Linden Community Schools

Board of Education Goals

2009-10

Goal 1: Continue to operate Linden Community Schools in a fiscally responsible manner.

Objective: Obtain a balanced budget.

Strategies:

§ Maintain a Budget Advisory Committee

§ Have regular cost-cutting discussions

§ Be educated on budget process at state, county and district levels

§ Maintain cost savings initiatives, which includes all stakeholders

§ Develop a bargaining template, with short-term and long-term components, for all groups, which support a labor process conducive to providing a balanced budget

§ Target student retention to attract students/families to Linden Community Schools

§ Advocate at the community and state level for school finance reform

§ Look for revenue-generating targets

Goal 2: Optimize student achievement.

Objective: Show measureable improvement in all areas.

Strategies:

§ Maintain a Curriculum Committee

§ Allocate proper resources to balance secondary class loads

§ Explore cooperative programs with cost benefit analysis

§ Use nationally-normed tests for district comparisons across the nation (ACT)

§ Use state-normed tests for district comparisons across the state (MEAP and MME)

§ Develop and publish target areas/subjects for curriculum improvement and set percentage increase goals, either state-wide or nationally, for comparisons next year

Goal 3: Implement a public advocacy process.

Objective: Influence local and state decision makers to reallocate school funding at the state level.

Strategies:

§ Advocate at the community and state level for school finance reform

§ Educate public on issues with current state funding model

§ Attend organized legislator interactions in and around community

§ Use MASB initiatives more effectively

Goal 4: Define the communication expectations and needs of all stakeholders.

Objective: Improve direct communication with stakeholders.

Strategies:

§ Conduct internal/external survey

§ Board will be more visible in schools and at school events

§ Attend more support group meetings

§ Analyze effectiveness of current web page

§ Direct administration to identify key communication needs

Goal 5: Develop a new five-year strategic plan.

Objective: Publish a five-year strategic plan for the district.

Strategies:

§ Involve key stake holders from the school and community in the planning

§ Ensure balanced approach from staff and community

§ Use existing vision, mission statement, and Board beliefs so committee focus is on improvement of current initiatives and discovering new initiatives to better meet the district wants or needs