375 Lee Street

Strategic Plan

2008-2013

Invest in the WHOLE CHILD

……ensuring that ALL our children are HEALTHY

Goal 1:            Provide parents with information needed to participate in the All Kids Health Insurance Program.

                        Action Steps:

·                     Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, information and enrollment forms for the ALL Kids Health Insurance Program will be       included in the Open House Packet given to parents at the beginning of the school year.

Goal 2:            Provide all K-2 students with a dental screening to identify problems that need referral to a dentist.

                        Action Steps:

·                     Dental hygienist from local dental practices will conduct a dental screening for all K-2 students during the 2008/2009 school year.        Parents will be notified of potential problems to seek proper care for the child.

·                     Local school administrators will work with local dentists to develop a plan to address dental care for all elementary students by the    beginning of the 2010 school year.

Goal 3:            Provide a physical activity period for all students during the school day.

                        Action Steps:

·                     Beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, the following physical activity schedule will be a part of the school day for ALL students            K-8.           

Pearson Elementary – 30 minutes of physical education daily with an additional 20 minutes per day as weather allows.

Stephens Elementary – All students will receive 40 minutes of organized physical activity daily.

Radney Elementary – All students will receive 40 minutes of organized physical activity daily.

Alexander City Middle School – All students will receive 75 minutes of organized physical activity daily.

Benjamin Russell High School – When funding permits hiring additional teachers, BRHS will offer organized physical education as           an elective for ALL students.

Goal 4:            To assist parents in changing home habits that will help curb obesity and promote responsible eating habits.

                        Action Steps:

·         School breakfast and lunch menus will be designed to help students make wise dietary choices.

·         Nutritional information will be made available to parents to educate them on the need to limit the amount of fast food items consumed by  students.

·         Academic classes will be encouraged to include nutritional information as a part of their classroom instruction.

Invest in the WHOLE CHILD

……ensuring that ALL our children are SAFE.

Goal 1:            By May 2009, each local school and the school system will have a written safety plan based on National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards.  Also, school staff and students will be trained and practice safety drills based on the plan.

Action Steps:

·         By August 2008, safety committee will complete the safety plan for each school and the school system.

·         By May 2009, each school will have completed training for current school staff and students based on the safety plan.

·         Safety training, drills and practice will be ongoing each school year for school staff and students.

Goal 2:            By October 2008, all schools will be upgraded to current safety codes.

                        Action Steps:

·         Upgrade fire alarm system in all schools to current codes.

·         School system will work with local and state fire marshals to self-monitor schools to meet safety guidelines.

Goal 3:            By May 2009, school staff will be trained on identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and/or neglect.

                        Action Steps:

·         Provide training for school staff on how to identify and report suspected student abuse or neglect.

Goal 4:            All school buses will have a camera for monitoring student behavior.

                        Action Steps:

·         Collect data from school transportation department on current bus cameras.

·         Seek funding to equip all buses with updated camera surveillance.

Goal 5:            Students will feel safe in the school environment and on the bus as measured by pre and post activity surveys.

                        Action Steps:

·         Survey students about how safe they feel in different school environments and on the bus.

·         Provide activities for students to increase feelings of safety based on the surveys.

·         Provide training to students in grades 6-8 on bullying, cyber bullying, and internet safety.

Invest in the WHOLE CHILD

……ensuring that ALL our children are ENGAGED

Goal 1:            All students will be provided rich environments, experiences, and activities for learning by incorporating opportunities for collaborative     work, problem solving, “hands on” learning activities, authentic tasks, and shared knowledge and responsibility.

                        Action Steps to be completed by June 20ll:

·         All teachers will receive professional development on classroom resources and instructional methods proven to be effective in engaging    students.

·         All teachers will be expected to increase opportunities for authentic,

hands-on learning in their classrooms.

·         Teacher effectiveness in engaging students will be monitored through demonstration lessons, classroom observations, and/or “walk         throughs”.

·         Community and business people will be utilized as learning resources.

·         Opportunities for student experiences such as professional field-trips, job-shadowing, etc. will be explored.

·         Student surveys will be conducted.

Goal 2:            The percent of classroom assessments which are authentic (e.g., portfolio reviews, student-lead conferences and/or exhibitions) versus       more traditional assessments (pencil/paper tests) will be increased.

                        Action Steps to be completed by June 2011:

·         Each school, subject area, or grade level will develop and implement a plan for incorporating at least one authentic assessment per subject        per grading period.

Invest in the WHOLE CHILD

……ensuring that ALL our children are SUPPORTED

Goal 1:            By August 2009, we will increase involvement in After-School programs (K-8) by centralizing programs and resources.

                        Action Steps:

·         August 2008 – Survey parents by grade to gain data on willingness to allow students to participate in an after school program and identify        any concerns that might hinder participation, i.e. transportation.

·         Winter 2009 – Meet with stakeholders to begin process of centralizing programs and resources.

·         Fall 2009 – Full implementation of a centralized After – School program.

Goal 2:            By January 2009, foster support for students through a mentorship program.

                        Action Steps:

·         May 2008 – Identify community organizations that can be used in the recruitment of mentors for a Big Brother/Big Sister program and        identify steps needed to establish the mentorship program.

·         June 2008 – Create a description of qualifications for mentors.

·         January 2009 - Implement Big Brother/Big Sister program.

Goal 3:            By August 2009, establish a relationship between each school in the district and a licensed social worker or behavior specialist.

                        Action Steps:

·         August 2008 – Identify steps that need to be taken to secure a licensed social worker or behavior specialist for each school.

·         August 2009 – Have an established relationship between each school and a licensed social worker or behavior specialist.

Goal 4:            By August 2009, provide each school with strategies to increase parental involvement at all levels.

                        Action Steps:

·         August 2008 – Identify strategies to increase parental involvement at all levels.

·         August 2009 – Distribute compiled list of strategies that can be used by schools to increase parental involvement.

Invest in the WHOLE CHILD

……ensuring that ALL our children are CHALLENGED

Goal 1:            For students to learn at high levels, they must have access to a 21^st century curriculum that both challenges and inspires them.

                        Action Steps:

·         Beginning in the fall of 2008, individualized, intense, sustained professional development will be provided for teachers.  The training will       include questioning techniques, how to incorporate critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and technology.

·         Beginning in the fall of 2008 teachers will raise their expectations of all students.

·         By August 2009, science and social studies instruction will need to be continuous for all grades.

·         By August 2009, literacy skills will be incorporated into all subject areas.

Goal 2:            By August 2011, art teachers will be available for all students.

                        Action Steps:

·         Funding sources will be sought to provide art teachers.

·         By August 2008, students will be exposed to a wide array of art venues.

Goal 3:            By August 2011, foreign language will be provided for students at all levels.

                        Action Steps:

·         Funds would need to be made available for an adequate number of teachers.

·         Proficient Spanish students from BRHS will be allowed to go to the elementary schools as student instructors.

Goal 4:            By August 2009, there will be a 10% increase in the number of students participating in the Advanced Placement classes.

                        Action Step:

·         By August 2008, all schools will increase their instructional level or rigor so more students will be prepared to participate in AP courses at BRHS.

       BRHS.