DMPS Continuous Improvement
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January Newsletter

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DMPS Becoming "Lean" (Not Mean) to Improve Efficiency
Des Monies Public Schools is becoming a lean (but not mean) educational machine thanks to the efforts of lots of people. Emma Knapp, the district's Continuous Improvement Coordinator recently achieved Black Belt certification in Lean Six Sigma, a methodology for collaborative team effort that improves organizational performance by systemically removing waste.

Training
Interested in learning more about continuous improvement? The next training is set for February 17th from 8:30-3:30pm at 2100 Fleur. Sign up here!
Introduction to Continuous Improvement introduces you to Lean principles, methodology, tools and terminology. The day will consist of a series of training modules, interactive exercises/simulations, and discussion/reflection times. At the end of the training, you should be able to start thinking Lean and apply the tools to your work.
Lean Leadership
To continue DMPS's Lean journey, 20 administrators will be selected to participate in Lean Leadership development which utilizes feedback, engagement and on-going coaching to develop new leadership habits.
Too Busy to Improve?
"I've got too much to do, I don't have time for Lean!"
Improvement projects are a targeted and managed initiative to enhance performance through the elimination of waste. Lean provides strategies to see and remove those process issues found within your required work. Improvements do not need to occur 100% of the time, simply spending 10% on improvement projects will lead to big wins. 
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Upcoming Projects
  • Professional Leave – an improvement event is being planned with Human Resources and Office of Academics to review the process to request a sub for professional leave.
  • Travel Expenses – an improvement event is being planned with Business and Finance to streamline travel reconciliation, removing non-value added steps and handoffs.
  • Student Attendance – an improvement event is being planned with Learning Services to provide detailed guidance on actions steps when a student is absent.

Shout Outs!

Thank you to Jason Kono, Cindy Flesch, Cathy Howard, Tom Hoffman, John Conder, Kristy Fitzgerald, Heng Teav and Adam Beckel for taking time to provide feedback on best practices used to ensure our students, staff and community have a safe, clean and healthy environment.
Jamie Shannon, Michael Wolfe, Katrina Rodgriuez and April Hagen-enos, thank you for your participation and honest feedback during the Payroll WorkOut.

Past Newsletters

March 2016
April 2016
May 2016
June 2016
July 2016
August 2016
September 2016
October 2016
November 2016
December 2016
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Des Moines Public Schools
Continuous Improvement
1000 Porter Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315