Westchester Public Schools

Strategic Plan

Mission

The mission of the Westchester Public Schools, District 92½, in partnership with our families and the community, is to provide exemplary instruction with challenging educational experiences for all children. We are committed to promoting academic excellence, creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. Students will demonstrate respect for self, community, and the environment. We expect that students will develop as lifelong learners able to achieve success in a global world.

Vision

All children will be challenged to their full potential and exhibit excellence.

W - Westchester Public Schools expect:

E - Exemplary instruction

S - Support for students, staff, families, and our community

T - Teaching to the whole child

C - Celebration of our diversity

H - High expectations resulting in high achievement

E - Engagement of community partners

S - Sustaining fiscal responsibility

T - Teachers as role models for lifelong learning

E - Encouraging family and community involvement

R - Resources aligned to our vision

Beliefs

Education is a partnership where the ownership and responsibility are shared by the student, family, schools, and community.

We believe:

All children will learn and have opportunities to reach their highest potential
Education provides a wide range of opportunities and experiences to recognize and develop unique talents and abilities
High expectations promote higher achievement
Our learning community respects and celebrates its diversity—we are different, we are one!
Fiscal integrity is our responsibility
Education must address the needs of the whole child
Family and community support are critical for student growth, achievement, and success
Children need a clean, safe, and orderly environment for learning
Our schools are vital community resources
It is important to recognize our successes
The importance of the arts in the curriculum encourages creativity and divergent thinking
Education prepares our children to develop and realize their goals and dreams in our ever-changing global world
Learning is a lifelong process

Board of Education Goals 2009-2014

Board Goal 1: Student Achievement

Utilizing RTI, 90 percent of all students who have attended Westchester School District 92½ for two years or more will meet or exceed state standards in Reading and Math as measured on state tests.

Subgroups that do not reach 90 percent meet or exceed in Reading and Math as measured on state tests will be measured by the 10 percent growth model.

High achieving students (students who score in the top quartile on the Reading Composite and /or the Math Composite on the Terra Nova) will demonstrate consistent improvement in Reading and Math as measured by local assessments.

Data collection and analysis will be utilized to monitor student achievement and social/emotional growth.

Board Goal 2: Staff, Students, and Board of Education Satisfaction

The Board acknowledges the importance of student, staff, and Board of Education satisfaction and its impact on student achievement; therefore, expectations exist for student, staff, and Board of Education satisfaction measurements and action plans.

Board Goal 3: Finances, Facilities, Building and Operations

The District will be fiscally responsible and align all expenses with Board Goals. We believe in education for all students, efficiency in operations, replacement cycles for all assets, implementation and follow through on leases, and investigation of new and additional resources.

To equitably provide the educational materials and resources needed to promote quality education for all District students
To encourage efficient utilization of existing staff, assets and resources
To maximize the cost efficiency of purchasing practices
To develop and implement an effective cycle for maintaining, repairing and replacing the district's assets
To maximize leased assets to support the district's primary goal of funding quality education for District students
To seek additional revenue sources through state and federal grants, endowments and community resources to support quality education in the District
To be fiscally responsible to the citizens of Westchester

Board Goal 4: Building Community

The school district will build partnerships within the school learning community to support students, staff, and families.

Board Goal 5: Technology/Data Management

District 92½ will:

ensure that 90 percent of all students will meet or exceed the National Educational Technology Standards
continue to enhance, educate, and implement current and new technology to support and enrich instruction
maximize the use of our student data systems
maintain the safety and security of the data management and technology systems

Board Goal 6: Systemic Planning and Organization

District 92½ will:

set accountability measures for all Board Goals
mandate a continuous improvement of processes
align all goals
ensure a commitment to recruit, hire, develop, and retain high quality staff
ensure that all goals are accomplished through teamwork and collaboration

Approved by the Board of Education January 22, 2009