"A Vision for the Future Strategic Plan''

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A Vision For The Future Strategic Plan 1998 - 2003 Mission A mission statement is a broad statement of the unique purpose for which the District exists and the specific function it performs. The mission of the LRSD is to equip all students with the skills and knowledge to realize their aspirations, think critically and independently, learn continuously and face the future as productive, contributing citizens. This mission is accomplished through open access to a diverse, innovative and challenging curriculum in a secure environment with a staff dedicated to excellence and empowered with the trust and support of our community. Parameters are the guiding principles that establish the framework within which the District will accomplish its mission. Parameters * We will not tolerate behavior that diminishes the dignity or self-worth of any individual. No new program or service will be accepted unless it is consistent with the Strategic Plan, benefits clearly exceed costs, and provisions are made for staff development and program evaluation. No program or service will be retained unless benefits continue to exceed cost and it continues to make an optimal contribution to the mission. The Campus Leadership Plan will always be consistent with the Strategic Plan as well as the Desegregation and Education Plan. We will maintain a positive fund balance in the operating budget. We will not tolerate ineffective performance by any employee. *Contractual items will be subject to negotiation. 2 Beliefs We believe .... Beliefs are a statement of the District's fundamental convictions, values, and character. All people have equal, inherent worth. Every individual can learn. Higher expectations coupled with effort stimulate higher levels of performance. Attitude always influences behavior. All citizens share the responsibility to ensure that quality education is available to the children of our community. Excellence in education and fairness for all (equity) are both compatible and inseparable. The family is a primary influence on the development of a child. Educated and involved citizens are necessary to sustain the health of a democracy. Accepting and utilizing cultural and racial diversity enrich and strengthen the community. Education can enhance every aspect of a person's life. With every right comes a responsibility. Actions speak louder than words. Self-worth allows each individual to aspire to excellence and develop his/her unique capabilities. Every individual is responsible for contributing to the general welfare of the community. 3 Objectives are an expression of the District's desired, measurable end re ults of student success, performance and/or achievement. Objectives Each student will set and achieve challenging educational goals tailored to his or her interests, abilities and aspirations related to meaningful work, higher learning, citizenship or service to others. By 2003, at least 9 out of 10 students will meet or exceed LRSD standards of performance identified 1n the core curriculum. By 2003, at least 65% of students in every identified sub-group of race and gender will perform at or above the national average in reading and mathematics on standardized tests
at least 30% will perform at the highest quartile in reading and mathematics on standardized tests
and no more than 10% will perform at the lowest quartile in reading and mathematics on standardized tests. 4 Strategies are the means by which the District can accomplish its objectives. Strategies We will design our educational system, its organizational structure and decision-making processes to best achieve the mission and objectives of the Strategic Plan as well as the Revised Desegregation and Education Plan. In partnership with our community, we will establish standards in the core curriculum (reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies) at each appropriate level, as well as develop the means of assessing whether students have met these standards. We will develop and implement a broad range of alternatives and interventions for students scoring below the 50th percentile on standardized tests or who are at serious risk of not achieving District standards in the core curriculum. We will design and implement internal and external communication plans to improve public trust and community support. We will build strong partnerships with other community agencies and organizations to address 5 Strategies (Continued) external issues that are interfering with our students' learning. We will develop and implement personnel policies and procedures to ensure all employees are making optimal contributions to our mission and objectives. We will design a comprehensive staff development system to best achieve the mission and objectives in the Strategic Plan. We will construct a delivery system that allows us . to plan and implement individualized educational goals for all LRSD students and that does not predetermine or limit options at an early age. We will develop and implement plans to establish financial stability and achieve the strategic objectives of the District. We will develop and implement plans to enhance public confidence in the safety and security of our schools and to ensure discipline and an orderly learning climate. We will integrate appropriate technology to help achieve our objectives, as well as effectively operate the District. 