Orcas Island School District is offering a community strategic planning session on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

What is the process for a strategic plan? The district has engaged the services of an independent facilitator, Dr. Spencer Welch, to work with OISD stakeholders on identifying their priorities for the district. Welch will then share his insights with the OISD School Board and Superintendent. The feedback gathered by Welch will serve as the leadership’s guide for the development of a Strategic Plan — think of it as the road map for the district’s next three to five years.

Welch is a consultant who specializes in leadership development, organizational development and community building. He was a high school social studies teacher for 15 years, a high school principal for nine years, the Executive Director of Human Resources in the Bellevue School District, a Project Director for the Center for Educational Leadership and the Director of the Danforth Educational Leadership Program at the University of Washington. Over the past 10 years, Welch has helped many districts in Washington with leadership development, strategic planning, change processes, mediation and negotiations.