Northwestern High School

Lexington School District Three Strategic Plan 2004-2009 (Written Summer 2004)

Dr. William M. Gummerson, Superintendent

“Preparing Students for the Future Now” Strategic Plan Participants

On May 31st, June 1st, June 2nd, 2004, parents, student, faculty, and staff members from the District Office, B-L Primary, B-L Elementary, B-L Middle, and B-L High Schools met for three days at BL High School to create site based five-year strategic plans. Committee members from the District Office and each school used a parallel planning process. Individual committees met in breakout sessions to develop a mission statement, belief statements, goals, and actions plan for each school and the District Office. Following each break-out session, the school and District Office committees convened as a District Committee of the Whole to provide comments, suggestions, corrections, and approval through consensus on each part of each strategic plan. This process allowed all participants to have a say and provided an opportunity to gain an understanding about each strategic plan. It also ensured that the District Office and individual school plans would be integrated in their approach and expected results.

DISTRICT OFFICE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Dr. William Gummerson, Superintendent Mr. Thomas Sparks, Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Frances Bouknight, Director of Instruction Mr. Debra Fowler, Director of Finance Mrs. Susan Cassels, Food Services Director Dr. Barbara Criss, Director of Special Services Mrs. Mary Jo Shealy, Secretary-Life Long Learning Center Mr. Michael Powell, Director of Technology Mrs. Judy Turner Fox, Director of Public Relations Mr. John Stone, Director of Adult Education Mrs. Gay Coleman, Secretary

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Mrs. Tonya Watson-Principal Mr. John Petry-Assistant Principal Mrs. Lanora Bartlette, Secretary Mrs. Ginger Wash, Secretary Mrs. Renita Irving, BLP Nurse Mr. Joe Leatherman, Parent

5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 2 Mrs. Paula Edwards, Parent, SIC Member Mrs. Veronica Gates, SIC Member Mr. Todd O’Dell, Parent Mrs. Julie Hall, First Steps Staff, Parent Mrs. Kay Derrick, Teacher Mrs. Tamra McCormack, Teacher Mrs. Jennifer Patrick, Parent/Teacher Mr. Neal Kaminer, Head Custodian

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Dr. Darlene Stephens, Principal Mr. Tim Hunter, Assistant Principal Mrs. Lynn Shealy, Secretary Mrs. Denise Cato, Secretary Mrs. Michelle Brackett, School Counselor Mrs. Hazel Short, Teacher Mrs. Donna Padgett, After-School Program Coordinator BLES Mrs. Michelle Powell, Parent Mrs. Frances Ann Shirley, Teacher Mrs. Willie Mae Belton, Parent Mrs. Dee Stewart, SIC Member Mrs. Lynne Rauton, Parent Mrs. Karen Wheeler, Teacher Mr. Steven Jones, Parent, District Technology Staff Member Mrs. Bernadette Williams, Parent Mrs. Sherren Hanna, Parent Mr. Mackey Brown, Head Custodian

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Bert Smith-Principal Linda Ashley, Assistant Principal Mechele Slice, Guidance Counselor Betty Robinson, Secretary Shauna Bashline, Student Linda Dachenhaus, Parent Cathi Eargle, Project Director BLMS After-School Program Dean Ganis, Community Member Julie Hall, First Steps Staff, Parent Gary Holmes, Community Member Beth Kirkland, Teacher John Stover, Teacher Vancella Gantt, Teacher Wendi Fincher, Teacher Kim Ruff, Teacher 5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 3 Lynn Mondell, Teacher Betsy McEwen, Teacher Missy O’Dell, Teacher Janet Hayden, Teacher Calvin Oakman, Head Custodian Angie Miracle, BLMS After-School Program Gary Holmes, Batesburg-Leesville Town Council Delynn Barnes, Community Member Jene Riggs, Teacher

