School board’s strategic plan study session brings fresh faces and ideas

Tuesday’s night’s study session of the school board was designed to continue on the path of earlier meetings by eliciting creative new ideas from district staff, administration and community members. But while quite a few ideas came out of the six separate breakout sessions, many were left wondering what, if any, would actually come to fruition.
Ana Solar Byerly, a bi-lingual consultant thought the sessions were exciting and remembered when the 2006-2011 strategic plan was originally created. “We spent 60-plus hours putting that plan together and some good things did come out of it like DELAC, ELAC and a better effort for ESL,” said Byerly. “But with the cuts we’re experiencing today, who knows what will come of this current effort.”
Close to 40 community members participated in the evening’s session. That number included teachers and others employed by the district, representatives from local clubs and organizations, two ministers, non-profit staffers and community members, among many others.
Superintendent Pam Martens said that the turnout was gratifying. “This group represents a broad spectrum of stakeholders who are interested in moving our schools forward,” said Martens after the group had briefly introduced themselves.
The simultaneously occurring breakout sessions were a different format than in years past. Each of the six stations represented a goal on the current strategic plan; they were set up around the room for participants to rotate through. Held in Altimira’s library to allow for room, each group was asked to move through four of the six stations at 20-minute intervals. At the end, the groups reconvened to hear the types of information each station’s facilitators gathered.
The stations included curriculum, assessment and accountability; student success; communications; student achievement; community; professional practice; and fiscal management. At each station, district personnel gave a short presentation describing the strategic plan goal to be addressed and then went through a list of action items devised to meet the goal; some complete, some in progress and some still waiting for implementation.
The evening’s task – to come up with additional ideas and actions the district can try, to address the goals and initiatives set forth in the strategic plan.
As the groups rotated, many of the ideas called out by participants had a similar ring to them, particularly in the areas of community and communication. Some concrete suggestions: a bi-lingual staff member in every school office and a Spanish language option when calling the district offices. Mentoring parents at each school site to increase communication was another sound idea. Dunbar parent Alyssa Pierce mentioned a K–8 option at Dunbar Elementary School or converting Altimira to a charter high school. “Just so there are more options out there for everyone,” said Pierce.
Other ideas that the district has kicked around at previous meetings include lengthening the school year, inter-sessions, and pursuing pre-kindergarten opportunities at other Valley elementary schools.
At the curriculum station Louann Carlomagno, director of curriculum said that the district is happy to have the support of Springboard Schools, as they are experienced in moving districts to new levels of achievement. “We believe that every student should meet A-G requirements (necessary for acceptance into any University of California or California State University) whether or not they are interested in attending college or taking a vocational path instead,” said Carlomagno.
To that, participant Tim Boeve asked what it takes to shift an entire district to accept some of the big ideas being presented. “Really, how do we institute a ‘No failure policy’ in our schools?”
“We’re here to figure out how to engage the community to develop alternative pathways to accomplish these goals,” said Carlomagno in response.
When the groups reconvened, board president Dan Gustafson remarked that two back-to-back five-year strategic plans could see a student through his entire school career. Given that, board member Helen Marsh pointed out the urgency of putting some of the ideas into action. “Based on the comments there is a fair amount of consistency in the directions we need to go. And some of the action items, like updating the phone system, aren’t really strategic plan items but practical things we need to do now,” said Marsh. “But it’s clear that there is an interest in having more options available.”
Participants agreed and are looking to the school board and district to move forward with some of the ideas presented.
According to Martens, the evening was a success and next steps include identifying action items that can be implemented in short order and making it happen. “There was a lot of positive high energy at the study session. We will be obtaining more input from our stakeholders at the school sites and then reporting back to the board at the June 19 meeting,” said Martens. “All of this information will be on the district Web site for the public to review.”