School Board and Administration set strategic planning timeline, including public forums

The School Board on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 endorsed Superintendent Samuel T. King's timeline and process for developing a five-year strategic plan for Norfolk Public Schools.

The process will take almost a year and will be led by Dr. Linda Sevigny, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, who joined NPS August 13 and is a nationally certified strategic planner. The Panasonic Foundation, NPS' longtime partner, will help facilitate.

Activities commence with public forums on August 28 at 6 p.m. at Norview High School and September 12 at 6 p.m. at Ruffner Academy.

All parents, staff members and citizens who are interested in assisting NPS with a strong, five-year plan for school improvement are invited to participate.

The plan will be drafted by a district-level strategic planning committee, which will be a group that is representative of a microcosm of the community, along with a series of action teams working on specific components of the plan.

The strategic plan's first effective year will be 2013-2014.

For 2012-2013, the School Board adopted seven Board and division priorities, which are:

• Ensure Full Accreditation
• Increase academic achievement of all students, raising the floor and ceiling simultaneously to close achievement gaps
• Improve climate, safety and attendance
• Become a Board of distinction
• Promote Norfolk Public Schools to reflect outstanding accomplishments of staff, teachers and students
• Develop and coordinate a capital improvement plan for facilities and technology to enhance teaching and learning
• Attract, retain and help to develop strong academic families and highly qualified teachers and staff

Dr. King and the Administration are working on an action plan to be delivered to the School Board in September. The plan will spell out how the priorities will be met for the coming school year while the strategic plan is being developed.