Notes from April 13, 2015 SD2 Special Board Meeting on Strategic Planning

Public Comment: Mr Nelson. He is worried that city proposal to shift some street maintenance taxes from downtown to outside of downtown will be more costly for the school district.

This meeting was not on the timeline, but superintendent wanted LST to provide trustees some information.

Academic Achievement:

• LST listened to every staff member in the district and listened to middle and high school students.
• Attendance: Schools are struggling with student attendance K-12. Had 200 remarks and top of the list. 
• K-12 class size: The have more work to do...especially for Castlerock.
• Curriculum: Need alignment to Common Core...especially for math and science.
• Graduation and Dropout Rates: Working on now.
• Interventions: They do not think the reach everyone. Non-title schools lacking for intervention resources. Goal is to standardize across district.
• Utilize assessments to drive instructions. 
• Weighted grades for valedictorian: Already working on this.
• Summer School for K-8 students: Nothing in place now, but looking at added.
• Transiting from elementary to middle school.
• Partnerships with community/businesses. This will including outlying school districts that send students to SD2 Middle and High Schools.
• Student mental health needs: Looking to increase staff training and resources. 
• Kevin Toolhill: Alternative Pathways? Have Hiset, Frameworks and Transitions programs now. Teams are going to Bozeman to look at their Bridger Program. SD2 still wants to stick with content standards. 
• Moen: Rigor? Looking to expand AP classes. AP equality? Need trained teachers willing to teach this. SD2 wants to hire teachers to be able to teach AP and dual credit classes.
• Stroebe: Tracking proficiency of entire student body? Smarter Balance tests will enable this. Do we need more Psychologists? School district having trouble finding qualified applicants. School district is leaning towards social workers. 
• Layton: How are we getting parents involved? Parent engagement did not rise to the top of the critical issues that the school district needs to address.

Financial Resource Management:

• Better fiscal management & transparency: CAFR helps, but can do better.
• More efficient use of resources: have be scouring spending in detail.
• Transparency with public: school district public emails
• Materials: there is concern of non-equity between schools. Need to plan for textbooks.
• Legislative initiatives to support school funding: 
• Stroebe: Maintenance Levies? Agrees.

Technology:

• Want to focus on equity between schools.
• Want technology driven by curriculum.
• Want to increase professional development. Not sure yet on what to train on.
• Trying to avoid technology for just to have technology. Need good purpose for it.

Facilities and Safety:

• Want to revisit Facilities Master Plan.
• Implementation of 2013 bond for the elementary district. We are in great shape.
• Redistricting implementation
• 2017 legislation: want 6th funding as middle school student.
• Need HS District Bond for deferred maintenance: 33 million worth waiting. Also needed for support facilities. 
• Ongoing Safety and security assessment: e.g. Weight room in Skyview is too small, Community is using SD2 facilities and want to make sure SD2 is doing this right. Design buildings to classrooms are not at risk for theft. 

Highly Qualified Workforce:

• HR review has identified some issues.
• Induction and mentoring, staff accountability, professional development, and hiring process.
• Need for qualified substitutes.

Stakeholder's Engagement:

• Website revamp...SD2 and individual schools
• How can we do a better job for outlying school districts?

The purpose of this meeting was to give a LST a chance to present what the LST has learned from forums. May 18th is the big meeting where decisions will be made.