Core Organizational Practices

Student-Driven Quality Student success is the measure of the quality of education in Sterling Schools. This means that we focus on students' needs and constantly strive to meet or exceed their expectations. Education program development will utilize "Best Practices" to provide innovative, tried, and tested models that have gained educational credibility in the field.	Continuous Improvement Excellence is a result of well-designed and well-executed systems. Continuous improvement projects must be carefully organized and managed if they are to achieve the greatest benefit for the least cost. Sterling Schools annually develops School Improvement Plans through which each site completes goal setting and the Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle. School Improvement Plans are designed to help keep the improvement effort on track and to support improvement with efficient resources.
Collaborative Decision Making In order to further the education of students and to increase the likelihood that decisions made will lead to better school practice and stronger instruction, the Board of Education, the Sterling Schools administration, and the Sterling Education Association agree to use a collaborative decision making process.  All parties further agree they will enter discussions with a spirit of trust and respect.	Results Focus The district's performance measurements must focus on Key Results defined in the Strategic Plan. Each year, performance results are analyzed and reported, including benchmarking so that the schools do not operate in an isolated manner. A successful system is built on this framework of measurement, data, and analysis which can be used to communicate progress toward short-term and long-term goals.
Public Responsibility and Citizenship The establishment and maintenance of productive relationships among members of the community and the school system broadens our capacity to meet the varied needs of students. Sterling Schools recognizes its responsibility to practice good citizenship including maintaining the district's legal and ethical expectations, and protecting public health, safety, and the environment.	Fiscal Responsibility The financial integrity and fiscal responsibility of the district is reflected in its ability to allocate resources for continuous improvement while maintaining approved fund balance levels. The district annually develops and monitors an operating budget for a July 1-June 30 fiscal year. Accrual accounting principles are used in managing a multiple fund budget as allowed by state laws. Each year the district receives a complete independent audit. Community review of the financial position of the district includes public hearings and participation in long-range financial planning.