Journal & Topics Media Group

Dist. 62 Sets Goals For Next Five Years


Victorene King presents a new Strategic Plan draft to the Des Plaines School Dist. 62 Board of Education May 21. Maine West High School student Monroe Torkelson (beck left) and Dist. 62 parent Sheila Yousuf-Abramson (back right), members of the Strategic Plan team, also helped present the new plan.

Des Plaines Elementary School Dist. 62 board members should soon give final approval for a new Strategic Plan meant to guide the district for the next five years.

After months of meetings, analyzing survey results and drafting goals, the 46-member committee tasked with creating the new plan presented a completed document last month, as well as a preview an online system for tracking progress. Beginning in January, the committee, made up of parents, staff, high school students and other community members, met four times, including two day-long retreat sessions. Three surveys were also sent to community stakeholders.

Board member Brian Inzerello said he has received positive feedback about the Strategic Plan process.

“I got a lot of calls from people who did not think they were going to be involved,” he said.

Members of the committee outlined five goals for the district during the May 21 board of education meeting, as well as a mission, vision and core values.

“Empowering confident, future ready learners and productive citizens” was identified as the overall mission, bolstered by a vision to have Dist. 62 viewed as a high-quality education resource by the community. Respect, trust, equity, collaboration, resilience, accountability and continuous improvement were listed as the Strategic Plan values.

Each of the five goals relate to a different subject: student growth and achievement, learning environment, work environment, community communications and resources. They include engaging all students in learning to academic growth and readiness for high school and beyond; providing personal support to develop the skills and confidence to be self-sufficient learners; providing personal support to each staff member; engaging student families and the community as partners; and effectively and efficiently managing district facilities and finances.

Specific strategies for achieving each goal were also presented by the committee, such as increasing personalized learning, expanding early learning options, increasing opportunities for student voice, building trust with staff, partnering with community businesses and guaranteeing facility safety.

Through a partnership with the Consortium for Educational Change, the committee also listed six strategies for measuring indicators, measures and targets for each goal. Another partnership with education consultant ECRA will facilitate a public online dashboard where community stakeholders can see progress on the goals, said Victorene King, director of Strategic Initiatives and Accountability. This will make sure the plan does not just “sit on a shelf,” the team said.

Board of education members are expected to approve the Strategic Plan during their June 18 meeting.

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