S.W.O.T Analysis and Overview

S.W.O.T
Analysis and Overview
Strategic Plan Retreat
June 16 th 2008

What is SWOT?
• Strengths – Refers to our superior internal capabilities.
Should be capitalized on and replicated as much as possible
• Weaknesses – Internal Areas that prevent us from achieving
goals and meeting customer needs.
• Opportunities – Refers to external trends in which we have
little control over. They represent opportunities and should
be used to improve services or productivity
• Threats – External events, current and pending, that must be
considered in crafting plans to meet goals and objectives

Why SWOT
• Systematic method for identifying and prioritizing factors
and issues that are important for the selection of effective
strategies
• Encourages the collection of data from many perspectives
which aids strategic plan decision-making
• Helps ensure input from all key stakeholder groups

SWOT Background
• The BPS Strategic Planning Process over the last 7 years has
routinely be recognized for excellence
• Key has been involvement of key stakeholders and it’s
integration/implementation from the Boardroom to the
Classroom
• Internal Strengths and Weaknesses; External Opportunities
and Threats have been considered as part of SP process
• No formal method of collecting data and input from other
key stakeholders such as parents and community members

2008 Community Input
SWOT
• General Notes
• Overall responses were positive
• General concern that responses provided may not reach those
that need to see them
• Desire for a process to ensure concerns will be heard
• 209 total responses
• 150 parents; 59 non-parents (employees, citizens, students,
other)
• 2500 comments

Parent Responses
Top 5 Strengths
• High quality teachers
• Parental involvement. Parents feel involved with ample
opportunities to participate
• Leadership – open, positive, and accountable
• Edline is well received – only complaint is teachers not using
as much as they should
• Buildings and Facilities – appreciation of Facility
Improvement Plans

Non-Parents
Top 5 Strengths
• Teachers
• Strong relationship with business partners – BPS has unique
opportunity to partner with high-tech firms and should
capitalize on it
• Challenging and effective curriculum
• Ongoing training for teachers and staff
• Quality programs such as AP, Cambridge, Lego, Robotics,
Rolling Readers

Parent Responses
Top 5 Weaknesses
• FCAT – too much emphasis on teaching to the test versus
concepts needed for learning
• Funding stewardship – school supplies is a burden for
parents; use of paper vs. email for items such as newsletters
• Food quality – junk food should not be in schools
• Calendar changes – do not want exams to fall after winter
break
• No Foreign Language in the elementary schools

Non-Parent Responses
Top 5 Weaknesses
• FCAT overemphasis
• Compensation system
• Intra-school communication
• Communication between school and district officials
• Inconsistent parent involvement from school to school

Parent Responses
Top 5 Opportunities
• Tap into volunteers or technical teachers to drive success for
non-college bound student
• Online Learning – BPS is underutilizing this
• Design Curriculum to present all sides of an issue vs. a
sanitized or politically correct stance
• Leverage local business to engage at-risk students
• Increase partnerships with community organizations such as
KSC, YMCA, Brevard Zoo, etc. Teach outside the traditional
classroom

Non-Parent Responses
Top 5 Opportunities
• Improve efficiency of bus routes to reduce fuel costs
• Focus on fundamentals to improve math and reading
• Increase feedback mechanism to ensure frontline employees
are heard
• Capitalize on virtual school opportunities
• Replicate best practices from outside the state and region

Parent Responses
Top 5 Threats
• Funding Shortfalls – Ensure parents that excellence will be
maintained
• School distractions – BPS must ensure that schools are safe
havens for learning
• Responses and Planning to emergencies such as violence,
weather issues, and national security – BPS must keep
current and rehearse frequently
• Lack of broad focus on all aspects of education – Arts, PE,
etc. must permeate through all grades
• Security in schools – without feeling as if students are “in jail”

Non-Parent Responses
Top 5 Threats
• Funding shortfalls – Start preparing now
• Downturn in space program – Have a plan to deal with this
scenario
• Retention of quality teachers
• Fuel costs – step up preparations and develop alternatives
related to work schedules, sports and club schedules, bus
schedules, etc.
• Lack of Vo-Tech options for students – must prepare students
for alternative success paths

Our Challenge
• Consider SWOT data from all key stakeholders in developing
strategies intended to achieve our organizational mission
• Develop a process to address concerns that all input is
considered. This will ensure more participation in the future
• Determine if SWOT input is valid
• If valid, use SWOT input to help select strategies for the
coming strategic plan
• Raw data is accessible through Bob Seemer and ETS
• Copies of Power Point are available
• ETS summary available by contacting the Customer Service
Center