6 Strategy 1 We will design our educational system, its organizational structure and decision-making processes to best achieve the mission and objectives of the Strategic Plan as well as the Revised Desegregation and Education Plan. (Implementation of Strategy 1 will be accomplished through other strategies.) 7 In partnership with our community, we will establish standards in the core curriculum (reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies) at each appropriate level, as well as develop the means of assessing whether students have met these standards. Strategy 2 Action Plan Year Year I Year 1 2/3 4/5 X 1. Adopt a definition for content standards in the Little Rock School District. ( completed) X 2. Adopt a definition for performance standards in the Little Rock School District. ( completed) X 3. Submit the components of performance standard sets in the Little Rock School District. ( completed) X X 4. Develop performance standards for the Little Rock School District. ( completed) X 5. Adopt a definition for delivery standards in the Little Rock School District. ( completed) X 6. Adopt components of delivery standard sets in the Little Rock School District. ( completed) X 7. Develop delivery standards for the Little Rock School District. ( completed) X X 8. Develop a trainer-of-trainers model for the Little Rock School District to use to train all appropriate human resources on how to implement and achieve the standards. X 9. Ensure parent understanding of the core curriculum standards and how progress will be measured. 8 We will develop and implement a broad range of alternatives and interventions for students scoring below the 50th percentile on standardized tests or who are at serious risk of not achieving District standards in the core curriculum. Strategy 3 Action Plan Year Year Year 1 2/3 4/5 X 1. Adopt a policy statement providing for intervention as an operative and vital part of elementary school instruction. ( completed) X X 2. Expand comprehensive Reading Recovery/Literacy Support early intervention services for K-3 students who are at risk of not developing literacy skills. X 3. Develop an intervention team at each school which provides systemic support including professional development for teachers which enables all children to sustain adequate yearly progress through grade 3. X X 4. Promotes school-wide reform and ensures access of children (from the earliest grades) to effective instructional strategies and challenging academic content. Content will include intensive complex thinking and problem-solving experiences through an integrated literature-based program. X X 5. Implement middle school programming to provide a developmentally appropriate educational environment for the academic success of adolescents. X X 6. Redesign the delivery system at the alternative learning center to improve academic skills and to address the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of the students. 9 Strategy 3 Action Plan (Colltinued) X 7. Train requesting teachers in the Math/Science crusade (K-12) to better implement the Goal 2000 plan and give them the background for following the guidelines set forth by the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and the related science organization. X X 8. Provide extended day academic programming for students at risk of failing and in need of extra assistance in core subjects. X 9. Implement a three week summer program for identified at risk students in the middle level grades in order to provide an on-going three year experience in science and math. 10 We will design and implement internal and external communication plans to improve public trust and community support. Strategy 4 Action Plan Year Year Year 1 2/3 4/5 X X 1. Communicate key issues with consistency to our audiences. X 2. Increase credibility with teachers, principals, and members of the District's staff through more timely and accurate information flow to and from LRSD's central administration. X X 3. Achieve positive relationships with key members of the media in order to help ensure a consistent flow of accurate information to our various audiences. X X 4. Expand the use of available tools to positively influence the perceptions of parents, as well as other audiences within the District, with regard to the quality of education received by all children within the LRSD's schools. X 5. Shift focus away from the District back to its individual schools (as well as to their students and teachers). X 6. Create a system that ensures a constant flow of "success stories" from the individual LRSD schools into the District's Office of Communications for release to the public. X 7. Create positive spokespersons out of parents, teachers and other influential members of the community. X X 8. Improve the existing system that was designed to direct the media toward the appropriate information source within the District. 11 Strategy 4 Action Plan (Co11tillu ed) X 9. Assess the implementation of the communication plans and evaluate their effectiveness. 