Notes on a District Scan

Notes on a District Scan
James M. Merrins, Ed.D.
September 15, 2010

What are you seeking to learn from the District Scan?

The district scan is information gathering. It is so that you understand the target district, its current issues, and political atmosphere; and so you can assess whether you can (or want to) do the superintendency in that district. The scan is continuous information gathering - first prior to submitting an application, then prior to your first interview, then when you are discussing any agreements you want to make clear before accepting the job, and then when preparing to enter the district (Entry Plan). The easy part is collecting tons of paper (reports off the internet, copies of district documents, newspapers, brochures, and flyers from the community, etc.). This is the sanitized version of the district and is readily available to every applicant. You can assume that every finalist for a position will have this information. The best scan gets beyond the paper, below the radar, to a key understanding of what is going on inside the district. A good scan is very hard to do, mastered by few on the first try.

One way (but certainly not the only way) to organize information from the district scan is by KEY FINDINGS under each of many common components, such as:
1.   CURRICULUM
2.   STAFF DEVELOPMENT
3.   STUDENT DISCIPLINE
4.   PUBLIC RELATIONS
5.   SPECIAL STUDENT SERVICES (Guidance, Attendance, Health)
6.   BOARD OF EDUCATION
7.   ADMINISTRATION
8.   EXTRACURRICULAR/SPORTS
9.   FACILITIES/MAINTENANCE
10. PERSONNEL
11. FINANCIAL
12. FOOD SERVICE

A key question is "Do I understand the issues and conditions inside the target district, well beyond the obvious?"