Salisbury School Board Updated on Strategic Plan

A portion of the Salisbury Township School District's updated six-year strategic plan was presented to the school board at its curriculum and technology committee meeting Monday, May 23.

The district implemented its strategic plan in 2008 and is required by the state to be updated after three years.

The district's plans for special education, standards and assessments, professional development and technology are being updated, said Assistant Superintendant Louise Beauchemin.

The special education report was shown to the board in March and submitted to the state department of education in April.

Beauchemin said the mid-point review helps the district decide which direction it needs to go in the remaining three years of the plan.

“The strategic plan is meant to be a plan that helps a district create a vision and goals and purposes. It is not a checklist. It is meant to be a framework for guiding the district,” Beauchemin said.

“Certainly, you want to take this seriously and work towards accomplishment of those goals, although it is certainly possible those goals could change,” she said.

Director of Technology Randy Zigenfuss said the plan allows districts "to think about what they want for the future and the steps and strategies that they want to take to get to those goals.”

The district's plan listed 10 goals:

• By 2014, at least 95 percent of all students will be proficient in reading (as measured by the PSSAs).
• By 2014, at least 95 percent of all students will be proficient in math (as measured by the PSSAs).
• At least 95 percent of all students will participate in annual statewide assessments.
• Student attendance will meet a 90 percent threshold and show growth.
• Graduation rate will meet 80 percent and show growth.
• Students will be proficient in core subjects (reading, math science, social studies) as measured by state and local assessments.
• All students will learn from highly qualified and effective teachers, and all instructional staff will be supported by a professional development plan.
• The district will implement the technology and learning plan (access to technology, using data to determine the impact of educational technologies, integrating technology into planning and curriculum and providing students with skill and knowledge to use new technology).
• All students have access to developmentally appropriate services in the areas of guidance counseling, nursing, wellness, psychological assessments, home and school visitations and social work services.
• All students will graduate from high school with an articulated plan for lifelong learning and career development.

The three reports will be completed this summer, shared with the school board by August 1 and presented at the August 17 school board meeting. Final approval is needed by the September 14 board meeting. The final plan updates need to be submitted to the state by September 30.