Each year, district leaders craft challenging goals based on the progress of the previous years’ goals, achievement data, feedback from stakeholders, and a consideration of government mandates, local and societal needs, and relevant research. Our goals must be general enough to encompass and guide all other curricular and building goals, yet specific enough to be measurable and achievable. The district goals then form the basis for building goals, which in turn inform department, administrator, and teacher goals and professional development plans. Progress on these goals is reported mid-year and at the end of the school year.
1. Student Achievement: Promote the academic achievement of all students through engaging, relevant and rigorous instruction and authentic assessments designed to challenge each student to perform to his/her maximum potential. This goal will be achieved through shared leadership; strong communication of expectations and accountability for intended outcomes; strengthening the multi-tiered system of support with a focus on core/Tier 1 instruction; building upon educator capacity; expanding partnerships with families and enhancing opportunities for community collaboration. Support social emotional development by creating a caring school community, implementing targeted enhancements in the screening & intervention process and providing pathways to success for our most at-risk populations.
2. Budget: Continue to develop and revise financial plans while actively seeking more alternative sources of revenue, maximizing shared service opportunities and most critically, continuing legislative and advocacy efforts to update and revise the current state aid formula. This is absolutely necessary given the cumulative state aid losses, as well as projected state aid loss for 2024-25, which has created a projected $26.5 million fiscal cliff for the 2024-25 district budget (due to S2 and the run-out of ESSER/ARP grant funds). Our financial plans will continue to focus on maximizing resources, and operating as efficiently as possible.
3. Facilities: Monitor and assess building needs that were not addressed within the ESIP and Referendum projects. Continue working with project managers to complete referendum projects within timetables of the project contract and allocate facilities staff to address other deficiencies and complete preventative maintenance within our buildings as needed. Update the Long Range Facility Plan (LRFP) with the State Department of Education as required. Continue to develop a strategy to address water infiltration at Intermediate South as recommended by the engineering firm. Develop documentation to secure bids for the fabric replacement at the John Bennett Athletic Center.
4. Technology: Enhance a student-centered approach to technology education by (1) strengthening partnerships with families and the community through expanded digital communication efforts; (2) formulating plans to sustain our one-to-one Chromebook program; (3) facilitating student ownership of academic achievement data through self-directed access and individualized learning goals; (4) continuing to increase implementation of systemwide tools for data security.
5. Community and Communications: Continue to foster and expand partnerships with local, county and state organizations, focusing on student programming and shared services, while addressing mental health and integrated learning opportunities for staff and students. Increase the overall transparency of district planning through open committee meetings of the board of education to allow for greater opportunities to collect input from community members. Communicate and make priority our program development and inclusion with all stakeholders from our entire Regional School community.
Approved at the August 2023 BOE meeting