Public Consulting Group School Restructuring in Poland – challenges and proven solutions Łukasz...

Public Consulting Group School Restructuring in Poland –challenges and proven solutions

Łukasz Nowak,September, 2011

Public Consulting Group

Agenda

Context for schoolrestructuring in Poland

Challenges and opportunities

Proven solutions

PCG methodology

About PCG


During the meeting…

Be creative, open-minded and engaged

Note done the ideas, commentsand questions


Introductions


Context for school restructuring in Poland 22% drop in the

number of students in Polish

schools in the last 5 years


Demographic and population trends

Demographic and population change resulted in decreased student population but did not result in school closures

Elementary Lower SecondarySchool Year Students Schools Students Schools

2004/2005 2 723 700 14 765 1 648 800 6 980

2010/2011 2 196 000 13 915 1 259 600 7 189

Trends 19.37% 5.76% 23.61% 2.99%

Source: Ministry of National Education report


Public expenditure on education

Over the last 5 years there has been a 31% increase in spending on education

Student population dropped by 22% on average at the elementary and lower secondary levelsSource: Money.pl


To recap…

Declining enrollment

Limited local financing

Aging infrastructure

Significant administrative costsof running the schools

Teachers’ expectationsof raises


Controversy around school restructuring


Challenges of school restructuring

Why is school restructuring a challenge for the local governments? Lost jobs Laco of long-term

education strategy Local control

and politics Pride and identity Community pushback Other challenges?


Opportunities of school restructuring

Improved academic performance of students is THE outcome of school restructuring Improved fiscal efficiency of schools Improved utilization of staff and

school facilitieis Modernized school infrastructure Improved accessibility of

specialized staff and equipment


Best practices and proven solutions

What are the school restructuring success-determining factors according to PCG? Grounding the process in the improvement

of educational opportunities Stakeholder engagement Focus on implementation Sufficient amount of time for closings Project leader and champion


Grounding the process in the improvement of educational opportunities

Consider education quality as one of the key criteria for the school restructuring decision-making process

Initiate a dialogue with the local community regarding the improved educational opportunities for students



Stakeholder engagement

Identify and prioritize groups of stakeholders that should be engaged in the decision-making process

Engage the local community as often and as early as possible

Be sensitive to the political situation



Focus on implementation Develop a detailed implementation plan during the

decision-making phase

Support the families affected by school closures

Consider schools’ engagement in EU projects

Ensure security of student records during the move

Ensure appropriate financial and organizational suppport for the implementation phase



Sufficient amount of time for closings

Do not try to close schools on too rapid of a timeline

Minimum 12 – 18 months

Use the urgency generated by the discovery of a budget shortfall to begin a planning process for a comprehensive right-sizing plan



Project leader and champion

Select a person or a group of people that will be held accountable for the school restructuring

Ensure that the leader has a solid understanding of the local education market and provide him with the necessary support and resources



PCG school restructuring methodologyPHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3

Form a school restructuring committee

Collect comparative data

Develop decision-making framework

Analyze school data Recommend

schools for closure Manage

communications Local government

make closures decisions

Reassign teachers, students, equipment

Continue to manage communication

Monitor financial and educational outcomes


Phase 1: Form a school restructuring committe

Why is community participation on the committee important?

Who should be included? Local government

officials School Directors Others?


Phase 1: Collect comparative data

What types of data need to be collected to determine what is the optimal number of seats or classrooms needed and where do we need those seats? Total number of seats in the school district Total number of students

in the current shool year Total number of students

in the future school years Other?


Phase 1: Develop decision making framework

How to decide which schools to close?

Student performance

Student growth

Academic Performance

SchoolOperations

Facilities &Infrastructure

Utilization School demand/

choice Operational costs

Physical condition Maintenance/

repair costs Utility costs Locations


Phase 2: Analyze Data and formulate Recommendations

What types of tools can be used for analyzing school data and making final school restructuring decisions?


Sample school ranking


Phase 2: Manage communications

What are the ingredients of a successful communication plan with the stakeholders? Main Theme Key Messages Stakeholder Groups Community Meetings Telephone helpline Website Information packages


Phase 2: Manage communications

Examples of effective and ineffective messaging Ineffective statement: We have determined that at least

two schools will need to be closed to balance the budget for next year.”

Possible alternative: “We recommend that two schools be closed in order that money currently spent on empty seats can be recaptured and applied in other ways to improve the education that our children receive.”


Summary

During today’s workshop we learned how to: Asses the risks and opportunities of school closing Identify areas of focus and priorities Form a school restructuring committee Collect and analyze important school data Establish decision making-criteria Communicate the decisions with the Public


About Public Consulting Group

Public Consulting Group (PCG) is a global management consulting firm focused on the public sector

We are the trusted advisor to the local, regional and national governments and institutions in the area of education, healthcare and human services

We employ 1000 professionals in 35 offices and work with over 4 000 clients in USA, Canada, and Poland


Public focus. Proven results

Be agents of change—ask right questions, communicate key messages, engage community leaders

Bring innovations in management practice to clients

Use our global network to deliver the best of the firm to all clients

Build client capabilities to sustain improvement

Build enduring relationships


Partners to Governments

New Jersey Public Schools

North Carolina Mental Health Facilities

Lodz Public Schools


Łukasz Nowak, [email protected]

Tel: +48 42 2908 221

Fabryczna 17, Budynek A1

90-344 Łódź, Poland

www.pcgeu.com

Please contact us with any questions regarding PCG’s School Restructuring methodology and services.

We are here to assist you!

Public Consulting Group School Restructuring in Poland – challenges and proven solutions Łukasz...

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