs:

• We believe the IESA creates equal opportunity for all students.
• We believe that the purpose of interscholastic activities is to provide the foundation for life skills.
• We believe the students IESA serves have unique needs and warrant a separate governing body.
• We believe the IESA should expand its leadership role statewide in interscholastic activities.
• We believe IESA and its member schools should actively teach and promote good sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
• We believe the IESA should constantly strive to improve opportunities for students.
• We believe in the value of participation to develop self esteem, personal growth and a sense of belonging.
• We believe in the value of recognizing excellence.
• We believe that all students deserve the right to participate in a safe environment.
• We believe the IESA believes that students deserve to be directed and/or coached by highly qualified personnel.

The strategies are broadly stated means of deploying resources to fulfill the Association mission.

IESA will:

• Increase its membership.
• Provide equitable compensation to recruit and retain a highly qualified staff
• Provide the appropriate financial resources to meet the mission of IESA
• Provide the facilities necessary for IESA operations
• Develop a comprehensive officials program
• Develop a comprehensive judges program
• Promote and improve good sportsmanship
• Review the IESA Constitution
• Review state series structure and state series administration
• Improve communications through the interaction of the member schools in the Association
• Promote an increase in member participation in fine arts activities
• Enhance the recognition of excellence

The IESA needs interested people to serve as members of the Action Teams. The Action Teams are charged with making the vision of the Strategic Planning a reality. Each Action Teams will meet in Bloomington at the IESA Office to compile an action plan that will incorporate effective ways to implement each respective strategy.

Persons interested in becoming a member of an Action Team should contact their IESA member school principal for a copy of the Strategic Planning Brochure. Included in the brochure will be an Action Team application form. Volunteers appointed to serve on an action team will be contacted by the IESA Office.

IESA Staff

Facilitator

Strategic Planning Team