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Pat Padgett, Principal Mr. Ross Cary, Assistant Principal Mrs. Carol Stout, Instructional Coordinator Rev. Allen Ancrum, Parent Ms. Emily Dunn, Student, SIC, Senior Class President Michael Edwards, Teacher, SIC Ms. Amber Cary, Student Body Vice President Dr. Terry Fellers, Guidance Counselor Mr. Gary Phillips, Athletic Director Mrs. Liz Smith, Secretary, Grandparent, SIC Mr. Joey Rivers, Parent Ms. Linda Cooper, Teacher Mrs. Sara Burton, Teacher Mrs. Dot Minick, Guidance Secretary Mrs. Lisa Allen, Parent Mr. Uleg Grune, Parent Ms. Brittany Hand, Student Mrs. Linda Dachenhaus Mr. Jeff Cannon, Parent Mr. Steve Greeson, Head Custodian

DISTRICT OFFICE/LLC STAFF/FIRST STEPS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Dr. William Gummerson Tom Sparks Frances Bouknight Debra Fowler Judy Turner Fox Barbara Criss Jan Barnes Susan Cassels Mike Powell John Stone Maryjo Shealy 5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 4 Jim Riddle

Contents

Strategic Plan Participants………………………………………….2

Lexington School District Three Mission Statement……………….6

Lexington School District Three Beliefs Statement………………..7

Lexington School District Three Goals, 2003-2008……………...... 8

Lexington School District Three Action Plans…………………...... 9

5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 5 Lexington School District Three Mission Statement

Working together as students, parents, guardians, faculties, staff, and members of the community, Lexington School District Three will establish and maintain a strong foundation for lifelong learning by nurturing, challenging, and guiding all students toward their maximum academic, career, technological, artistic, physical, social, and emotional potential in a respectful, safe environment.

5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 6 Lexington School District Three Beliefs Statement

Our Staff Believes:

 All individuals are unique and have intrinsic worth.

 The foundation for unlimited learning is critical reading and thinking.

 Education should be relevant and applicable to real life experiences.

 The educational and social atmosphere fosters an appreciation and support of students from all cultural backgrounds.

 Student motivation and learning are best achieved by offering all students maximum opportunities for success.

 Instructional practices should incorporate varied learning activities that take into account different learning styles and abilities.

 A safe, respectful, and disciplined environment is necessary for learning.

 Nurturing social responsibility is enhanced through positive relationships and mutual respect among students and staff.

 Parents/guardians, educators, students and community members must be active partners in a successful educational process.

 Staff development must be an ongoing process using research based practices.

 Superior staff support, staff development, physical facilities, and planning are essential in establishing academic excellence. 5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 7 Lexington School District Three Goals 2004-2009

I. We will prepare all students for post secondary education, either college or technical school, by providing an appropriate academic foundation.

II. We will prepare all students for the workplace by providing appropriate career foundations and skills.

III. We will improve instruction by appropriately training and evaluating teachers, staff, and administrators.

IV. We will prepare all students, teachers and administrators for the continually changing workplace by providing opportunities to learn and apply 21st Century technology.

V. We will make instructional decisions based upon appropriate data and proven educational research.

VI. We will encourage the active involvement of students, teachers, administrators, parents/guardians and the community through effective communication.

VII. We will provide an attractive, safe and orderly school environment in order to promote learning

VIII. We will provide students and teachers with opportunities that promote respect, pride and teamwork.

5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 8 Lexington School District Three Strategic Plan Action Plans 2004-2009

