Turning Broad Consultation into Strategic Direction
Helping a large public institution make sense of thousands of voices, navigate governance tension and translate evidence into a shared four-year direction.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), is a prominent educational institution in Ontario, Canada, responsible for educating over 70,000 students.
With an annual operating budget of $1.1 billion, the OCDSB is dedicated to fostering an environment of achievement and growth. The board’s extensive resources are allocated to maintaining high-quality programs and services, ensuring equity, excellence, and inclusion in its educational practices.
The Challenge
OCDSB was responding to post-pandemic learning needs, systemic inequities and internal tensions between governance and administration. A credible 2023-2027 strategy had to connect large-scale consultation with disciplined choices and collective leadership.
How We Worked
- Completed an environmental scan covering demographics, enrolment, workforce and external conditions.
- Integrated consultation from students, staff, families, advisory groups and community members.
- Facilitated workshops to interpret the evidence, build alignment and identify strategic objectives.
- Used the planning process to strengthen decision-making capacity as well as produce a plan.
What Changed
- Produced a comprehensive strategic action plan.
- Strengthened focus on student success, equity, belonging and community connection.
- Created clearer shared direction across leadership and governance.
The collaborative and data-driven approach facilitated by Sayid Consulting Inc. resulted in a strategic plan that is responsive to the needs of the OCDSB community.
By prioritizing inclusivity, equity, and continuous improvement, the OCDSB is well-positioned to navigate future challenges and provide high-quality education to all its students. This case study exemplifies the principles and effectiveness of Sayid Consulting Inc. in guiding organizations through complex transformations, ensuring they are prepared to achieve their goals and create lasting impact.
Client Feedback
From the outset, you understood both the importance and complexity of the strategic planning process for a large public sector organization.
“From the outset, you understood both the importance and complexity of the strategic planning process for a large public sector organization. From our very first meeting your positive energy and optimism and your in depth knowledge about strategic planning was evident. You listened carefully, and thoughtfully mapped out a facilitation plan for our Board and senior staff retreat. You facilitated our large and complex discussions with grace and successfully navigated any challenges in the process. Your ability to pull out common threads in the discussion brought cohesion to our thinking.”
Michele Giroux, Director of Education
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board