Hackettstown Public Schools

Strategic Planning Update

District Goal 1 Student Achievement

Provide opportunities for all learners, through a variety of programs as supported by technology and measured through the administration of benchmark assessments.

Smart boards, laptops ,Waterford software were purchased in the fall of 2013 with grant funds

Implementation of Think Central in fall of 2013January of 2014 student technology surveyUsing 2013 staff tech survey develop and

implement PD for staffOngoing writing benchmark assessments and

online Link- it assessments were implemented in 2013 at HMS

Increase Daily Technology Activities

Student Based Educational Plan

Discussions to begin in the summer of 2014District Administrative Team Guidance, Team Leaders, Lead Teachers

Middle School Honors Level Courses

Discussions began in the Spring on 2013 with HMS teams

2013/2014 school year HMS is piloting 8th grade Language Arts

Ongoing inter-district articulation regarding accelerated 7th grade math and 8th grade algebra 1 with Hackettstown, Great Meadows and Allamuchy

K-4 Benchmarking Assessments

On-going pre and post writing assessments developed and implemented in 2012-2013

Inter-district staff developed assessments are in their first year of implementation with all sending districts Professional Learning Communities took place in the

summer of 2013 with Allamuchy and Hackettstown, building on the inter-district articulation that started in the 2012-2013 school year

Revised Technology Assessment Survey

Will target specific needs and drive professional development Demographics General technology use Specific technology use in the classroom Opinions and attitudes towards technology Areas of improvement/technical needs Additional questions and open ended responses

Early Intervention Literacy Program

Data from the 2013-2014 benchmark assessments will drive the discussion in the summer of 2014

Review, Modify and Adjust

October 2013 PD Common Core ImplementationDecember 2013 PD at HHS for quarterly assessments

developmentJanuary of 2014 Compass LearningEasy Tech curriculum for grades K-4 and assessments in

grades 4 and 8. Spreadsheets Word processing Database Multimedia and presentations Telecommunication and Internet Systems and fundamentals Social and ethical issues

District Goal II Finance and Facilities

Maximize resources of the district to ensure safe, secure technologically advanced schools.

Facilities

A facility study was conducted and received by the district 8/2013

A Director of Security was hired, a report of his findings was shared at the November 2013 board meeting

Specific building level needs have been identified as video surveillance, door access and visitor identification

Central office is working to secure grants that support the district’s goals

Exploring Possibilities for Merging Central Office Staff

Exploring opportunities to share central office personnel in order to streamline procedures for function and utility between sending districts.

The inter-district articulation committee was implemented in 2012-2013. The committee continues to meet and discuss the program of studies for all students.

Preparing for PARCC Regulations

Inter-district collaboration with Great Meadows regarding PD for PARCC readiness

Compliance with NJTrax tech readinessResearching technology vendors for virtual

servers to enhance the network infrastructure and End-Point-Systems to meet or exceed PARCC requirements

Selected to participate on the PARCC field test in the spring of 2014

District Goal III Communication

Embrace, expand and utilize all technological advancements of our global societal shifts as a means of communication from school to home and community are actively and positively involved.

Communication

Currently researching BYOD policyIncreasing communication from school to

home August 2013 new website with enhanced features A parent notification survey will be conducted in

February of 2014 Currently hosting principal forums Special education parental advisory committee Monthly student council meetings at HMS and HHS

Media Center Expansion

Facilities research with Office of Instructional Technology, Business Administrator, Director of Facilities, Building Principals and Media Specialists

Consideration is being given to reorganizing the existing space in the HHS library

District Goal IV Culture and Climate

February 2014 a climate survey will be given to faculty, parents and students building on the information gathered from the February 2013 survey

The results of the study will further our improvement of culture and climate

In the summer of 2014 the HS administration will look to establish a Hackettstown High School alumni forum

The revised student code of conduct was implemented in September of 2013

Student Based Programs

Expanded the middle school lock-in, held at HMS in February of 2013 and will be hosted at GMMS in February of 2014

Looking to implement shadow days for 8th graders as part of their transition to HHS in either the spring or fall of 2014

HMS student council hosted their first ever senior citizen prom

Revised 8th grade open house and hosted the first evening college fair in October of 2013

Dear Hackettstown BOE, Administration and Stakeholders;

We would like to thank everyone for having NJSBA in to facilitate your Strategic Plan for 2013-2018!

It was a pleasure working with all of you. The amount of community members, parents and staff who came out to help plan for the future is a testament of the dedication to the School District.The Strategic Planning Action Plans have now been completed by the Administrative team and will be presented to the board. NJSBA does use the completed Strategic Plan documents as samples for others. These help illustrate what a model Strategic Plan will look like when completed.In one year’s time we advise the Board of Education to invite all of the participants to return, so that the board and Administration may identify what they have accomplished thus far. We do remind you that this Plan is a living document, in that it needs to be reassessed every year. It may need to be “tweaked” in places; responsiveness is a benefit Strategic Planning. In closing, we thank you again for the opportunity to work with the Hackettstown School District in “Planning for the Future” and we wish you much success in the next five years.Warm regards,

Robynn MeehanNJSBA