I. Goal One Action Plans: We will prepare all students for post secondary education, either college or technical school, by providing an appropriate academic foundation. a. To insure that students are reading on a level that is at or above each student’s assigned grade level, all principals and their schools will develop critical reading programs. The District will work with teachers to select appropriate materials for each grade level that promotes critical reading and phonics instruction. A common instruction methodology will be used to help students transition from grade to grade. At the middle and high school reading within the curriculum will be emphasized. Status: (Spring 2004) In the spring teachers and principals from each school met with District Office (DO) Staff to select textbooks and materials for the primary and elementary grades. Dr. Frank Robinson, a reading expert from Aiken County, held an in-service in the Fall of 2004 to discuss reading strategies. The District adopted the “We All Can Read” phonetics reading series to provide phonics instructions to students at all schools.. b. To insure that all decisions relating to curriculum will be data driven, principals and their schools will use the following information: Iowa Basic Skills Tests (IBS), Cognitive Ability Tests (CogAT), Running Record, Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT) Grades 3-8, High School Achievement Test (HSAP) Grade 10, PSAT, SAT, ACT, Measurement of Academic Program (MAP), High School End of Course Tests (EOCEP), South Carolina School Report Cards, and the Lexington School District Annual and School Summary Report. Status: Principals at all schools met with their faculties and School Improvement Councils (SIC)’s in the fall. The Superintendent briefed the Board and the community via board meetings and the Twin-City Newspaper about school report cards, AYP, and end of course tests. Principals and the Superintendent discussed MAPS progress at staff meetings with teachers. c. To insure that all students who take the ACT or SAT are successful, Batesburg- Leesville High School will provide ACT and SAT training for all students by implementing a comprehensive preparation program that involves daily preparation in all classes based upon the Barron’s SAT Book. BLHS will promote students to take the most difficult classes possible. BLHS will provide a one day workshop for juniors on the nature of the SAT test.

5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 9 Status: Every class is started with an ACT, SAT, or HSAP preparation question. The “Hot Word of the Week” emphasizes a word that students can receive a prize for it they answer the question correct. An ACT/SAT preparation class is available for all students.

To insure that all middle and high school students are successful when taking the PSAT, Batesburg-Leesville Middle School will provide PSAT training in all classrooms by implementing a daily preparation program using the Barron’s SAT Book. Status: Not in place at this time. On October 7, 2004 a one hour training session was held for 8th grade students planning to take the PSAT. d. To promote success for students who experience academic or behavioral difficulties, Lexington District Three will provide effective after-school and remedial programs. Status: Ongoing. Currently the high school provides a before school tutorial program and a Curriculum for Academic Readiness and Educational Success (CARES) remediation program in the high school during the day. The primary, elementary, and middle schools provide after-school programs that are integrated with each school. The District uses $437,000 from federal and state grants to provide after-school programs. The high school provides an academic assistance period before school, HSAP Assistance classes and a CARES academic remediation program. Those students who fail Math Tech 1 or 2 are placed in a second semester HSAP assistance course.

II. Goal Two Action Plan: We will prepare all students for the workplace by providing appropriate career foundations and skills. a. To improve high school students’ transition into the workforce following graduation, Batesburg-Leesville High School will adopt and implement Career Clusters by the 2005-2006 school year. Status: Mr. Pat Padgett and Mr. Walter Hallman, in conjunction with faculty members, District Office staff, and members of the business community during the 2005-2005 school year to completing planning for the transition to this academic model.

III. Goal Three Action Plans: We will improve instruction by providing teachers and administrators appropriate training and evaluation. a. To allow vertical teaming within and between schools, the District will implement a District calendar that provides common planning time for teachers as wells as teacher work days at the end of each nine week grading period. Teachers will participate in seminars, workshops and in-service training for professional enrichment on a regular basis. Status: A new District calendar providing common planning time, teacher work days, and in-service days at appropriate intervals has been implemented for the 5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 10 school year 2004-2005. Two days out of the month are used for school based common planning time; one day is utilized for vertical teaming, and one day focuses upon in-service training for teachers and staff. b. To ensure that all state standards are being taught, each faculty member will be knowledgeable of all state and national standards and annual revisions in standards related to their academic areas and departments. They will ensure that all students are fully aware of all state standards for their academic area. Status: On-going. During common planning time and in-service training state and national standards are discussed. Using the MAPS assessment data teachers are now measuring student progress and adapting instruction to fit the needs of students. c. To provide teachers with rapid and timely data to make instructional decisions, diagnostic software used to determine student mastery of state standards will be purchased and training will be provided to teachers of core courses. Status: Ongoing. MAP software to evaluate math and English language arts, and reading standards was purchased in the summer of 2004. Training of teachers started in the in August of 2004. d. To improve the ability of teachers to work with students of different academic abilities, teachers will be provided training in differentiated instruction. Status: Gifted and Talented teachers received instruction in the William & Mary model and are now utilizing those methods. Primary School teachers, through the CoNect grant, are being trained in the proper use of student centers.

