After nearly 18 months of planning, community meetings and engagement, the Vision Forward committee presented its final action plan to the Board of Education. The Board approved the plan at its regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 19.
The Vision Forward co-chairs Bob Miller, Teresa Simmons, and Dave Hinde thanked the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and Mosaic Life Care for funding to support the initiative and for their support through the process. They also thanked the Board, volunteers, staff, and community members who attended the engagement sessions and provided valuable input.
Through seven community engagement sessions, five priority statements were developed by the Vision Forward Community Engagement Team. Each statement has an action plan based on consensus points from each session.
Priority Statements:
Priority #1 – Improving District Culture
Priority #2 – High Quality Staff
Priority #3 – Student Performance & Well-Being PK-5
Priority #4 – Student Performance & Well-Being 6-12
Priority #5 – Facilities
SJSD Superintendent, Dr. Gabe Edgar, presented an implementation plan to the Board that will begin in January 2023. The priority statements will be assigned to committees that will be led by a Board of Education member with support from administrators and community members. The committees will review the action plans and begin the work of implementation.
Highlights:
Key outcomes of the Vision Forward Action Plan:
- A plan that is responsible
- A plan that is progressive
- A plan that is financially appropriate
Consensus topics from engagement sessions:
- Strong support for middle school reconfiguration (6-8)
- Teacher, staff recruitment and retention a priority
- Early childhood expansion
- Feeder schools a major concern and priority
- Capacity and efficient use of schools are top priority