The District's First Strategic Plan Meeting Generates Great Ideas for Improving Student Achievement

The first meeting on the District’s new Strategic Plan was held on December 1st at Newark High School, and was attended by 52 participants, including 30 parents and community members, 6 students, 2 local legislators, 2 members of the Christina Board of Education, and 22 Christina staff members. The topic of the meeting was Excellence and Equity: Accelerating Student Achievement, and activities were lead by Team Leaders Vilicia Cade, Director of Secondary Curriculum and Professional Development, and Heather Bordas, Director of Elementary Education and Professional Development. The Christina Board of Education liaison for the Excellence and Equity team is Elizabeth Scheinberg, and the community liaison is David Coker from the School of Education at the University of Delaware. There are also two teacher liaisons for the Excellence and Equity team, Shirin Skovronski from Newark High School, and Michelle McClure from Keene Elementary School. 

The meeting included a lengthy sharing session that allowed participants to voice ideas to improve the District over the next three years. Their suggestions are listed below.

Suggested Priorities for the Christina School District in the next three years:

Expand Early Education (from birth through Kindergarten) Areas to explore:  Early Head Start, parent training, early education centers, pooling resources. Set Higher Academic Expectations for All Students Areas to explore:  second language beginning in the elementary school, higher standards for high school science and math, SAT preparation, college preparation, "magnet" programs in the arts and science, future areas of job growth and how they tie in with the curriculum. Ensure Equity Areas to explore:  more focus on students' learning styles, vocational opportunities for special education students, Student Success Plans for every student, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings held in September, offer same opportunities at all three high schools, determine the causes of the high drop-out rate. Increase Professional Development for Teachers Areas to explore:  Engaging all teachers in students' IEPs, classroom management and discipline, effective use of block scheduling, systematic professional development for all teachers. Increase Extracurricular Activities Areas to explore:  duplicate successes at all schools, require students to participate in extracurricular activities beginning in elementary school, expand sports and arts offerings at elementary and middle school. Come and join the conversation!  The next Strategic Plan meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Bayard Middle School.  It will also be on the topic of Excellence and Equity: Accelerating Student Achievement, and all are welcome to attend.  Click here for a complete list of Strategic Plan meeting dates and locations.  Too busy to attend meetings?  Here are some other ways to get involved! Become a fan on Facebook:  Search "Christina School District" to find our page and join others interested in Christina School District news and events.  We have more than 100 fans and interest is growing every day!  Click here to visit our Fan Page. Follow us on Twitter:  Visit our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/ChristinaK12 to create a Twitter account and sign up to follow us.  Already a member?  Login, click "Find People" and search "Christina SD".  Brief updates may be sent to an email account, mobile device, or both. Visit our Strategic Planning Blog:  http://christinaexcellence.blogspot.com.  On this website, you may read the latest news about the Strategic Plan process, post questions and comments, and access links to resources. Learn more about the Strategic Planning Process.