Brookfield School District Looks Back, Plans Ahead

Following community surveys, assessments and a series of meetings to design the goals and core values for Brookfield Schools, Assistant Superintendant Genie Slone presented the district's Strategic Plan for the next five years to the Board of Education (BOE) at a meeting on August 18. The plan will be evaluated by the BOE and, pending approval, will serve as a guide for administrators and teachers throughout the district.

As Slone explained in her presentation to the Board of Education, the purpose of the strategic plan includes the following:

• To meet state and federal mandates for 100 percent student proficiency;
• To provide our children with the best education possible;
• To determine where we are now and how we can improve;
• To ensure that all of our students are being adequately educated.

The overall mission of the Brookfield Public School District, if the plan is approved, will be as follows:

Every student is empowered to become proficient in 21st Century skills through rigorous, relevant and comprehensive educational experiences, expansive student opportunities and active community involvement.

The plan was developed by a 23-member committee including school administrators, teachers and high school students, members of the Board of Finance (BOF), BOE and members of the community. In a series of seven meetings held in 2010, the committee evaluated the previous plan, taking into consideration the results of a community/parent survey and other relevant data.

The Strategic Plan covers all areas of the educational system in Brookfield, from curriculum and assessment to character development, life skills and citizenship. There are three major goal areas — Student Success, Student Wellness and Student Readiness — which are based on 11 core values.

Board Member Ray DiStephan voiced concern that it would be difficult to handle pursuing so many different goals in a short amount of time. "This is really big," said DiStephan. "I have to wonder if it is really attainable."  It was not clear in the presentation how the plan would be implemented in the district. "The three goals sound manageable, but when you look at the subsections of each of these goals, is there a strategy to meet these goals?"

Slone explained that many of the goals and values are already being put into action as part of the previous strategic plan. The new plan will move the programs forward in the future.

Superintendent Anthony Bivona suggested setting up a workshop with the BOE and members of the committee to foster a better understanding, examine the plan together and clarify the points and processes used to develop and implement the plan.