Superintendents across the country have shared their frustration with planning initiatives that consume valuable chunks of time and energy without yielding a viable tool to drive improvement and accountability. In this article, the authors provide an example that reflects the actual experience of a school district whose identity they are shielding by calling it "the B+ school district." A $169 million construction bond was passed by the voters, but the B+ strategic plan was not a credible road map to excellence in student and operational performance. A successful strategic planning process cultivates a highly effective school district while energizing community support for systemic improvements. The result is an action planning framework for achieving objectives aligned with the district's vision for success. The authors discuss four common pitfalls illustrated by the B+ school district's experience.