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2008-2010 Strategic Work Focus
 

Adopted by the School Board Nov. 3, 2008

Mission: Provide all students with a relevant and challenging education that prepares them for future success as engaged citizens and contributing members of our world community.

Vision: Students will grow to be world-class learners, engaged citizens and leaders of the future.

Context: On Nov. 5, 2007 the Corvallis School Board adopted the "Corvallis Community Vision for Education." This document, which was developed through a community input process, identifies 17 recommendations for guiding our district improvement work through 2011-2012. In addition, the district has created a three-year Electronic Continuous Improvement Plan (eCIP) that details specific action plans for improving student learning in the targeted academic area of literacy from 2009-2011. It also includes goals related to providing safe and welcoming schools and math growth.

While work continues to support and improve student learning in all academic areas, the eCIP primarily targets district-wide systems, curriculum, staff development, formative assessments and remedial/enrichment support in the area of literacy (reading and writing). Literacy was identified as the focus for three years because this is an academic area that is taught and supported by all teachers regardless of the grade or subject they teach, and literacy skills impact the success of students in all other subject areas.

In the fall of 2008, a Strategic Work Focus was developed to provide an outline for beginning to implement six of the key recommendations found in the Corvallis Community Vision for Education and the District Improvement Plan. The work focus includes two foundational supports and nine different initiatives to improve student learning and district operations. The following tables provide a brief explanation of the different elements of the Strategic Work Focus and report on what has already been accomplished.

STRATEGIC WORK FOCUS GOALS

• Ensure literacy growth for all students Use Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) to assure that all students, those struggling as well as those who are working above standards, achieve growth goals.
  
  Support Reading Coach position to increase opportunities for new teacher support, model teaching, and collaborative lesson planning.
  
  Establish a District Literacy Team to address K-12 writing curriculum and professional development to improve student writing skills.
  
  
• Close the achievement gap
  Support continued implementation of reading curriculum, the development of Systems of Response for students who are struggling and the development of school-based K-12 intervention systems.
  
  Target staff development to support effective instructional strategies that support literacy development for English Language Learners, students with learning disabilities, students living in poverty and minority students.
  
  Develop and implement a preschool literacy program to support parenting skills that lead to school readiness.
• Provide a safe, welcoming environment for all students
  Collect survey data from parents, staff and students to determine district-wide issues and needs.
  
  Analyze district student behavior data to determine staff and student training and school wide behavior plan needs.
  
  Create a diversity and inclusion steering committee to develop an action plan that will include pro-social curricula to address bullying/harassment issues and behavior issues.

 

• Explore career options and opportunities
  Implement the Career Information System (CIS) online program and grade 7-12 graduation requirements, including an individual Personal Education Plan (PEP) that articulates student career interests, goals and a personal "road map" that will lead to successful next steps beyond graduation.
  
  Develop learning opportunities for high school students that prepare them for entering a four-year college, community college, the military, professional technical careers or the work world
  
  Develop and pilot a partnership with the Oregon Construction Craft Laborer Apprenticeship Program located in Adair Village.
• Investigate district sustainability
  Assess and publish current district sustainable practices, systems and learning goals/activities.
  
  Establish a sustainability steering committee to develop an action plan for 2009-2010 and beyond.
  
  Involve the Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative (SOSI) in exploratory work.
• Explore options for teaching personal finance
  Explore opportunities to partner with the Oregon State University College of Business to identify learning outcomes, effective instructional strategies and a means by which all students will learn important personal finance skills during high school and possibly, in middle school.
  
  

STRATEGIC WORK FOCUS: FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORTS

• Hire and support quality staff
  Recruit from across the state and nation the best teachers, administrators and classified staff that have the training and experience to work with the changing needs and demographics of our students and families.
  
  Provide new staff with mentoring support -- including training, coaching and supervision -- throughout the probationary employment period.
• Use dedicated state School Improvement Funds and targeted levy dollars to keep classes size as small as possible
  Ensure that students are known by their teacher and school staff.
  
  Increase the opportunity for students to get the one-on-one help they need.
  
  Create better opportunities for self-directed learning based on student interests, talents and goals.
  
