STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF
June 29, 2006
The School Board of Brevard County, Florida met in
special session on Thursday, June 29, 2006, at 1:00 p.m., at the Educational
Services Facility,
Chairman Robert Jordan called the workshop to order
at 1:10 p.m.
Members Present:
Robert Jordan, Larry Hughes, Janice Kershaw, Bea Fowler, Amy Kneessy
Chairman
The strategic plan will be
reviewed at this workshop and brought back to the Board for formal presentation
on August 8th. Final
adoption of the plan by the Board will be on August 22, 2005. A copy of the slide presentation and all
documentation dealing with the workshop is filed in supplemental minute book
#216, pages 216-68 through 216-145.
Vicki Mace, Director of
Choice Schools, noted that two changes had been made to the end-of-the year report. Goal 2 – Curriculum, Objective Y and Goal 3 –
Workforce, Objective C had changes made to their status. Also, Under Goal 2 – Curriculum, former
Objective S which was removed has been reinstated as new Objective G and
Objective P has been deleted. New documentation will be provided to the Board
at a later date.
Ms. Mace then reviewed the
summary of the progress of the 2005-2006 objectives and reviewed the suggested
new goals and objectives/strategies developed by senior staff. She noted that there are seventy-eight
strategic plan objectives, seven priority strategic plan objectives and eleven
new strategic plan objectives. Each of
the five goals and the objectives attached to each of the goals was reviewed:
Goal 1 – Safe, violence-free schools: one new objective
H. Implement a special security review at least twice per year for
each before and after care program.
Goal 2 - Enhanced curricular
and instructional opportunities: eight new objectives
Q. Update the Special Diploma
Option to increase rigor and relevance for students with disabilities.
R. The district and individual
schools will make adequate yearly progress based on NCLB standards by 2012.
S. Assure high quality early
childhood education programs by attaining the National Association for the Education
of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation for every Step Fourward/VPK, Early
Childhood Education/VPK, and Teenage Parents’ Children Program in the District
by 2009-2010.
T. The third grade FCAT scale
scores will rank in the top five districts in the state by the end of the
2007-2008 school year.
U. Middle school students will
complete a comprehensive career exploratory program beginning in 2007-2008.
V. Develop programs of study
and expand career and technical education offerings to support student
completion of three or more credits in a sequential program resulting in an
industry credential by 2009-2010.
W. Expand opportunities for
students in all parts of
X. Provide a student to
computer ratio of fewer than five students per one modern computer with a
refresh cycle every four years by 2008-2009.
Goal 3 – Management of
projected work force shortages: five new
objectives
L. Use the newly developed DOE
“Inventory of Teacher Technology Skills” to indicate every teacher is
“proficient” in using technology in the classroom by 2008-2009.
M. Human Resources Services
will participate in the APQC benchmarking project in the areas of recruiting,
selecting, and hiring as well as the pilot professional development project by
the end of the 2006-2007 school year.
N. Implement a formal
succession planning and management process.
O. Achieve operational
effectiveness and excellence through meeting the Sterling Award criteria by
June 2008 and the Baldrige Award criteria by 2009.
P. Develop and implement a
comprehensive system of professional development as it relates to the Florida
Staff Development Evaluation Protocol, National Staff Development Council
Standards, and recommendations resulting from participation in the American
Productivity and
Goal 4 – The highest levels
of community and parent involvement: three new objectives
K. Increase the amount of
student and staff generated original programming on Brevard Public Schools
Television (BPSTV) by 2009-2010.
L. Development parent
information links on district website with streaming on key subjects by
2007-2008.
M. Seventy percent of district
funds will be spent in the classrooms by 2010.
Goal 5 – Adequate and
appropriate educational facilities: five
new objectives
F. Create and implement a
scheduled Maintenance Improvement Plan to provide adequate teaching/learning
environments for all schools to complement the 7-Year Facility Improvement
initiative.
G. Provide a science classroom
in every elementary school by 20-10-2011.
H. Provide facility improvement
to support the new Secondary Schools of National Prominence (SSNP) initiative
by 2010.
I.
Create and implement a site improvement plan to include landscaping
enhancement to improve the appearance of all school/district support sites.
J. Increase to 100% the number
of sites that have the infrastructure to support wireless, voice, data, and
video technologies by 2008-2009.
Dr. DiPatri welcomed the
Board’s reaction to the new objectives and noted that all objectives are on the
district web-site.
Robert Jordan pointed out
that Objective 5 – H, the word improvement needed to be plural.
Robert Jordan questioned
Goal 3, Objective O as to meeting criteria only. Dr. DiPatri responded that the Sterling Award
was less rigorous than the Baldrige Award.
Janice Kershaw asked if the Baldrige criteria recently changed to
include the educational aspect. Dr.
DiPatri said he wasn’t sure but he would check into it further.
Amy Kneessy questioned Goal
3, Objective L. Lee Berry and Steve
Muzzy explained that it was a DOE initiative that requires teachers to be
proficient and has been an objective for several years. This is a DOE survey that will require you to
demonstrate sufficiency. It will require
approximately one hour of the teachers time.
Amy Kneessy questioned Goal
3, Objective M. Dr. DiPatri explained
that this was the
Amy Kneessy questioned how
the amount of 70% was achieved when talking about spending district funds in
the classrooms. Dr. DiPatri stated that
the district is currently at 69.57% and since the focus is on spending in the
classroom this figure was chosen but the Board could pick any amount they
wished.
Larry Hughes questioned by
the year 2012 was chosen as the date to reach adequate yearly progress based on
NCLB standards. Brenda Blackburn stated
this coordinates with the NCLB legislation.
He voiced his concern that the sanctions accelerate during that five
year interval. Dr. DiPatri agreed that
the bar to reach AYP goes up each year.