IV. Goal Four Action Plan: We will prepare students, teachers, and administrators for the workplace, by providing opportunities to learn and use technology for the 21st Century. a. To insure speedy, accessible Internet communication, the District will improve its computer infrastructure by installing an underground fiber optic network throughout the District. Status: A fiber optic network is currently being installed with a completion date of Spring 2005. The network will connect all schools and district office. b. To insure that all computers can run on a single operating system, run the latest educational and administrative software, and limit the number of computers that are inoperable at a given time, the District will lease all computers and replace them on three year cycle. Status: All teachers’ computers have been replaced as Fall 2004 and are on a three year lease cycle. Two new student labs have been installed in the middle and primary schools. c. To insure that all teachers and administrators are able to use and integrate 21 st Century technology in the classroom, they will be trained to implement the use of appropriate computer hardware and software. In addition, each teacher will maintain an up to date teacher web site. 5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 11 Status: Approximately 70% of our teachers have completed the Intel Teach to the Future Essential Course. Currently, we have three Intel master teachers. Teachers will be trained in the Spring 2005 on how to develop and use individual teacher Web sites. During the past four years in collaboration with Newberry College and the District office, computer software training has been offered to all staff members. In January 2005, district staffs are scheduled to be trained in Microsoft Access software. d. To insure that all teachers, administrators, and students are able to use and integrate 21st Century technology in the classroom, a technology needs assessment will be conducted within each academic department in each school to develop a site based, District technology plan based upon prioritized equipment needs, training needs, and estimated costs. School and district technology plans will be revised annually and include a student/teacher usage component. Status: In the Spring of 2005, Mike Powell will conduct a technology needs assessment.

V. Goal Five Action Plans: We will make instructional decisions based upon appropriate data and proven educational research. a. To assess, revise, and promote each school’s strategic plan annually, the principal of each school and the School Improvement Council (SIC) will use the State of South Carolina School Report Card and other data listed in the Goal One Action plan, Section b., Status: The Superintendent met with all principals and assistant principals to update the strategic plan. Principals met with their staffs and School Improvement Councils (SIC)’s to revise and update their strategic plans. b. To insure that the community is aware of the academic progress of our schools, the principal of each school in conjunction with the School Improvement Council (SIC), department heads and the faculty will annually review instructional data from: the Strategic Plan; the School Improvement Plan; test scores from Goal 1, section b as well as State and District School Report Cards; and climate surveys. Status: Ongoing. Same as V. a. above. Principals meet monthly with their School Improvement Councils. The Superintendent will meet with all School Improvement Councils in the spring. c. To provide a variety of ways for communicating how data driven decisions are made, the principal of each school will use the following avenues: faculty meetings, in-service days, open house, student handbooks, Principal’s Advisory Council meetings, School Improvement Council (SIC) meetings, booster club meetings, the Lexington School District Three Annual and School Summary Report, and the school web site. Status: Ongoing.

