The Limestone County Schools Board of Education held a work session last week to discuss the draft of the 2023-2028 strategic plan.

“The district is in the process of creating a strategic plan which will impact the district for years to come. The process has involved stakeholders and representatives from every school in the district,” Superintendent Dr. Randy Shearouse said. “Our goal is to have a finished product which results in continuous improvement in the district with a focus on providing our students expanded opportunities.”

The following goals and performance measures were drafted:

Student Support and Achievement

Goals:

1a. Foster a supportive learning environment that values equity, diversity, and collaboration

1b. Offer engaging student learning experiences across all schools to address students’ needs and interests to ensure all students meet and exceed state standards

1c. Develop life skills for students to engage, lead, and serve the community 1d. Increase student attendance

1e. Increase the percentage of ELL students attaining their early growth target on ACCESS for EL

1f. Demonstrate a range of communication and social skills to interact effectively

1g. Increase proficiency on district and state assessments

1h. Increase course offerings and extended-learning opportunities to meet students’ needs and interests

1i. Invest in curricula/materials that support instructional best practices for grade-level proficiency

1j. Students exhibit soft skills

1k. District will establish a portrait of a LCS graduate

Performance Measures:

• 9 month attendance report
• ELLs test data
• Counselor/mental health referral
• Social and emotional learning checkpoints
• Decrease student discipline referrals
• Report card scores
• ACAP, ACT+ Writing, ACT Workkeys data
• Master Schedule
• Increase the number of students attaining a college and career indicator

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Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

Goals:

2a. Maintain opportunities for community and parental involvement.

2b. Foster staff, parent relationships that support student learning.

2c. Improve communication with and among parents, teachers, students, and community partners.

2d. Seek and expand community partnerships to support the district’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.

2e. Maintain and strengthen relationships with post-secondary partners.

2f. Maintain and strengthen Career Technical Center for local business and industry.

Performance Measures:

• Develop a communications plan to be shared with schools, community, and stakeholders
• Surveys
• Advisory Council meetings
• Continued involvement in Chamber and Economic Development
• Agency meetings
• Individual schools will maintain partnerships with business and industry
• Increase parent/teacher communication in PowerSchool

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Resources and Operational Effectiveness

Goals:

3a. Continue to promote student safety through training, programs, and well- maintained facilities

3b. Continue to maximize the use of financial resources to strengthen operational efficiency and effectiveness

3c. Continue to maintain an adequate fund balance

3d. Enhance and maintain the system’s transportation services

3e. Continue to provide current and relevant technology resources in support of a student-centered learning environment

3f. Continue to provide facilities that support and enhance the educational program

Performance Measures:

• Safety plans
• Safety programs
• Monthly budget review
• Monthly financial statements
• Audit
• State inspections
• State Transportation Plan
• Fleet renewal
• Preventative maintenance
• Inspections
• Technology resource purchases
• State Technology Plan
• Technology inventory
• Network analytics
• School capacity and enrollment
• Building assessments
• Aggregate age assessments
• Facility enhancements

Quality Staff & Professional Development

Goals:

4a. Amplify the exposure of employment opportunities in order to recruit and hire

4b. Expand professional development opportunities relevant to each employee 4c. Increase career development opportunities for employees at all levels

4d. Invest in a process that promotes the retention of qualified personnel

Performance Measures:

• Host an annual career fair
• Attend university recruiting opportunities and events
• Leverage the use of social media to promote employment opportunities,
• certifications, and graduate studies
• Alternate Certification programs in partnership with local universities
• Increase student participation in Teaching and Learning class
• Use Compliance Director to provide mandatory trainings
• Increase emphasis on providing relevant training to support staff
• Promote STEM, NBCT, TEAMS, and other recognized certifications
• Provide awareness of opportunities for graduate studies 100 percent participation in mandatory trainings
• Grow governance leaders through Limestone Lead
• Increase openings for teachers to provide turn around training
• Expand pool of mentors for beginning teachers
• Promote services on advisory committees, leadership teams, and similar district level groups
• New Employee Orientation for all new employees
• New Teacher Academy for all new certified staff
• Mentoring programs for all employees
• Provide an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) for the betterment of employee’s social and emotional health
• Train administrators on strategies to increase employee retention
• Expand employee awareness of available benefits
• Employee satisfaction surveys and exit interviews
• Reduce the percentage of new employees who separate from LCS
• Maintain attendance record at required trainings

Governance

Goals:

5a. Ensure the School Board is up to date with state training

5b. School leaders remain current and knowledgeable on state and federal laws, regulations, and policies that effect school programs, services, and resources for children and families

5c. Leadership will participate in various meetings and conference trainings held by state and national organizations

5d. Governance team will be involved in long-range planning for the district 5e. Maintain and update board policies as needed to reflect current laws and regulations

5f. Maintain board policy to assure system effectiveness and efficiency

5g. Governance team and staff will supervise the evaluation process and improve professional practice

Performance Measures:

• Planned professional development sessions to address pertinent needs of the district
• Code of Ethics/Certificate of Affirmation
• Participate in Alabama Association of School Boards Policy Pipeline
• Documentation of required trainings
• Evaluations of superintendent, principals, and schools
• Continue involvement in District 8 Superintendent meetings and School

Superintendent Association Legislative Assignment meetings