Schools
School Board Identifies Goals for 2011-12
Budgeting process, leadership development, personal and professional growth and student achievement among top goals this school year.
In comparison to other school districts across the state, the South Washington County School District ranks at the top in numerous academic and financial management categories, but there’s still room for improvement, according to Superintendent Mark Porter and school board members.
In order to maintain that attitude of continuous improvement, Porter and the school board at the Sept. 8 meeting outlined a list of goals for this school year.
Porter offered a handful of areas in which the school board should focus its attention—the budgeting process, leadership development, personal and professional growth and student achievement.
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The district budget fluctuates for a variety of reasons from year to year, and Porter said he, the board and finance department staff would be diligent about managing the district’s funds over the coming year and into the future.
He said he would like to see a process developed to analyze how and where funds should be used over the course of numerous years.
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“There’s some strong indications to look at our long-term financial stability,” Porter said. “This is one that’s kind of underway—we’re going to be bringing some information to the board later this month on how we see the budgeting process moving ahead.”
Porter also stressed that if any of the district’s schools fall behind in terms of academics, district officials will step in and work to improve any under-performing schools.
“The district will work to improve that,” he said. “There’s a high level of involvement at the district level. We don’t want anybody down in that lowest category.”
School board member Leslee Boyd also outlined goals the school board hashed out during retreat July 7.
One goal that garnered some discussion among the board was how to improve communication, both within the district and with the district’s constituents.
The board deemed it important to outline programs and opportunities for the district to communicate via cable and web-based broadcasting to both audiences.
Board member Ron Kath said he was in favor of improving communication across the district.
“I think it’s viable,” he said. “We want to make sure the community knows what we’re doing.”
In addition to the strategic goals outlined at the meeting, the board also decided more involvement at area schools by its members is integral to educational success.
Having each school board member participate in two or more activities or events at their assigned building locations per year was another bullet point mentioned.
“We’re trying to encourage the board members to connect with their assigned buildings,” Porter said. “We’d also like the board members to communicate with their assigned building principals.”
Toward the end of the discussion, board member Marsha Adou prompted board members and the public to maintain a healthy discourse to improve achievement in the district.
“I think communication is really, really important,” she said. “Sometimes we get in our own little worlds. I don’t think we can ever communicate too much.”
To review more of the board’s goals for this school year, click here.