VI. Goal Six Action Plans: We will encourage the active involvement of students, teachers, administrators, parents/guardians and the community through effective communication. 5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 12 a. To insure timely and effective communication, Lexington School District Three will provide opportunities for students and parents to receive information via varied media. (i.e. District Three School and Individual School Web pages, television news, The Twin-City News, newsletters-Booster Clubs, Principal’s Newsletters, and Guidance Newsletters). Status: Ongoing. In addition, the Superintendent has met with the two Rotary Clubs and Chamber of Commerce members to discuss the status of the district financially and academically. b. The principal of each school will disseminate information in a manner that facilitates faculty, parent, and student understanding of the correlation between instructional decisions and the data upon which they are based. Status: Principals met with their faculties and the SIC’s during the year. In addition the Superintendent and Public Relations Director wrote two articles on academic progress for the “Twin-City” newspaper.

VII. Goal Seven Action Plans: Provide an attractive, safe and orderly climate in order to promote academic learning. a. To improve school climate, in conjunction with the Superintendent, each school will devise and implement an on-going beautification and cleanliness program. Status: The high school agriculture class worked on a beautification of the high school. Middle school students planted flowers at the front of the school and by the road. In addition, they care for potted plants in the atrium of the entrance to the school. b. To improve school climate, the District will implement a comprehensive custodial supply, training, and supervision program to improve the cleanliness of schools. In conjunction with this program all schools will implement an ongoing education program intended to require staff and students to be responsible for the care and cleanliness of school buildings, grounds, and buses. Status: The District contracted a custodial support maintenance system to supply, train, and equip custodians. The program is in its first year of operation and has shown some improvement in some schools. Principals are now responsible for monitoring the cleaning of schools. c. To help teachers and staff members handle potentially violent confrontations with students, teachers and administrators will be trained in the Non-Violent Crisis Program Intervention (CPI). Status: Ongoing d. To insure that all students and faculty are familiar with what to do in a crisis situation, schools, in conjunction with the District, will revise and review school crisis plans annually. All staff and students will be informed of this plan and be involved in annual practice drills. Status: Ongoing.

5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 13 e. In order to reduce the number of employee absences the Superintendent in conjunction with the School Liaison Committee will provide recommendations to school board that will be implemented by the end of the 2004-2005 school year. Status: To be addressed Spring 2005. f. In order to provide diverse role models for all students, Lexington School District Three will increase the number of minority faculty members to at least 10 % of the total faculty and administrative population in the District during the next five years (2004-2009) by targeted recruiting. Status: The elementary school hired an African-American assistant principal. The primary school added one minority staff member in the Fall of 2004. g. To improve school climate, each principal and school will use the South Carolina Annual School Report Card and other instruments, to make an annual assessment of the effect of school climate on academic performance. Status: Ongoing. h. To improve school safety, the monitoring of students between classes, and before and after school, at each school will be evaluated by the Principal and Superintendent each year to determine if changes are necessary. Status: Each principal is responsible for monitoring this. The Superintendent discusses crisis plans with principals once each year to see that they are up to date.

VIII. Goal Eight Action Plans: Provide Board Members, educators, parents, and students with opportunities that promote respect, pride and teamwork. a. In order to promote school spirit and build teamwork, all faculty and those students involved in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities will be encouraged to participate in a school or community service project. Status: b. To teach students how to resolve conflicts, a peer mediation training program will be established at the high and middle schools. Status: Students and advisors from both schools were trained in 2004. Faculties from both schools were trained how to refer students and incorporate the program in their schools by Mr. Tommy Schmolze, a peer mediation trainer. c. To promote student involvement, schools will promote involvement in extracurricular activities. Status: d. To reduce misunderstandings and to set expectations of behavior, at the beginning of each year the principal and staff of each school will meet with students to familiarize them with the Student Handbook and bus regulations. Parents will be kept abreast of expectations annually also. Status: Ongoing.

5:33:44 上午 4/3/2018 14 e. To set a tone of behavior and improve working relations within the District, a code of conduct for board members, educators, parents, and students will be developed for use as a point of reference for appropriate behavior. Status: To be addressed in the Spring of 2005.

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