Patch Participates in School Efficiency Survey

Manchester Patch Editor David Moran was interviewed by a consultant from Evergreen Solutions Wednesday morning as part of a "" designed to identify possible areas of improvement that Manchester Public Schools could make to non-instructional operations, including finance, human resources and the operation and management of the district. 

Moran spoke with Betty Ressel, a consultant from Evergreen Solutions, for a little more than half an hour Wednesday morning at the Board of Education offices on North School Street and was asked his responses to six prepared questions. 

The questions Moran was asked were as follows: 

1. What are the major issues currently facing Manchester Public Schools? 

2. Are you aware of specific issues or problems associated with the following areas of district operations: 

- Administration and Leadership? 
- Curriculum and Instruction?
- Financial Management (including payroll, accounts payable)?
- Purchasing/Contracting?
- Budgeting?
- Human Resources?
- Facilities and Equipment?
- Technology?
- Food Services?
- Vehicles? 

Evergreen has been asked to also conduct a middle management review of the central office and the schools. How can these organizational structure (sic) be improved?

- Central Office (e.g., supervisors, managers, etc.)?
- Schools (e.g., assistant principals, department heads at the high school, etc.)?

3. If you could change one practice, policy, or procedure in Manchester Public Schools, what would it be? What other suggestions or opportunities for improvement do you se to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations in the school system? 

4. What are some areas where management is performing exceptionally well?

5. In your opinion, why is Manchester Public Schools conducting this study at this time?

6. Is there anything else you'd like to say that I haven't asked about? Please share any other insights or issues that you feel we should be sure to explore as we conduct this study?

The consultants said they plan to speak with a wide section of the community who would have contact with the school system over the next several weeks - parents, teachers, Board of Education members, administrators - and ask them the same survey questions as part of the study, as well as conduct on-site visits, focus groups and analyze of operational data. Evergreen plans to present its findings and recommendations to improve operations to school administrators in September. 

To ensure that stakeholders are able to voice their concerns and opinions, Evergreen welcomes direct input through email. Those who feel they have something to say about the operations of the Manchester Public Schools are encouraged to submit input on the study via email to Tom Masters at tomm@consultevergreen.com (and, of course, share your opinions in the comment stream on Manchester Patch!). All correspondence submitted to Evergreen is confidential (Patch comments are, of course, not).