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FRANKLIN ACADEMY'S REVISED STRATEGIC PLAN AND TIMELINE (2005 to 2010)
Through the late fall and winter of 2004-05 the administration of Franklin Academy focused on the future of the school, developing a concise strategic plan that targeted five ambitious strategic goals.
Our Board of Trustees endorsed these goals which give shape to our institutional endeavors now and in the years to come.
What follows are the five goals, specific objectives, the recommended timeline for achieving these objectives, and our progress to date.
This plan has been modified as a result of the yearlong self-study that resulted in Franklin Academy's accreditation by the New England Association
of Schools and Colleges in June of 2007.
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GOAL 1: |
Identify the critical components of the Franklin model, strengthen or modify the model as necessary, validate the model's success through research, and publicize the findings with the intention of replicating the Franklin model. |
The Franklin Academy model is built upon a very specific mission statement that brings to our campus students who possess similar strengths, share common interests, and face comparable challenges.
We have created a school community where everyone feels safe, connected, and understood.
We have designed a school day and a year-round calendar to allow ample time for work and sufficient time for rest.
We emphasize small classes, a low student-teacher ratio, teaching teams to serve a specific group of students, and residential supervision that is handled by every teacher and administrator.
The curriculum addresses students with an auditory learning style preference and focuses on the acquisition of vital social and academic skills to prepare students for college work and lifelong learning.
The physical environment of our compact campus, the single occupancy dorm rooms, and family-style dining provide a comfortable, home-away-from-home living and learning experience for our students.
It is our expectation that students will remain at Franklin Academy until graduation and gain entrance to an appropriate college or university. Here are the action steps for this goal.
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Reaffirm the school's mission and determine the range of students that Franklin should serve.
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Enlarge the school's Advisory Board with professionals in the field of Child Development and Education and charge this board with the responsibility of continually auditing the school's program through direct consultation, in-service programs, and assessment.
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Establish an in-house professional development and evaluation system. Evaluation includes feedback from administrators, colleagues, and students, as well as self-evaluation. Professional development is directly linked to evaluation and focuses on regular measurement of performance outcomes, pedagogy, team building, and the diagnostic and psychosocial issues associated with
NLD.
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Initiate and enlarge the systematic collection of data, building on a foundation of basic research while forging long-term relationships and alliances with key professionals and institutions as we endeavor to validate or modify the Franklin model through applied research.
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Publish and present information, strategies, and findings leading to successful outcomes for students with NLD.
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GOAL
2: |
Earn accredited status with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges at the earliest possible moment and address the recommendations emerging from the school's self-study and the work of the NEASC Visiting Committee, incorporating these recommendations into a revised Strategic Plan. |
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GOAL
3: |
Prepare for a school of 100 to 125 students. |
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GOAL
4: |
Purchase 75 acres of campus property currently leased. |
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Complete an inspection and appraisal of six parcels of land that constitute the campus.
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Negotiate a fair market purchase price.
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Secure the necessary financing and buy the property by the 2008-09 school year.
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GOAL
5: |
Raise $10 to $11 Million. |
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Establish the following priorities:
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Campus Master Plan
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$25,000
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Library/Media Center
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$150,000
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Student Center
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$125,000
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Science Facilities
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$350,000
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Level Three Satellite Dormitory
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$150,000
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1st Girls Dormitory and Faculty Housing
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$2,000,000
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2nd Girls Dormitory and Faculty Housing
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$2,000,000
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Classrooms, Art & Music Rooms, Offices
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$1,000,000
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Endowment
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$5,000,000
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Total
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$10,800,000
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Develop a case statement for a capital campaign.
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Recruit a Development Committee.
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Identify donor prospects.
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Mobilize for the campaign.
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Initiate construction as individual projects become fully funded.
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Publicize success to maintain momentum.
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THE TIMELINE
2005-2006
2006-2007
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Open school with a total of 80 students.
Accomplished.
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Initiate PG program.
Program launched.
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Initiate college support program for Franklin graduates.
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Complete Science Building Project.
Accomplished.
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Initiate Student Center Project.
Project completed.
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Host accreditation visit and secure NEASC accreditation.
Accomplished.
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Secure funding and start construction on next satellite dorm.
Construction documents completed.
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Initiate 1st research project.
Underway.
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Present at three conferences.
Presented at one conference.
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Build summer program to a total of 30 students in each two-week session.
Not accomplished.
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2007-2008
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Open school with 90 students.
Not accomplished - opened with 76 students.
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Revise the school's strategic plan.
Accomplished.
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Recruit new Trustees for an enlarged Board.
Underway.
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Complete Student Center Project.
Accomplished.
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Continue with 1st research project.
On-going.
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Initiate 2nd research project.
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Publish and present.
First Franklin Academy Conference - April of 2008.
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Address NEASC accreditation recommendations.
Work has begun.
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Purchase the school campus.
Appraisal completed; negotiations moving ahead.
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Secure funding for 1st Girls Dormitory.
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Build summer program to a total of 35 students in each two-week session.
New plan developed.
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2008-2009
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Open school with 90 students.
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Start construction of 1st Girls Dormitory.
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Carry forward research projects.
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Publish and present.
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Address NEASC accreditation recommendations.
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Build summer program to a total of 40 students in each two-week session.
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2009-2010
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Open school with 100 students.
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Occupy 1st Girls Dormitory.
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Raise funds for 2nd Girls Dormitory and new classroom building.
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Carry forward research projects.
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Publish and present.
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Address NEASC accreditation recommendations.
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Build summer program to a total of 50 students in each two-week session.
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NEXT STEPS
Franklin Academy's Board of Trustees is moving ahead with plans to purchase the campus and refinance the school's long-term debt. A Program Committee, headed by the Educational Director and Residential Director and consisting of faculty leadership, is overseeing the school's response to recommendations that emerged from our self-study and the visit by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The Director of Admissions is developing a strategy to increase the number of female students at Franklin Academy.
Finally, the Headmaster has been charged with recruiting interested parents who would like to serve on a Development Committee to raise the necessary funds for capital projects and endowment.
Sincerely,
Frederick Weissbach
Headmaster
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