12 We will build strong partnerships with other community agencies and organizations to address external issues that are interfering with our students' learning. Strategy 5 Action Plan Year Year Year 1 2/3 4/5 X X 1. Expand the role of Partners in Education to include the development of business and community partner coalitions with neighborhood school emphasis in an effort to expand resources, which address external issues interfering with students' learning. X X 2. Improved opportunities for young people to develop positive interactions with adults who are mentors. X X 3. Increase the level of grant funding available to the LRSD to utilize in partnerships with community agencies and organizations to address external issues that interfere with students' learning. X X 4. Design and develop a joint working agreement with LRSD and community age_ncies and organizations that ensures availability of and access to comprehensive support services for all LRSD students. 13 We will develop and implement personnel policies and procedures to ensure all employees are making optimal contributions to our mission and objectives. Strategy 6 Action Plan Year Year Year 1 2/3 4/5 X X 1. Develop job descriptions that are consistent and specific. X 2. Design recruitment/entrance standards to attract superior personnel who excel academically or otherwise in their major fields of study, experience, or interest. X 3. Develop a fair, equitable compensation system for all employees that is objective, fairly administered and tied to the performance of the school. X 4. To maximize student-teacher contact time, decrease substitute personnel expense to the District and enhance the morale of all District personnel. X 5. Create monetary and non-monetary incentives to reward District employees who work for the betterment of our students. X 6. Provide staff with opportunities to pursue educational endeavors that will promote high educational standards within the District. X 7. Develop an evaluation process, which accurately assesses employee performance and serves as a tool for professional growth. X 8. Develop a termination process, which is fair, equitable, and effective. [Contractual items will be subject to negotiation.] 14 We will design a comprehensive staff development system to best achieve the mission and objectives in the Strategic Plan. Strategy 7 Action Plan . Year Year Year 1 2/3 4/5 X X 1. To reformulate a District-level Staff development Planning Council which will bring together stakeholders to advise and assist in the development of policy for and evaluation of a staff-development system that is site-specific and driven by the three objectives adopted by the LRSD. X 2. To train the Staff Development Planning Council, central administrative staff, and staff at all middle schools on teaming for school improvement. X 3. To meet the needs and address the problems of school sites through the use of campus leadership teams. X 4. To establish a District and community technical assistance network to support campus leadership teams. X X 5. To evaluate the staff development system within the district. 15 We will construct a delivery system that allows us to plan and implement individualized educational goals for all LRSD students and that does not predetermine or limit options at an early age. Strategy 8 Action Plan Year I Year Year I 2/3 45 X X lA. Prepare for implementation of site-based management to allow individual schools choice to do what is best to meet the needs of their students. X lB. Implement site-based management to allow individual schools choice to do what is best to meet the individual needs of their students. X 2A. Identify a variety of school innovation options throughout the District to be offered to best meet the needs of students at individual schools. X 2B. Develop a variety of innovation options throughout the District to be offered to best meet the needs of students at individual schools. X 2C. Implement a variety of innovation options throughout the District to be offered to best meet the needs of students at individual schools. X 3A. Establish a seed school with University Teacher Education ties to do ongoing research in the practical applications of various school programs and options, to keep current with literature in the field, to provide a site for exemplary individualized education for a student body representative of the LRSD student population, to do training by demonstration and example as well as precept, and thus continually adding to the list of potential programs and options for educational individualization. X 3B. Support and maintain operation of seed school. 16 Strategy 8 Action Plan (Continued) X 3C. Utilize the seed school to support teacher education and the testing of new educational programs and strategies designed to maximize individualized education. X 4. Allow students in grades K-12 to move at their own developmental and intellectual pace as teachers discover their learning styles to eliminate permanent ability tracking. X SA. Acquire alternative assessment methods that allow teachers to determine a student's actual functioning level so as to provide appropriate programming and to eliminate permanent ability tracking. X SB. Implement alternative assessment methods that allow teachers to determine a student's actual functioning level so as to provide appropriate programming and to eliminate permanent ability tracking. X 6. Strengthen pupil service teams to be utilized as a first line screening mechanism for students evidencing problems so that alternative program options will be implemented for students not requiring Special Education. X X 7. Collaborate with the community to offer early childhood programs for children ages 2 to 4 as an option for District patrons, with preference going to low socio economic status (SES) families, to provide experiences and information needed to equalize student preparation. X 8. Cultivate and use the community centralized resources guide (refer to strategy 5) for the individual development of each and every student. X 9. Provide community based services that enable parents, students, and community to work together to further a child's education. X 10. Create an educational climate, which encourages parent/teacher interaction by eliminating major barriers and providing increased opportunities for participation in the learning process. 