To: School Committee
From: Bella T. Wong
Re:  System Goals, 2009-2010

These values represent the essential and enduring commitments of the Wellesley Public Schools:

• Academic excellence
• Cooperative and caring relationships
• Respect for human differences
• Commitment to community

Ongoing Initiatives

1. Continue to review our use and integration of technology into our instructional programs and support services and to assess its effectiveness, including lessons learned from the middle school laptop initiative.
2. Continue collection and analysis of pertinent data to review and implement practices that support the successful school experience of our Boston students.
3. Continue implementation of recommendations included in the high school NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) Report. 
4. Continue to assess students’ work to check on their attainment of learning goals and develop a shared understanding of standards.
5. Implement and monitor general intervention and special education programs to create an effective continuum of services, Pre-K through grade 12.  Assess the need for expanded support and training.     
6. Monitor implementation of English Language Learner (ELL) programs at the elementary and secondary levels. Assess the need for expanded support and training.
7. Continue the K-12 English/Language Arts curriculum review.
8. Implement the recommendations of the K-12 Performing Arts curriculum review.
9. * Identify, assess and implement strategies and community resources to address factors that negatively impact the physical and emotional health of students and impede their success in school.
   
   New Initiatives
   
   
10. Assess the Classical and Modern Languages program, district wide, toward assuring student preparedness for the 21st century.
11. Develop protocols to monitor student progress and to provide general education interventions consistent with federal RTI (Response to Intervention) requirements prior to possible referral for special education.  Determine the scope of additional funding, if required.
12. Implement K-2 Investigations 2nd Edition elementary mathematics curriculum, including professional development.
13. Define a vision for 21st century skills and develop a plan for implementation.
    • Ensure consistent and proper documentation of K-12 curriculum.
    • Monitor and support expansion of district wide intensive special education program into the high school.
    

1. * Support the superintendent’s plan to spend time in schools with principals, teachers, support staff and students.
2. Support principals and other administrators in their supervision and evaluation of professional staff.
3. Support the recruitment of skillful, Highly Qualified teachers and administrators with an emphasis on increasing the diversity of staff.
4. Assess induction and retention practices for new teachers and administrators.
5. Define a district professional development program to meet the curricular and instructional goals of the district.
6. Support the faculty and administration in their participation in professional development activities to sustain a high level of instructional practice as well as to satisfy state and federal licensure requirements.
7. Support supervision and mentoring of new administrators and facilitate team building for administrative teams in the next year.
   
   

1. * Develop a budget that reflects the needs of students and review means of communication to the public on how our budget and programs support quality schooling.
2. * Support the work of the Permanent Building Committee (PBC) and School Building Committee (SBC) for FY12 completion of a new high school.
3. Support and sustain the integrity of the high school program during construction of the new high school.
4. Complete summer reconfiguration of spaces including five additional classrooms and cafeteria improvements at the high school.
5. Implement short term capital improvement plan, continue to monitor space needs due to enrollment growth and changing educational needs, consider implications for a long-term elementary plan and develop a district-wide Master Plan.
6. Consider approaches to address elementary space constraints including possible redistricting.
7. * Complete middle school feasibility study to address space constraints.  Prepare funding request for renovations and/or additions for possible Special Town Meeting.
8. * Work with the Town Director of Facilities and representatives of the Board of Selectmen to continue to review the organizational structure of our maintenance and custodial staffing to improve short and long-term efficiency and service.
9. * Prepare a follow up report for clarification and analysis of comparative data outlined in the 2009 special education program evaluation.
10. Review technology and staffing resources available to support educational programming for students and overall school operations.   
11. * Continue to monitor the status of impact areas unresolved through the middle school renovation project.
12. Explore the need for increased staffing and technology to support data collection and analysis (in light of increasing accountability requirements, recruiting, enrollments, changing student needs) to inform effective decision making and long range educational planning, including facilitating communications, and professional development.
    
    New Initiatives
    
    
13. Review and update practices and protocols for school to home communications and exchange of information for consistency, effectiveness, and efficiency. 
14. Initiate an annual district report.
15. Continue to refine a pandemic flu plan protocol in collaboration with town departments.
16. Work in conjunction with the Town Facilities Department and other town boards to effect an aggregate reduction in energy use. 

*Joint School Committee/Superintendent Responsibility

Approved by School Committee
September 1, 2009