Long Range & Strategic Planning  •  Master Funding Plan   •   Space Needs Analysis
Campus Master Planning   •   Facility Planning & Design

Long Range & Strategic Planning All organizations depend on forward planning to focus collective attention on priorities, goals, and direction. Schools cannot foresee their future condition or outcomes without a design or system that directs their financial and human resources efficiently in the context of the school’s mission. An overarching design for an organization is often referred to as a “strategic” or “long range” plan. There are other types of plans, as well, that affect subsets of the organization, in this example the school – lesson plans, curriculum scope and sequence, marketing/enrollment plan, business plan, staff compensation plan, campus master plan, annual giving/capital funding plan, etc. Linked together these program plans can form an overall planning paradigm for the school, and usually they are derived from the execution of a school-wide strategic planning process.

The real value of a planning process in a school is more than simply the beneficial outcome of having a blueprint that will guide future leadership decisions. It is a powerful and effective way to build consensus and motivate resource support, and it is particularly useful in defining priorities for the head of school and administrative team who are charged with the implementation of the plan. ISC offers extensive experience in advising and guiding independent schools in planning at the “macro” (strategic/long-range plan) and “micro” (individual program or department) levels. We have a depth of understanding of and an acute sensitivity to the essential steps involved in assessing a school’s strengths and needs. And we have a long track record of success in creating and facilitating planning analyses and processes in schools that allow its members to function as the “architects” of their own destinies. Top

Master Funding Plan

The importance to a school in developing a Master Funding Plan is the ability to demonstrate the essential relationship that must exist between primary revenue sources (tuition; gift  and special event money received; and endowment income) and major expense areas (salaries and benefits; instructional programs; and financial aid). This is important in order for the school to operate in a manner set by policy and which has long-term viability.

The Master Funding Plan provides a tool for understanding the long-term relationship between program and facility needs and objectives and the strategic use of available revenue sources. While the Master Funding Plan is not a budget, it is a practical planning tool that provides the model from which long-term financial planning and decisions can be made. It provides a foundation for tuition decisions, unrestricted and restricted fundraising programs and endowment fund growth.

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Space Needs Analysis

ISC believes that the design of a school must begin with the stated mission of the school. Our Space Needs Analysis services begin with a clear understanding of a school’s vision, values and long-term objectives and are custom tailored to your school.

Included in our Analysis are:

• Enrollment Projections
• Interviews With Key School Representatives
• Development Of A Facility Requirement Outline
• Determination Of Space And Square Footage Allocations
• Establishment Of Priorities And "Order of Magnitude" For Property Requirements
• Determination Of Acreage Footprint

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Campus Master Planning

ISC recognizes the opportunities to enhance the unique mission of the individual school through planning and developing a campus. Our services are designed to build upon proven educational concepts that will assist you in meeting your school’s mission, values and goals.

The campus planning process develops the physical characteristics of a school to facilitate the educational, budgetary and aesthetic goals established by the client. ISC professionals guide the client in establishing the functional relationships of program areas in keeping with defined facility budgets.

Our campus plans emphasize the importance of human dimensions and comfort; harmony with the environment; interaction among all users; and creation of a sense of place or identity. The nature of the campus plan can vary from classical formality and order to informal groupings of instructional facilities.

Along with this planning process comes a comprehensive understanding of all educational facilities, including academic, athletic and administrative areas, and the connection and interaction of these facilities with one another and with their environment.

It is our belief that the best plans meet current goals and objectives while allowing for adaptability for future requirements and unforeseen needs.

Sound Campus Planning must...

• Project Size Of Student Body, Number Of Sections Your School Intends To Serve And Student/Teacher Ratios
  
• Demonstrate Sensitivity To The Philosophy Behind Space Requirements For The Overall Campus
  
• Understand Academic Expectations And Athletic And Extra-Curricular Programs Required To Meet The School’s Mission
  
• Realize Through Board Interaction And Exploration The Long-term Leadership, Governance And Financial Goals Of The School

Click here for more information about ISC's Campus Planning services.

Examples of our Campus Master Planning projects

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Facility Planning & Design

Facilities for educational institutions play a vital role in achieving the goals and objectives of that institution. Educators and architects alike should always plan and build educational facilities from the inside out. An understanding of the mission of the school and how specific needs relate to that mission must be the starting point in planning educational facilities. The shape, size and appearance of the facilities should be considered AFTER the determination of what must be inside to support the mission of the institution.

Innovation in educational facilities may take many forms and may be as different as the number of people considering the possibilities. A key challenge for all of those involved in planning educational facilities, educator or architect, is to consider the old and anticipate the new. In other words, we should certainly look to the future, but let us not forget to look to the past. Depending on the heritage of the particular school, college or university, the past may or may not have much to do with the design of new or expanded facilities.

The innovation in planning and building educational facilities should be aimed toward fitting facilities to the institution, meeting the objectives and serving the mission, motivating and serving the individuals involved and doing all of this within the cost constraints of the institution.

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