17 We will develop and implement plans to establish financial stability and achieve the strategic objectives of the District. Strategy 9 Action Plan Year Year Year 1 2/3 4/5 X 1. Develop strategies to retain and attract students to the LRSD to assure adequate future revenues from sources that will be increasingly based on the size of student population. X 2. Develop a financial committee composed of LRSD personnel and community representatives to function as an advisory committee to the LRSD Board and Superintendent on budget development, monitoring, implementation, and other financial matters. X 3. Develop Board fiscal policy statements and manual to be housed in an official repository addressing revenues, expenditures, millage increase, debt service, monitoring, reporting, facilities planning, and staffing and procedures to effectively communicate to the public, teachers, and administration. X 4. Develop a five-year revenue forecast (by month for the first year and annually for years two through five) for the District. (completed) X 5. Develop a five-year expense forecast (by month for the first year and annually for years two through five) for the District. (completed) X 6. Revise the process and develop policy on monitoring actual performance compared to budget to include Board briefings, mid-year adjustments and amendments, and report formats. X 7. Select peer school districts and develop performance indicators for comparison purposes in order to identify areas and possible means for improvement. 18 Strategy 9 Action Plan (Co1tti1tued) X 8. Establish a committee of District and non-District representatives to monfror proposed legislation and/or regulations and make recommendations for new, or revisions to current, laws and regulations that would impact operations of the LRSD. X 9. Establish a goal to prepare a budget document that will meet the criteria for the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. X 10. Develop resource sharing partnerships with North Little Rock School District (NLRSD) and Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD). 19 We will develop and implement plans to enhance public confidence in the safety and security of our schools and to ensure discipline and an orderly learning climate. Strategy 10 Action Plan Year Year Year I 2/3 4/5 X X 1. Provide ongoing conflict resolution training and skill development for students, parents/family, and staff. X X 2. Improve behavior and safety on school buses and bus stops. X X 3. Control access to school buildings, grounds, and events. X X 4. Implement a staff development plan for all personnel to fully understand safety policies and procedures. X X 5. Develop and enhance a system of communication among schools, administration, and the public regarding issues of safety and security. X X 6. Inform the public of plan in regard to the following ( a) control of drug activity (b) violence prevention (c) campus and bus security
(language that is direct and easy for all to understand). X 7. Develop a credible evaluation plan that will ensure complete and proper implementation. X 8. Develop, enhance, and improve the communication/distribution and equitable implementation of the LRSD Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. 20 We will integrate appropriate technology to help achieve our objectives, as well as effectively operate the District. Strategy 11 Action Plan Year Year Year 1 2/3 4/5 X 1. Define technology in terms of the educational and administrative needs of the LRSD. (completed) X X 2. Establish a broad based technology advisory board for the LRSD. X 3. Acquire and implement the technology needed to meet current and future instructional and administrative needs of the LRSD. X X 4. Assemble a technical staff to implement and support District information technologies, including computer hardware and software applications, networking, computer operations, and audiovisual services. X 5. Design and implement a comprehensive technology training program for all LRSD employees (teachers, administrators, and support staff) that provides appropriate facilities, tools, training, and supplies to maximize effectiveness. X 6. Train students in the use of technology so that they are able to access, evaluate, and apply information. X 7. Train students to use current technology to increase competencies in problem solving, specific content areas, and critical thinking skills. X 8. Train teachers, administrators, and other school support staff to use current technology to increase productivity and maximize effectiveness. X X 9. Gather, store, and analyze student data bases used to provide accurate and timely reports. 21
This project was supported in part by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives project grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Council on Library and Information Resoources.