On May 18, 2017 a group of administrators, School Board members, teachers, paraprofessionals, citizens and parents spent the day working together on the Raymond School District's Strategic Plan. This annual review and work helps us set our priorities, determine our focus and move forward academically to improve the education and future for all of our students. The day began with a discussion of where we are now and followed with what we have accomplished, as well as, what still needs to be done. Jon Hall facilitated our meeting and is a trained Facilitator who has worked all over the country with Strategic Plan Committees.
Some successes from our plan include: full day kindergarten; universal reading screening for all students Kindergarten through Grade 9; a new evaluation plan for administrators, teachers and paraeducators; increased technology for students throughout the District; competencies written for every subject; Spanish provided for two sections of 8th grade students at the middle school; and developing new schedules to better fit students' needs. Things that we still need to work on include: expanding the world language program; creating data teams to review assessment results; building on the competencies; continued work in reading; professional development on rigorous instruction; and peer coaching. Our Strategic Plan is working just as it is supposed to and continues to evolve and change as needed.
As you might have guessed, a school district's strategic plan is much different than a plan that a town might have. A town's plan would include such things as zoning; roads and bridges; subdivision development; and water. This type of plan is important to ensure a town continues to move forward and that regulations and laws are followed.
A Shared Resources Committee is currently working to determine if there are things the town and schools could share as a cost saving method (there are many things we already share, see my blog from March 25, 2016). You can see from the school district's Strategic Plan that our purposes are much different from a town's plan. We always welcome new ideas and we will always work with the town and the citizens of Raymond to ensure our town is a safe, wonderful community in which to live and that our schools are the best they can be to provide our students with a great future.
