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Strategic Planning Process: Where the Future Began
The Haworth district invited teachers, administrators, parents and students to join in a strategic planning process during the 2018-19 school year. Participants identified district goals and created a blueprint for achieving them.
A number of the recommendations from the collaborative Strategic Plan have already been put into action. Teachers developed strategies to help students take a more active role in their learning. We leveraged technology to introduce new online educational programs. Support was extended to families through more Parent Academy workshops focusing on school goals and mental health, and continued Coffee with the Superintendent events.
Innovation is central to the Strategic Plan. Stakeholders emerged from the process with a clear desire to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow, with school spaces that support a curriculum based in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). This guided the Board toward considering a bond referendum. Now our community could be asked to vote on funding for proposed projects that would support 21st century learning and other educational priorities.
HIGHLIGHTED OBJECTIVES
- More innovative instructional spaces: The addition of a modern Maker Space would give students opportunities to work with robotics, drones, 3D printing and other cutting-edge technology. A Middle School Media Center would offer older students a dedicated area for collaboration and research. Flexibility would be the central feature of a Student/Staff Learning Lab to host guest speakers, presentations and distance learning.
- Physical education improvements: Incorporate lessons that encourage activity, teamwork, risk-taking and critical thinking. The projects now being considered include an expansion to a regulation-size gym and the addition of bleacher seating.
- Classroom spaces that enhance innovative learning and teaching: The Strategic Plan acknowledged that contemporary classrooms require areas for collaboration, flexible seating areas and the ability to move throughout lessons. Adding four classrooms through a bond proposal would ensure students have the spaces they need while maintaining the low class sizes that parents value. The new classrooms also would allow more Haworth students to return to the district for the specialized services they need. Renovations on the lower level of the school would create a pre-K classroom.
More about the strategic planning process:
2019 - 2024 Possible Timeline for Implementation