He also stated that the Governor is working on a Florida Growth Model
that staff is watching.
Larry Hughes questioned Goal
2, Objective X on computer ratio having changed from last year. The objective was revised to add a refresh
cycle. Mr. Hughes asked if they were
measuring how much time the computers would actually be used. Steve Muzzy responded that they did not and
Mr. Hughes felt that this data gathering capability needs to exist.
Larry Hughes also questioned
Goal 3, Objective L on teacher proficiency in using technology. He felt that since this is a requirement by
DOE that it did not need to be a goal.
Larry Hughes noted that
Under Goal 4, there was an Objective M, which was deleted, to initiate a study
to determine the feasibility of implementing a revised budgeting process. He remembers that this dealt with zero-based
budgeting and he, along with Bea Fowler, still remains interested in pursuing
this issue. Dr. DiPatri stated that he
had recommended that the AQCP benchmarking, which the Board approved in June,
and felt it is a more sensible tool than zero based budgeting. Amy Kneessy, Janice Kershaw, and Robert
Jordan agreed they were comfortable with the steps Dr. DiPatri is taking but
Robert Jordan cautioned that they need to find ways to reduce the amount of
work given to staff.
Larry Hughes questioned Goal
5, Objective A under Facilities on reducing use of relocatable classrooms. Ed Curry noted SB360 to be implemented in
March 2008 will deal with how they use portables and how they use the permanent
capacity in all schools. This will be
part of the implementation of this bill.
Janice Kershaw questioned
Goal 2, Objective 2 on the increased opportunities for adult ed students to
earn high school credits. She asked if
this involved someone attending high school during the day and also taking additional
courses in the evening. Brenda Blackburn
stated this was correct and that part of this objective was to make students
aware that they had these opportunities.
There is a limit of 3 credits (6 courses) that can transfer back into
the day program. Bea Fowler questioned
if there was enough space available at the adult facilities. Brenda Blackburn responded that current space
adequately accommodates the students but if the program grows they will need to
address it. Bea Fowler suggested
adjusting the objective to create space to meet the demand. Janice Kershaw questioned if providing more
flexible learning environments and schedules would help relieve overcrowding in
the high schools. Brenda Blackburn
responded that they use the adult education programs to supplement the regular
day program not to replace the day program.
It is a comparable program but not the same program.
Robert Jordan questioned the
objective to achieve charter district status by June 2007 and thought there
were problems with this. Dr. DiPatri
stated that the district could now achieve this status but since we have a
school with an “I” designation they do not have the possibility of all schools
with a “C” or above until this is resolved.
Larry Hughes thought the State has decided not to do anymore charter
districts. Judy Preston stated that the
State does discourage this. Dr. DiPatri
stated he would try and get more information on this issue and would possibly
remove this objective.
Robert Jordan wondered if when
they are working on achieving Secondary Schools of National Prominence if they
should annotate in the objectives that relate.
Dr. DiPatri stated this was a good suggestion and stated they would
identify these.
The workshop then moved into
board discussion on their suggestions for new strategic plan objectives. It was agreed that Dr. DiPatri and staff
would review all suggestions and report back to the Board at the August
meeting.
Larry Hughes
1. Add fifth Area
Superintendent. Amy Kneessy stated she
would like to see more Area Superintendent involvement in the schools. Janice Kershaw suggested looking at
comparison data from other counties on how they are structured, along with
other studies being conducted. Robert
Jordan noted that board districts and areas are backwards. Janice Kershaw suggested removing the word
“Add” and replace with “Access the need for”.
2. Provide safe, permanent
classroom facilities by FY07-08. Need to
prioritize to focus on growth and SSNP.
Suggest putting together a committee to look at 7-year plan and involve
the community in priority setting.
3. Beginning planning for
Superintendent succession. Need to focus
on Dr. DiPatri’s replacement.
4. Build a vital, healthy
relationship with Governor’s office.
Need to build a positive relationship.
This is an administrative issue and needs outreach by District
Communication and the Superintendent.
Janice Kershaw also suggested this would also be a goal for the district
lobbyist.
5. Encourage graduation by
asking Brevard business community to pledge not to hire non-graduations unless
they are enrolled in Adult Ed program.
Robert Jordan stated this was very controversial. Janice Kershaw stated the idea has merit but
the wording needed to be more positive.
6. Implement Spanish language
program in every elementary school.
Janice Kershaw
7. Offer entrepreneur
programs/camps and personal finance training.
Would like to see this available to all students at all high schools.
8. Housing availability for
beginning teachers. Lee Berry stated that
this had been turned over to the county staff to make recommendations to the
9. Develop a dance
program. This item was identified as a
gap in the arts program by the Kennedy Center Arts audit several years ago.
10. Reduce teacher paperwork and
tasks. This could be a focus area for
the consultant who does the organizational effectiveness.
11. Increase instructional time
to compensate for later start date.
12. Reduce remediation of
students. Dr. DiPatri stated this would
be one of the measures under Secondary Schools of National Prominence and
probably does not need to be listed.
13. Review and update salary
supplement schedule.
Amy Kneessy
14. Annual review of 7-Year
Facility Plan. She thought this was a
goal from last year. Ed Curry stated
that the board would receive an annual progress report in July. Input will be gathered again in January 2007
with Area Superintendents. SB 360 will
affect the plan. Dr. DiPatri suggested
that staff provide the board with an annual layout of what has occurred on July
1st of each year. Janice
Kershaw suggested distributing the Systemic Calendar to the board each year.
There being no further
questions, the meeting adjourned at 2:53 p.m.
___________________________________
Chairman
ATTEST:
________________________________________
Secretary and Superintendent
of Schools