TregoED Blog — Decision Making

Plowing Through Tough Decisions by asking the Right Questions

Navigating winter storms takes on a whole new layer of complexity when it comes to school districts and decision making – ice, snow, floods, wind, and cold are all important considerations when it comes to making the call.  Using the pertinent questions from TregoED problem solving and decision-making frameworks can help you plow through these Read the full article…

Top 5 Critical Issues in Education in 2023

Critical: (crit·i·cal) having the potential to become disastrous, at a point of crisis having decisive or crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something. Education leaders are facing serious issues in 2023 driven by a period of disruption – a worldwide pandemic, divisive politics, prevalent gun violence, and financial crisis.  Looking at a Read the full article…

Making Decisions Under Pressure Requires Patience

“Pressure!”(With apologies to Billy Joel) Spending deadline’s coming up Pressure! You had better not screw this up Pressure! You have the money, now’s the time to spend But here you are with your wants and your needs and your shortages and such Your regulations and your tests and your parents and the rest It’s all Read the full article…

No-Fail Ingredients for ESSER Budgeting Success

With the supply chain delays, labor shortages, escalating costs, and the deadline for ESSER spending looming, school superintendents are facing unique budget challenges.  Recent ESSER funding programs have changed the scope and complexity of budget decision making – and increased the visibility and volatility. To increase the chances for success in times of volatility– leaders Read the full article…

Meet the Challenges of SPED Funding Opportunities

  Our special education students have been hit particularly hard  this year as leaders scramble to pivot, turn, and do-si-do in so many directions in response to so many issues. Extended periods of remote learning have made providing the specialized and individualized instruction required by these students challenging.  One turn of events for our Special Read the full article…

Building a Strong Foundation for Budget Decisions and Communications

Making good budget decisions is essential – and so is being able to build understanding and communication around those decision. Using a solid process can lay the groundwork for both.  Not only will it result in better decisions, but it also will give you a framework for clear communication.  To turn a well-known phrase – Read the full article…

Tips for Tackling Triple Squeeze Budget Challenges

The triple squeeze on this year’s budget will make cuts difficult enough – having a good solid process can help you avoid making it feel even worse. According to the research article, The Cost of Covid, district budgets are caught in a triple squeeze caused by:   New COVID-Response Costs – The costs incurred by both Read the full article…

6 Benefits of Shared Decision Making in Turbulent Times

Back in the good old days of 2019, in November and December we were in the thick of it – getting settled into the true rhythm of the typical school year.  There were plenty of decisions to be made, problems to be solved, plans to implement, programs to assess. These days things are a bit Read the full article…

School Leaders: Better Decision Making is in your Grasp

Turns out you CAN fix stupid – even better, avoid it in the first place! “Good people make good decisions and bad people make bad decisions.”  Do you agree with this statement?  Probably not – I’m guessing we all have enough life experience to know that good people sometimes make bad decisions, and vice versa.  Read the full article…

Making Decisions with Increasing Clarity

In a multi-part discussion of Common Administrator Mistakes and What to do Instead, (an Education Week Blog by Larry Ferlazzo), Andrew Miller, who has worked with educators world-wide, says “I think one of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen administrators make is lack of clarity on how decisions are being made….For example, an administrator might be Read the full article…