CHICHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT

2004-05 SCHOOL BOARD GOALS

 

Success in achieving the district’s mission to educate the community’s youth depends upon a cooperative effort among students, parents, staff, administration and school board.  Maximum achievement of that mission requires that high standards and expectations be held for each of these constituencies.  The School Board will take appropriate steps to assure that both our long-range goals, as articulated in the district’s Local Education Improvement Plan, and the School Board’s annual goals consistently reflect and promote a commitment towards high expectations for everyone within our school community.  

 

 

Goal 1             to establish, with strong community involvement, a long-range plan for the use and development of existing and newly acquired school district property, that will appropriately address the needs of the school district and the community

 

            During the 2003/04 school year, an advisory committee of citizens and school personnel investigated possible uses for the parcel of land donated by Barbara Frangione to the School District.  This committee reported their recommendations in December, 2003 to the School Board and in March, 2004 to School District voters.  The committee’s primary recommendation, to begin developing appropriate portions of the donated parcel into an outdoor classroom for the CCS educational program, will constitute our major emphasis for this goal area during 2004/05.  Additionally, the School Board envisions developing a multi-year plan to address existing and anticipated facility and grounds issues in a fashion prioritized with respect to both project necessity and funding availability.      

 

Goal 2            to monitor school district compliance with the federal “No Child Left Behind Act” 

 

            The No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law in January, 2002, and directs substantial reform of state and local educational systems.  As in 2002/03, considerable attention and resources were devoted this past year towards developing a more complete understanding of the specific implications of this law to our school district.  Steps were specifically taken this past year to appropriately deal with the law’s highly qualified educator requirements and with reporting procedures demanded by the law’s adequate yearly progress provisions.  The School Board remains strongly directed in its compliance efforts by the formal declaration of our district voters in March, 2003 that registered concern about how appropriate a balance will be seen between costs incurred by the district, the level of federal funding provided to the district, and the benefits realized by the district as mandated measures are implemented.  The School Board renews its commitment to carefully monitor over the next several years, the steps taken by the district to comply with the edicts of this complex law.  

 

 

Goal 3             to review and revise our district’s Emergency Response Plan in ways that assure its appropriate fit within the community-wide plan  

 

            During 2003/04, the CCS Emergency Response Plan was reviewed and updated by school personnel with input from town officials involved with the Chichester Community Emergency Response Plan.  Important revisions to the school plan were effected, but the involved discourse additionally pointed towards other plan provisions that both school and town should work towards.  Some of these provisions involve a need for resources that may be available from the federal government for community emergency response plan efforts.  The School Board commits to dedicating school district resources towards pursuing both the response measures necessary to protect our community and of available grant funding that enables us to incorporate these measures.

 

 

Goal 4             to actively participate in a study of future options for providing a high school  program for students resident in the five SAU #53 communities

 

            School boards for the five school districts (Allenstown, Chichester, Deerfield, Epsom, and Pembroke) comprising School Administrative Unit #53, discussed this past year the importance of advance planning for a future time when facilities that currently house the programs for all our  high school students are no longer sufficient.  It was decided that a study committee, with representation from each district, should be formed to begin an investigation of:  how far in the future action may be needed, what options exist for dealing with the various issues expected, and what barriers exist, or may at that time exist, to implementing an appropriate plan of action.  The School Board commits to playing a active role on this study committee and to keeping our community apprised of the committee’s efforts and findings.   

 

Goal 5             to institute a student mentoring program at Chichester Central School  

           

            During the 2001-02 school year, Chichester Central School instituted an at-risk plan with a goal of lowering the high school dropout rate.  Steps were taken to infuse the program     into the school culture, where identification was used to measure need and determine strategies for intervention.  Recognizing that resources are not completely housed within     the confines of the school’s walls, the community-at-large will be solicited to become actively involved with the at-risk youth at CCS.  The School Board commits to    dedicating school resources toward creating a program of mentor training in which research based intervention techniques are used, and funding to promote sustained         programming is obtained.