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Kentfield School District's Three-Year Strategic Plan and Implementation Schedule

In the Fall of 2006 the Board of Trustees identified the need for a three-year strategic plan for our school district. The purpose of the plan is to align our stakeholders while setting near and longer-term direction and priorities for the operation of our schools. A strategic plan was subsequently developed over a three-month period by a task force comprised of representative voices from all of the important constituent groups in our district. Data from recent parent and staff surveys, background information on our district and a focus on external and internal factors affecting our school district over the next three years were all considered in developing the plan.

The Board of Trustees formally adopted the strategic plan at the February 2007 board meeting. The next step was to create a three year implementation schedule to support the strategic goals in the plan.

An implementation task force undertook the job of creating the action steps that make up the schedule. In total there are over 50 steps in the schedule, which provide specificity and accountability for the plan.

The Board of Trustees formally adopted the implementation schedule in the spring of this year, completing the process. The Kentfield School District now has a comprehensive strategic plan that will guide the work of our new superintendent Mary Jo Pettegrew, administration, and staff. The plan communicates our goals and sets the direction for our entire school community. It reflects the voices of our many stakeholder groups.

Should you have any questions about this process or the attached strategic plan, please feel free to contact our Superintendent Bob Caine (through July 1), Mary Jo Pettegrew, or any member of the Board of Trustees. The Board appreciates all of the individuals who contributed their time and good thinking to this important initiative.

• Adopted Strategic Plan (revised 5/4/2007)
• Strategic Plan Implementation Schedule

School Board

The Kentfield School District is governed by a five-member, elected Board of Trustees. Trustees serve for four-year terms. The Board holds public meetings once a month, and welcomes public comment and involvement. See the Board Meetings page for more information.

Strategic Goals and 2006-2007 Objectives

Strategic planning provides a systematic, thoughtful, focused and forward-looking approach to prioritize time as well as financial and human resources for the coming school year. The Board of Trustees approves the strategic goals and objectives, and the Superintendent is responsible for working with staff, parents and community members to design programs and activities and a timeline to implement the objectives.

Teaching

Recruit and sustain an excellent group of teachers and administrators, support their development, hold them to high performance standards and assure they have the resources to meet their objectives.

Assure smooth transition of District leadership.

• Governance Team: Implement Governance Team workshops, have team participate in the CSBA Masters in Governance Program, and evaluate the effectiveness of the Governance Team.
• Staffing: Continue Succession Planning for all administrative and teaching positions.
• Teachers: Develop pathways to build teacher leadership, such as co-chairs from Bacich and Kent to provide leadership for the K-8 Curriculum Committees.
• Planning: Implement a two-year strategic plan which addresses major issues and develops a more comprehensive strategic planning process to begin in '08-'09.

Emphasize teaching excellence.

• Encourage self-evaluation and alternative evaluation methods and evaluate the impact annually.
• Provide incentives for continuing education through negotiations process (National teacher's certificate, Masters, Doctorate).
• Implement 360* evaluation with the administrative team and evaluate the impact annually.

Recruit and sustain outstanding teachers, particularly in the areas of Math and Science.

• Expand the network of interested and qualified teachers to meet specific needs for '07-'08.
• Utilize "Reasons to Come to Kentfield" on the website and at recruiting events.
• Implement 5 year staff development plan that is aligned to curriculum priorities and honors innovation and engagement.

Student Learning and Achievement

Provide an exceptional educational program by offering rigorous academic classes and a variety of enrichment opportunities for all children so that all children attain a well-rounded education. Incorporate character education lessons with clear goals and natural consequences into every aspect of the school community.

Evaluate and define curriculum/program for the next five years.

• Evaluate Kent and Bacich curriculum implementation focusing on the new program at Kent, with input from staff, parents, and trustees.
• Institutionalize the Outcomes Document for overall program evaluation with a quarterly update to the Board.

Incorporate Character Education lessons with clear goals and natural consequences into every aspect of the school community.

• Implement a community service requirement for all students in grades K-8.
• Train at least twenty teachers, administrators and parent leaders in the Character Counts staff development program to serve as "Trainer of Trainers" and provide the opportunity for staff to plan and implement a meaningful and relevant program.
• Improve teacher/parent communication about the character education program and how parents can be supportive at home.

Integrate support programs and related staff, administration and Board development throughout the system with an implementation plan for each of these areas:

• Meeting needs of all students (All Kinds of Minds)
• Character Education
• Technology
• New teachers

Communications

Build and sustain parent, staff and community awareness, understanding, confidence, and trust in the Kentfield School District.

• Since the parcel tax will expire on June 30, 2009, develop a plan to prepare the community and the District for the Parcel Tax Election in Spring '08.
• Maintain a lively and comprehensive parent education program with areas of emphasis appropriate to each grade level.
• Develop and implement revised policies and procedures to improve staff and parent communication utilizing the Spring '06 parent communication survey.
• Utilize targeted surveys to gather feedback on current programs and to provide a "voice" to staff and parents in the planning process and to provide direction for future strategic planning.
• Coordinate survey efforts in the District to develop one comprehensive, annual survey for both parents and staff, with a system in place for the administration and Board to conduct periodic surveys as needed.

Classroom Allocation

The Board is working on short term and long term solutions to the problem of classroom allocation. Click the links below to find more information

• Summary of issues and Board actions
• Q & A prepared by Superintendent Bob Caine