Department Planning Request Kit

A six-page kit with a worked school department example, options comparison, request brief, ongoing-commitment check, and review record.

Practical ideas and free resources for the people who serve our communities.

A department request is easier to discuss when it explains what is getting in the way, who is affected, and what a change would involve. This free six-page kit helps K-12 department teams and business managers have that conversation.

Start with the need

The worked example follows a fictional art department struggling with supply setup and reset. It connects a short observation log to a proposed trial and a way to check whether the routine improves. All observations, costs, and dates are illustrative.

Compare more than a shopping list

The example compares reorganizing existing shelves, adding one mobile storage cart, and deferring a change. It separates estimated purchases from staff effort and unverified charges. It also names who would maintain the routine after setup.

Prepare a brief your team can use

Two reusable pages capture the problem, evidence, previous attempts, timing, options, cost sources, and ongoing responsibilities. Keep decision and implementation dates separate. Label unknowns rather than treating them as zero.

End with a next step

The final page includes a 15-minute discussion guide and a record for the action, owner, due date, and follow-up result. Missing information is something to work through together; the form should not become a barrier to asking for help.

Use this original Commerce Street Cares tool alongside your district’s procedures. It is a planning aid, not spending authorization. Keep confidential student and personnel details in approved systems.