Draft of Over-Arching Goals for 2017 - 2018 As of 8/18/17

Draft of Over-arching Goals for 2017 - 2018 as of 8/18/17

Community Outreach and Communication

The Groton-Dunstable Public Schools and its school committee will enhance its partnership with the entire communities of both towns, including town leadership, to enrich the education of its students. The District and the committee will establish reciprocal communication that is varied, accessible and understandable, and that unites all citizens around the belief that high quality public education is a community’s most valuable asset.

Strategic Action Plans ● Establish plans for specific outreach between the school system and the organizations of both communities such as Council on Aging, veterans organizations, and other non- profit groups. TIMELINE: Report on completed plan design at first October school committee meeting. Report on progress on plans at first meeting in January and first meeting in April. RESPONSIBLE: Superintendent and Principals. ● Establish protocols and policies for easy to understand mechanisms for public comments, questions, and concerns to be brought forth before the school committee. These mechanisms will include a feeder system for referral of such comments, questions, and concerns to the appropriate sub-committee. TIMELINE: Report on completed plan design at second school committee meeting in September. Review effectiveness and efficiency of policy first meeting in January. RESPONSIBLE: Policy sub-committee and Superintendent. ● Establish formalized communication plan which includes regular digital, print, and in- person formats. TIMELINE: Report on plan design first meeting in October. Review progress toward plan in January and April. RESPONSIBLE: Chair and Superintendent.

Student Performance

The Groton-Dunstable Public Schools will provide, supported by a continuous cycle of improvement, an engaging, innovative, rigorous, and individualized system of teaching and learning that provides all students with the knowledge and skills necessary for college, career and global citizenship in the 21st century while integrating social, emotional, and wellness support.

Strategic Action Plans ● Establish a formalized and regular systematic collection and analysis of student metrics including performance on standardized tests such as MCAS, SAT, ACT, and AP exams; local formalized assessments in foundational benchmark data in areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics at grades Pre-K through 8; appropriate indicators in the area of social, emotional and behavioral well-being such as attendance, discipline, and counseling referrals; and impact of intervention and enrichment programs.TIMELINE: Report on this data collection and analysis will be provided to School Committee and both communities a minimum of twice a year. RESPONSIBLE: Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. ● Select appropriate comparison districts in order to monitor performance of above metrics of these districts versus the performance of Groton-Dunstable on the same. TIMELINE: Report on this analysis will be provided to School Committee and both communities a minimum of twice a year. RESPONSIBLE: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Accountability Sub-committee, Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent. ● Establish a formalized and regularly scheduled protocol to evaluate the depth of intervention and impact of Universal Design for Learning. TIMELINE: Report on protocol design in October. Report on results of protocol in February and May. RESPONSIBLE: CIAA sub-committee and Assistant Superintendent. ● Examine curricular offerings to identify areas of potential innovation in order to increase student learning and application of transferable skills (i.e. problem-solving, technical expertise, data analysis, oral and written communication) and expansion of content knowledge in areas of STEM. Instruction to be delivered in a hands-on, inquiry-based environment. TIMELINE: Report on analysis of current curricular offerings in December. Report on recommendation of changes/additions/deletions in February (draft) and April (final). RESPONSIBLE: Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum Leaders, and Principals.

Resources, Infrastructure, and Educational Environment The Groton-Dunstable Public Schools will provide its students with a cost-effective education that maximizes effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, while communicating regarding these efforts in a public and transparent manner. Educational environment will be based on best-practices, academic research, and rigorous self-evaluation to provide students and staff the resources, materials, and infrastructure required for optimum teaching and learning.

Strategic Action Plans ● Provide timely and accurate data to support financial decision-making to leadership of both towns. ● Complete external audits of space utilization, financial management,curriculum, scheduling, and resource allocation including staffing to be conducted by two outside organizations - Abrahams and DCG. TIMELINE: Interim and final results, as well as any action plans developed as a result of the audit to be shared publicly with all stakeholders. RESPONSIBLE: Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Pupil Services Director, School Committee, and Principals. ● Identify potential revenue generating programs such as community partnerships, expansion of community education programs, and other opportunities which are aligned with the school committee policies around such efforts. TIMELINE: Reports on efforts in November, February, and May. RESPONSIBLE: School Committee, Superintendent, and Director of Business and Finance. ● Provide return-on-investment information for all major intervention, enrichment, and educational innovations to school committee and public. TIMELINE: Report on design of ROI data collection in November. Report on analysis and conclusions regarding data in May. RESPONSIBLE: Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. ● Establish monthly reporting on capital and technology plan items regarding actual vs. plan financial expenditures and project completion. TIMELINE: Report monthly. RESPONSIBLE: Director of Technology and Director of Business and Finance.