2025-2026 Board Goals:

Student Achievement

 

OBJECTIVE: Oversee and support the Superintendent and district to improve student proficiency through teaching and learning, programs and initiatives that increase the number of students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations. Celebrate all levels of student achievement by recognizing various forms of success, including academic excellence, personal growth, perseverance, and contributions to the school community.  

1. Require the Superintendent to:
1. Identify student achievement gaps and areas for improvement and to Implement/enhance targeted support programs. 
2. Create a plan for sustaining progress, including ongoing monitoring, resource allocation, and program updates. Plans should include, but not be limited to expanding access to academic support services, such as mentoring, peer tutoring, and other resources and tools the district has or is available.
3. Establish annual student achievement targets, analyze data, and provide progress updates to the Board.
4. Evaluate the success of intervention strategies and Identifying successful outcomes and approaches for district-wide implementation and expansion.
5. Continue to recognize student achievements through programs and initiatives that highlight multiple forms of student success that may include but are not limited to: academic improvement, leadership, creativity, and community involvement. Report out on the student recognition program regularly at Board meetings.
2. The Board in collaboration with the Superintendent should ensure Board policies support access to high-quality instruction and equitable resources across all students and schools and by reviewing applicable policies on a bi-annual basis or as needed or recommended.
3. The Board should use progress reports to inform governance decisions, policy updates, resource allocations, and strategic planning for continuous improvement.
4. Require the Superintendent to ensure that policies, evaluations, programs, and initiatives are implemented, maintained, and performed in a standard and consistent and equitable manner across all schools and grade levels.

 

Enhance Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

 

OBJECTIVE: Ensure transparent, consistent, and inclusive communication between the district and stakeholders, and maintain policies that foster productive engagement with students, families, staff, and the community.

1. Create opportunities (virtual, digital, or in-person) to enhance the connection with families, students, and community members and encourage open dialogue, fresh ideas, and real collaboration on the issues that matter to the community, the district, and the board.
2. Require the Superintendent to provide regular updates on stakeholder engagement activities, including staff, parent, and community feedback mechanisms. These updates can occur at Board meetings or through Board and District communications. 
3. Discuss community feedback and ensure the Board considers the feedback to guide its policy review and priority setting. 
4. When needed or on a bi-annual basis review policies and practices that ensure public access to Board decisions, committee reports, and district initiatives.
5. Support community engagement efforts by attending graduations, end-of-year celebrations, town and community events and forums, and school events as elected Board members.  Regularly report out at Board meetings who the Board or Board members are meeting this objective.

Foster a Safe and Respectful School Environment

 

OBJECTIVE: Ensure that district policies, programs, and practices foster safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments. The Board will oversee the development, review, and enforcement of policies that address bullying, discrimination, and hate, while promoting a culture of empathy, respect, and accountability.

 

1. Model respectful, empathetic, and kind interactions among Board members and with the community, reinforcing the culture of civility and accountability the district seeks to instill in its students and staff.
2. Review and revise, if applicable, district policies related to the Code of Conduct, Bias Related Acts, and Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying to ensure they are comprehensive, age-appropriate, and consistently applied across all schools.
   Support and monitor district initiatives that raise awareness about bullying prevention and respect for others, ensuring alignment with policy.
   Require regular reports at the Board meetings from the administration evaluating the effectiveness of district programs.  Reporting should also include recommendations on program success, recommendations for changes, and if needed, how Board oversight can support the District or program through current or new policies.
   Encourage the integration of respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, positivity, and kindness into district activities by recognizing schools and individuals that exemplify these values.
3. Engage in ongoing Board professional development on topics—including bullying (including cyber), discrimination, and hate so as to strengthen the Board’s knowledge and experience on these matters and better inform its policy making role. Commit to reviewing related policies regularly, and at least bi-annually, to ensure accountability, relevance, and continuous improvement.

Promote Fiscal Responsibility and Resource Allocation

 

OBJECTIVE: Oversee the responsible use of district resources to maximize student outcomes, support high-quality programs, and maintain long-term financial stability. The Board will ensure budget processes are transparent, strategic, and aligned with district priorities.

1. Approve budgets that align with Board and district goals, anticipate future needs, and address fiscal challenges such as funding fluctuations and rising costs.
2. Require the administration to provide budget presentations and opportunities for community understanding of budget priorities, processes, and decisions.
3. Monitor the use of performance data and program evaluations in resource allocation decisions to ensure funds support initiatives with demonstrated impact on student learning and well-being.
4. Encourage, support, and identify opportunities for additional revenue sources, including, but not limited to, grants, partnerships, and shared services, that also align with district mission, vision, goals, and policies and reduces the current or future funding burden on taxpayers.

Policy Development

OBJECTIVE: Establish, create, review, and maintain policies that address educational challenges, ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, and reflect the needs of students, families, and the community. The Board will ensure that policies are clear, age-appropriate, and effective in guiding district operations.

1. Hold Policy Committee meetings monthly, or as needed, to review and update district policies for need, compliance, clarity, and effectiveness.
   
2. Engage and support clear communication of new or revised policies to the community, with supporting resources when appropriate.
   
3. Set a schedule of annual reviews of key policies that align to the Board’s priorities established at the onset of the calendar year to ensure ongoing relevance and fit of the relevant District and Board policies.  Report back to the full Board on recommended updates and new policies needed.
4. Establish, maintain, and adhere to accountability measures that monitor the consistent enforcement of policies across the district and require administration to address identified issues.
   
5. Through the work of the Policy Committee, review existing Board policies to strengthen language around policy compliance and enforcement. The policy Committee should identify policies that need to be addressed based on Board input and priorities and recommend improvements.