School District of Fort Atkinson

STRATEGIC PLAN

2007-2008

Mission Statement

The School District of Fort Atkinson is committed to delivering the quality opportunities and services each student needs to achieve his or her academic and personal potential.

Objective

The School District of Fort Atkinson and its employees will be recognized and acknowledged as the standard to which other Wisconsin school districts measure themselves.

Educational Philosophy for the School District of Fort Atkinson

The School District of Fort Atkinson believes that academic success, personal growth, and citizenship can be achieved with a solid, focused, educational program supported by caring, competent professionals.

  • A Fort Atkinson education delivers a solid grounding in reading, writing, and mathematics.
  • The language arts curriculum uses materials of superior literary quality and stresses comprehension and analytical skills.
  • The writing program focuses on the principles of English grammar to ensure proper written and oral expression. Under close supervision, students learn to write with style, clarity, and discipline.
  • The mathematics program initially focuses on basic skills so that once mastered, they become a useful tool in solving advanced and analytical problems.
  • Science, geography, and history are integral parts of a Fort Atkinson education and stimulate interest in our world and in our heritage.
  • Music, foreign languages, art, and art history are offered to broaden artistic and cultural horizons and to encourage creativity.
  • Physical education stresses fitness, nutrition, health, and life-long physical activity.
  • Agriculture, business, family & consumer and technology education give students a basis from which to consider future jobs, careers, and/or further courses of study.
  • Co-curricular activities such as music, athletics, drama, and clubs provide opportunities for students to work and interact in groups and on teams. They reinforce the educational program and foster self-discipline, dedication, and spirit.
  • Prevention and intervention strategies are in place to address the emotional and social needs of students.
  • Technology is used to enhance learning.

Beliefs for the School District of Fort Atkinson

  • All people can learn.
  • Learning is a life-long process.
  • The family unit is the primary source of the beliefs and values of its children.
  • Education is a shared responsibility among students, educators, family, and the community.
  • The entire community benefits from its investment in public schools.
  • Schools are accountable to the community.
  • Each person is unique, valuable, worthy of respect, has a right to his/her own beliefs and is responsible for his/her own actions.
  • High standards, challenging expectations, and self-motivation lead to greater achievement.
  • Collaboration, teamwork and competition maximize performance.
  • Attainment of skills and knowledge builds self-confidence and fosters personal growth.
  • A safe, non-disruptive environment is essential to learning.
  • Enhanced learning comes through caring and welcoming environments.
  • Responsible citizenship is essential to the continued development of our society.
  • Individuals learn through different methods and at different rates.
  • Improvement requires change.
  • Education is more than academics.

Academic Goals for the School District of Fort Atkinson

In moving from an academically good school system to an academically great school system, it is a goal of the School District to continue efforts to provide academic successes for all of our learners.

Balanced Literacy – Reading Focus

ELEMENTARY

    • Revise reading curriculum to identify “high impact” skills for each grade level in the following areas: comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, phonics and phonemic awareness.
    • Standardize LIT (Literacy Instructional Team) meetings by providing a consistent framework focusing on staff development and student performance growth
    • Develop a plan to consistently assess the effectiveness of intervention programs which include:
  • definition of a successful intervention
  • growth targets
  • pre and post-data

SECONDARY

  • Define instructional content and strategies for continued improvement of reading instruction in the Language Arts and English classrooms
  • Continue development and implementation of applicable reading interventions for secondary learners

Social Studies

ELEMENTARY

    • Align new social studies curriculum and develop implementation plan for 2008-2009
    • Design delivery model that integrates into the instructional day
    • Create common assessments and clarify social studies report card section

Four-Year Old Programming (4K)

ELEMENTARY

    • Research 4K programming for potential Fall 2008 implementation

The 3 Questions / Professional Learning Communities

SECONDARY

    • Continue individual department’s work with the 3 questions (checklists) – alignment, assessment, intervention and challenge
    • Create a guide for administrators, teacher leaders, teachers and staff to assist in implementing the Professional Learning Community Philosophy and answer the 3 questions:
      • What is it we want students to learn? (alignment)
      • How will we know they have learned it? (assessment)
      • What do we do for students who need more help? (remediation) What do we do for students that need more? (challenge)

Differentiation

SECONDARY

    • Provide staff development on differentiation strategies to equip teachers to better address question #3 (What do we do if a student hasn’t learned or needs more challenge?)

Diversity

ALL LEVELS

    • Address cultural sensitivity and diversity in our schools and community

Fiscal Goals

  • We will reduce spending or increase revenues for a net gain of $100,000 through efficiencies in the 2008-09 budget. This will be done without impacting student programs or services.
  • We will track geothermal energy savings at Barrie, Purdy, and Rockwell to see if savings match up with projections.
  • We will update the 5 year projection.
  • We will project the fiscal implications for offering 4K in the five year projection.
  • We will make October adjustments based on unforeseen events that might occur as a result of enrollment assumptions or other assumptions being different than anticipated.

Building and Grounds Goals

  • Complete HVAC renovations on Barrie, Purdy & Rockwell by end of August 2007.
  • Complete HVAC renovations on Middle school by end of August 2008.
  • Update five and ten year building maintenance plans for the District.
  • Pursue additional energy saving measures such as controls on computers and corridor lighting.
  • Demolish old boilers and asbestos antiquated by the geothermal project and render the areas useable.
  • Continue upgrading the District roofs for wear and energy efficiency.
  • Assess all masonry and establish a restoration and budgetary plan.
  • Report on district wide building usage (October of 2007)

Communication Goals

  • Effectively communicate the academic agenda for 2007-08 to our internal and external stakeholders.
  • Continue to educate the public on the terms (vernacular) we utilize so they understand our messages.
  • Encourage open dialogue with parents and citizens at both the district and building levels.
  • Work with the Chamber and Businesses in building upon our relationships through communication.
  • Establish a legislative relationship with Legislators by establishing quarterly meetings with Communication Committee to discuss important legislation impacting schools in Fort Atkinson.