The Board of Trustees at Richmond Montessori School is dedicated to visioning and planning for the current and future well-being of the school. A crucial aspect of “holding the trust” for future generations of Montessori students and families is long-range planning.
In the winter of 2007, the Board assembled an ad-hoc Strategic Planning Committee comprised of teachers, parents, staff, and board members. This team of stakeholders reached out to the school community to assess the results of the previous strategic plan, identify current and future opportunities and trends, and gather good ideas. The team took a close look at our Montessori foundation and reaffirmed our future as a premier Montessori community, inspiring academic excellence and nurturing human potential.
In our 2007-2012 Strategic Plan: Charting Our Course to Excellence, the Board adopted values that reflect our long-term goals as well as our day-to-day lives here are Richmond Montessori School:
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Excellence…academics, leadership, accreditation
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Character…personal empowerment, integrity, accountability
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Authenticity…Montessori curriculum, philosophy, method
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Respect…self, others, environment
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Community…diversity, dynamic learning, service
We have six Strategic Directions that guide planning and decision-making:
Philosophy and Programs
Our focus is to develop and enhance programs that reflect the Montessori philosophy and meet the needs of the student body. The goals will be achieved in the context of the Pillars/Best Practices of Richmond Montessori School and developing the indoor and outdoor campus as a prepared environment.
Middle School
Our focus is to position the middle school for gradual growth and success by identifying appropriate resources, teachers, and programming.
Growth to Accommodate Students and Programming
Our focus is to develop the appropriate master site plan to meet the needs of up to 400 students at the Parham Road campus. Also, during the next three years, plan what the campus/school should be like in ten years and explore options for addressing the long-term space needs of the school.
Staffing
Our focus is to ensure continuity of our workforce by investing in "growing our own" teachers, leaders, and administration (including certified Montessori teachers).
Financial Growth and Security
Our focus is to obtain the necessary funding to support the new initiatives, programs, staffing and facilities required to implement the five-year strategic plan.
Governance
Our focus is to provide conscientious and dedicated leadership to support the Head of School, the strategic plan, and the financial integrity of the school.
Philosophy and Programs
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Goal #1: Develop a Media Resource Center.
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Goal #2: Enhance the core science curriculum and develop an environmental sciences program.
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Goal #3: Enhance and restructure specialty programming in physical education/athletics, visual arts, music, and performing arts to complement and strengthen the Montessori curriculum.
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Goal #4: Explore potential enhancements to the structure, programs, and staffing of the Extended Care Program and extracurricular activities.
Middle School
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Goal #1: Draw on current research and best practices to continue to enhance a developmentally appropriate, intellectually challenging middle school program that prepares students for high school.
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Goal #2: Ensure that teachers work collaboratively as a team, serve as facilitators in the learning process, and value communications with student families.
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Goal #3: Educate the RMS community about why students should continue their education through Montessori middle school.
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Goal #4: Provide the physical space necessary for curricular, co-curricular, and athletic programming.
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Goal #5: Become a leading model for Montessori middle schools.
Growth to Accommodate Students and Programming
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Goal #1: Complete site development on the Parham Road Campus based on the Master Site Plan to create space [internal and external] for a maximum of 400 students and program enhancements to fully implement the 5-year strategic plan.
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Goal #2: Actively explore opportunities to purchase and/or secure additional land and/or property to enhance the programs at the Parham Road Campus.
Staffing
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Goal #1: Develop a long-term Staff (faculty and administration) Continuity Plan.
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Goal #2: Support professional and personal growth through formal and flexible faculty and staff development program.
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Goal #3: Analyze a potential compensation package as a way to attract and retain exceptional Montessori-trained faculty.
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Goal #4: Grow our own Montessori trained teachers by identifying candidates and sponsoring Montessori teacher training based on the needs of the school.
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Goal #5: Complete a feasibility study for an AMS approved, revenue-generating Montessori Teacher Training Program.
Financial Growth and Security
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Goal #1: Undertake and complete a capital campaign to support planned growth and enhancements in the 5-year strategic plan.
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Goal #2: Refine Annual Fund plan to reflect programming priorities in the strategic plan.
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Goal #3: Fully define and fund Endowments.
Governance
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Goal #1: Identify and provide enhanced board development and training.
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Goal #2: Develop section of the School Continuity Plan (see Staffing – Goal #1) to address long-term stability of the Head of School position.
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Strategic Planning References
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1. Summary Report – Strategic Planning Community Listening Sessions, March 2007.
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2. Summary Report – Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Retreat, March 2007.
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3. AMS/VAIS Joint Accreditation – Interim Review, Visiting Team Report, April 2006.
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4. Pillars/Best Practices of Montessori – Faculty Philosophy Committee, Richmond Montessori School, May 2007.
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5. “Are Small Schools Better?” Policy Brief. School Size Considerations for Safety and Learning. WestEd (www.wested.org). October 2001.
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6. RMS Planned Growth. Board Strategic Planning Committee, March 2006.
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Additional References and Source Documents
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National Association of Independent Schools – Strategic Planning Series, Susan Stone, Independent School Magazine, NAIS Website, 1997-2006.
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Building Brighter Futures through a Montessori Education – The Long Range Plan for Richmond Montessori 1996-2000, August 1996.
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In the Spotlight: The Human Side of Business Continuity Planning. IBM Global Services July 2006
