A retrospective look at the Mandan School District by a seven-member committee showed a need for improved communication and strategic planning.

The committee was part of a site visit required for accreditation through AdvancED. This organization includes the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the organization that usually gives accreditation to the schools in this area. This recognition means the school or district meets an outside agency's set of standards.

Last week, the district received a visit from a group of educators who had reviewed Mandan's application for district accreditation. While they were in Mandan, they visited schools and talked with teachers, students, administrators, school board members and community members. On Oct. 10, they gave a report of their experience.

"I thought it went quite well," Superintendent Wilfred Volesky said.

The report gave the district an idea of what it is doing well and areas where it could improve. Communication and strategic planning came out as areas that needed work. Specifically, the district needs to do a better job informing the community on what it is doing, Volesky said.

It is something the district already is tackling. The school board offers regular Saturday morning meetings over coffee for community members to talk with them about anything that concerns them, Volesky has a regular column in the Mandan News and the school board added a public commenting section to the school board agenda.

Other ways it is improving communication are through community participation on five standing committees and the school board making improved communication one of its goals for the year.

The accreditation committee saw the start of the district's efforts toward strategic planning last week when administrators and others attended a webinar on a strategic planning model known as balanced score card. The district is considering different options for creating a strategic plan, which is what is used by the district to set goals and make plans for the future.

Another planning area the district needs to work on is facilities planning, according to the accreditation panel. The school board recently added two committees: one that would address facility planning, and the other committee for athletics and other school activities.

A final report from the group will be given in a month, and AdvancEd will give its decision on accreditation in December. If the district receives accreditation, it will be good for five years.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)