The development of a planning model in the Mesa Unified School District (Arizona) to meet the need for a strategic planning process is examined. Surveys were mailed to 15,000 residents in the Mesa Public School District with a return of 1,933 surveys. Survey results indicate a prioritization of goals, an assessment of what the future may hold for the schools, the challenge that lies ahead for the schools, who should have primary responsibility for the challenges, and whether the schools should be involved in the challenges. In addition, information concerning the community's perception of time to be spent in the curriculum areas and monies to be expended in areas over and above instruction provided in the classroom was obtained. The information obtained will be used to develop individualized strategic plans at the department level. Appendixes provide the results of the community survey, a comparison of the results of the community survey and the Mesa Schools Planning Committee survey, and the survey instrument. (SI)