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Health & Fitness

District 109 Strategic Plan

District 109 Strategic Plan- what does it all mean?

In December 2010 the CEC (Consortium for Educational Change) report was presented to the District 109 Board of education and administration.  At that time the following recommendations and priorities were made:

 Priority: Focus on Learning

 The district has not provided a clear, conceptual understanding of the best practices relationships between essential learning outcomes, aligned assessments, aligned instruction and interventions.  The curriculum throughout the district is more text driven than essential learning target driven.

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Priority: Collaborative Culture 

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Transitioning from a system of six schools to a school system that requires consistent implementation of important processes has raised issues of autonomy, trust, engagement and respect.  Morale is low.  Teachers and parents feel decision -making is top down.

 

Priority: Results Orientation

The district had not clearly identified Key Indicators of Success by which as a system to monitor and track its’ performance.  The district needs to compare their key indicators with similar districts.  The district lacks a results orientation.  The district is more concerned about process than results.  The district does not view, monitor, and report progress to all stakeholders on a regular basis to identify what to celebrate and what to focus on next in terms of improvement.

 

 

The Strategic Plan for District 109 was the result of the recommendations made by the CEC.

Mission:

Provide educational experiences of the highest quality that engage, inspire and empower each student to excel and contribute in a changing world.

 Vision:

District 109 students will excel and contribute when they have the knowledge and skills to be:

  • Lifelong, self-directed learners
  • Critical and creative thinkers
  • Effective communicators

Collaborative team members

  • Respectful and responsible members of society

 

Goal 1. Student Growth and Achievement: Continually empower and support each student to reach his/her highest potential.

 

Goal 2. Learning Environment/Climate: Provide an engaging, safe, and respectful learning environment for all students.

 

Goal 3. Teaching Environment/Quality Staff: Attract, retain and support a superior staff by providing a positive, collaborative work environment.

 

Goal 4. Community Connections/Family Partnerships: Partner with families and members of our community to foster a shared responsibility for educating our students.

 

Goal 5. Resources: Fiscal, Facility, Planning: Manage resources efficiently and effectively to achieve the mission and vision of the District and be accountable to the community.

 

 

Questions to consider regarding the progress of the recommendations made over two years ago by the CEC:

 

  • What methods and instruction are we using to create Lifelong, self-directed learners?  Including examination of whether we are still using Lecture style teaching for the majority of our classes?
  • What percentage of our children have outside tutors?
  • What communication methods are being used?  Is posting information and links on the 109 website reaching a large audience?  
  • Do we even know what percentage of our parents use the 109 website on a regular basis?
  • How do our teachers communicate with parents? How do administrators communicate with parents?
  • How do Board members communicate with parents, teachers, administrators, and community members?  
  • How are questions, comments and concerns brought up in Board members addressed and resolved?
  • How are we assuring that we have collaborative team members in 109?  How are curriculum and policy decisions made?  
  • Is staff involved from start to finish?  Is meaningful research and piloting done?
  • What assessments are done to assure that curriculum put in place is achieving what it was intended to achieve?  Who’s responsible?  How is this reported to faculty and parents?
  • A meaningful Strategic Plan involves ACTION, committees meeting on a regular basis, meaningful discussion and minutes of what is discussed, and constant reassessment of goals and objectives.
  • Is that happening with the Strategic Plan for 109?  When I asked at the last Board meeting when the Strategic Plan will be reviewed again I was told in June.  
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