4J Board Goals 2007-08

Download a PDF of these goals (76kb)

The agenda for the School District 4J Board of Directors is established in accordance with district policy as a statement of those issues that the board believes are the highest priority for action in the coming year and beyond. It is also a statement of the outcomes and results against which the board will evaluate the district’s and the board’s success. The agenda will be reviewed, and as appropriate, modified at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. Implementing the agenda will be affected by the availability of district financial and staff resources.

I. Student Achievement

Goal: Increase achievement for all students and close the achievement gap

The board is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students to succeed. All students shall enjoy success in school and have the support needed to reach their full potential. In our current system, inequalities exist among schools in terms of their ability to address students’ educational needs. These inequalities affect student performance and contribute to an achievement gap. Some schools, particularly those serving low income and/or low achieving students, may require additional resources to achieve the same student outcomes in terms of meeting district and state academic goals.

The No Child Left Behind Act requires all students to reach state benchmarks by 2014 and all schools to achieve adequate yearly progress in student achievement among all groups of students. The district must act aggressively and proactively to achieve these goals.

Key Results

1. The board will develop and approve goals for 2008-10 that focus on increasing student achievement and strengthening the coherence among district, school and classroom strategies for improving teaching and learning, to include:
   1. The district will implement the district’s Plan for Eliminating the Achievement Gap, by:
      • Monitoring and using student performance data to inform instructional strategies and improve achievement;
      • Providing professional development in research-based best practices that improve instruction and increase student achievement; and
      • Monitoring and using student behavior and school climate data to inform school practice.
   2. The district will develop strategies that ensure staff accountability and recognition for attaining district goals.
   • Articulating a clear educational vision for improving achievement of all students and closing the achievement gap;
   • Eliminating differences in achievement for groups of students with common characteristics like race, ethnicity, gender, English language learner, socio-economic status or disability;
   • Developing, by 2010, content and performance standards which describe the knowledge and essential skills that students should be able to demonstrate by the end of elementary, middle and high school; and
   • Ensuring that our graduates are prepared to succeed in post secondary education, chosen careers and as actively participating citizens.
2. The district will communicate student achievement data to the community and work with the community to develop a shared concern and responsibility for achieving equity in student achievement.
3. The board will advocate at state and federal levels for the district’s vision of education improvement.

II. Stewardship of District Resources

Goal: Provide prudent stewardship of district resources to best support student success

The board will direct district resources to support the instructional core, while maximizing administrative and operational efficiency. The district must also decide how best to respond to declining enrollment and regional enrollment patterns, a student population with more diverse needs, and staff turnover due to retirements.

Key Results

1. The board will complete Shaping 4J’s Future, the district’s strategic planning process, and provide direction in spring 2008 regarding the policies, services and facilities that will best support the district’s instructional goals. The planning process will consider:
   • Declining enrollment, regional enrollment patterns, and changing student demographics and needs;
   • Relocation of alternative schools to better distribute programs and to provide space separate from neighborhood schools; and
   • Emerging instructional issues that impact facilities such as all-day kindergarten, high school restructuring, and changing instructional technology.
2. The board will consider whether to refer a measure to voters at the November 2008 election. This could be a measure to renew the district’s local option levy for operations or a bond measure to fund school and facility improvements as described in the district’s Strategic Long-Range Facilities Plan.
3. The district will increase and maintain the diversity of its staff and implement the district’s Work Force Diversity Plan.
4. In the employee negotiations process, the district will continue to work toward fair and reasonable settlements within our projected financial position.
5. The board will communicate with the community about how the district is funded and how resources are spent.

III. Stakeholder Engagement

Goal: Engage the community, staff, parents, elected officials and other stakeholders in supporting students and schools

In order for the board to provide effective leadership, it must communicate with and establish working relationships with the community, other governmental agencies, site-councils, and staff and engage these stakeholders in supporting our students and schools.

Key Results

1. The board and staff will work with other agencies and organizations to ensure that children receive the educational and related services they need.
2. The district will keep the community fully aware of issues facing the district and engage parents, community and staff members in Shaping 4J’s Future and other district initiatives.
3. The board will expand relationships with community members and engage in meaningful dialogue about improving student achievement, particularly among students who are not achieving their academic potential, and the district’s performance in addressing the needs of all students.
4. The board will maintain close working relationships with schools to ensure two-way communication and awareness of issues facing the district’s schools.
5. The board will work with other local school districts, the Lane County legislative delegation, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and other elected officials and groups to increase public awareness of school funding issues and will build support for strategies that provide adequate and stable state school funding and the local control of schools. The board will:
   • Support or oppose federal and statewide initiatives that deal with the adequacy and stability of school funding and that have an impact on the operations of schools, including unfunded mandates; and
   • Provide leadership in exploring opportunities for school boards statewide to join together to influence state policy regarding school funding and the operation of schools.

Approved Nov. 7, 2007