  
  

STRATEGIC WORK FOCUS:  OPERATIONS INITIATIVES

• Transition to new employee insurance provider In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed a new law requiring that school districts use the same health insurance provider. The transition to the new OEBB insurance was completed in the fall of 2008 for some of our district employee groups.

• Excise tax decision
  
  The school board deliberated on whether or not to adopt a new construction excise tax to create revenue to address building capital improvement needs. This new legislation required that the district work with the City of Corvallis and Benton County to structure the collection of the tax in a way that would work for all parties involved. The district's Long Range Facilities Master Plan Committee, which included knowledgeable community members, recommended the school board take this action and board members adopted the Excise Tax agreements during their September 2008 meeting. Collection of the tax, however, will not be implemented until September 2009 in response to community concerns about the current economy.
• Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Title programs and civil rights monitoring review visit
  The district participated in two state compliance visits in the fall of 2008 to assess the district's adherence to federal requirements and services to students. As a result of the visits, the district received commendations in several areas including high school students from our minority groups reported feeling like they were treated with respect and were included in decision-making. Some improvements are required, including publishing our non-discrimination policy online and in student handbooks.
• School implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) School administrators and staffs are engaged in a school improvement initiative referred to as Professional Learning Communities (PLC). Schools are working in one or more of three PLC areas: A focus on learning (Covering content is not as important as ensuring that each student learns and masters essential skills.); data-driven decisions (School and classroom decisions need to be made after assessing the learning needs of individual students.); and collaboration (Teachers need time to discuss their individual impact on student learning and to share effective strategies and approaches. Teachers meet in teams to serve the needs of all students at a particular grade level or in a secondary course.)
• Leadership development
  Administrator training in support of the implementation of the newly adopted Certified Professional Growth process includes classroom observation techniques and coaching conversations that lead to professional growth.
• Collection of parent / teacher conference data
  In response to concerns expressed during the 2008-2009 Calendar Committee process, the district collected parent/student/teacher data this school year to use to determine what changes are needed to create more effective parent/teacher communications about student learning. Changes will be implemented in the 2009-2010 school year.
• Implement new technology systems: Student Information System (SIS) and Business Information System (BIS) The district is partnering with the Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District, the Corvallis School District to implement two new data systems that include a number of new software programs. The Student Information System (SIS), launched in the fall of 2008, organizes data such as student attendance, behavior incidences, achievement results and progress reporting. It also offers a Web-based parent portal that allows parents to access grade book and attendance/tardy data online. The Business Information System (BIS) includes such key components as human resources, payroll, general ledger, budget and fixed assets, and will provide opportunities to streamline work flow processes, increase data analysis functionality, strengthen internal controls and enhance online customer service to staff. BIS training began in January 2009 for a planned transition to the new software during the summer months.

• Lincoln K-8 School - Full program review
  Lincoln Elementary School became a K-8 school at the start of the 2006-2007 school year and additional resources were dedicated to the school to support implementation of the middle school grades through the 2008-2009 year. The district conducted a review of all Lincoln School programs including the middle school, dual immersion and after-school programs. The superintendent has recommended the school's current programs may continue, but new expectations have been placed on Lincoln's staff and leadership to improve student learning and behavior. Student achievement will be reviewed regularly and progress benchmarks are in place for June 2010 and June 2011.
• Continued and improved community engagement and district public relations/communications
  The district has developed a plan to increase communication with parents, community and district staff. The goal is to keep the community better informed about student learning, program development, district challenges and learning opportunities. The district also would like to increase opportunities for patrons to communicate their issues of concern to district staff. In support of this work, a part-time Communication Specialist was hired to assist with development and implementation of the plan. Due to budget concerns, this position has not been renewed for 2009-10, but several of the new communication strategies and tools put into place will hopefully continue.
  
  

Looking Ahead to Next Year (2009 - 2010)
Ensure growth for all students in the areas of math and problem-solving, including closing the achievement gap between various student populations.

Review current curriculum to prepare students to participate in a global culture and economy, including developing an understanding and appreciation for different cultures and their systems and expanding world language programs offered at various grade levels.  
 

Review data from parent/teacher conference review and refine the process, considering implications for the district calendar