NR-S School Board outlines long range strategic plan for 2023-27

The New Rockford-Sheyenne School Board is currently reviewing plans for the next four years, with a final vote to come at their next regular board meeting.

The NR-S board first began the strategic planning process by hiring a consultant, Jeffry Schatz, and by forming a planning committee.

The planning committee met with Schatz three times this summer to come up with the plan, and a writing team was assembled to draft the official document presented to the board on Monday, Nov. 13.

“Our strategic plan aims to create a clear strategic focus for supporting student learning built upon foundational practices driven by strategic direction, consistency, and achievement outcomes,” the plan states.

“We have prioritized what matters most and identified the strategic focus needed for students to succeed. Our strategic plan will be a roadmap to ensure students are ready for the next stage in their lives when they graduate. Ultimately the school district will be one that students and staff are proud of and one that our community supports.”

The plan’s stated mission is to “promote a caring and safe environment for all staff and students,” while the overall vision is to “educate students using innovative, relevant, and rigorous curriculum so that our graduates are ready to be employed, enlisted or enrolled.”

The plan then sets out a list of core values:

• Trustworthiness

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Fairness

• Caring

• Citizenship

The essential 21st century skills they’ve identified for the high school graduates of today are then outlined, which include collaboration, leadership and responsibility, resilience and grit, communication, and critical thinking.

From there, most of the plan is structured around three “strategic anchors,” each of which come with several goals and strategies.

The first anchor is high quality instruction.

“Lessons will be designed to increase student engagement,” the plan states. “Lesson plans will reflect personalized rigor, collective relevancy including appropriate student feedback in a timely manner.”

One of the goals for the first anchor is professional learning, with several strategies including student support teams as well as induction and mentoring programs for staff.

The second anchor is a safe and supportive environment.

“Creating a positive learning environment created by students, staff and the district as a whole, will assist students with their social/emotional wellness and create positive relationships between student and staff.”

The second anchor’s goals are a positive learning environment, effective communication and faculty and student engagement.

Some of the strategies listed to achieve those goals include implementing a student/staff advocacy program and using technology to keep staff, students and parents up to date on current events.

The third and final anchor is “operational excellence,” which includes the goals of long-term facilities planning, long-term financial planning and enrollment and demographic study.

On financial planning, the plan states, “We believe proactive and comprehensive financial planning is a foundation for district success. Therefore, a plan will be created to illustrate past and current practices and future assumptions for the school district’s finances.”

The board unanimously passed a first reading of the plan during their November meeting, with the understanding that they’ll study it more ahead of their meeting in December, when they’ll hold a discussion before ultimately voting a second time to adopt the plan.