THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260287
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
LENGTH: Long : 117 lines
THINGS TO DO
1. Emphasize, deploy and implement the Strategic Plan of the Portsmouth Public Schools. Make it the highly visible centerpiece of improvement of our district. Ensure that School Improvement Teams have a plan that is aligned with the Strategic Plan and that the items they work on enhance the implementation of the Strategic Plan. Ensure that presentations by School Improvement Teams to the School Board address the Strategic Plan and how the School Improvement Team's efforts do indeed enhance it.
2. Continue plans for implementation of ``Community Schools'' to start September 1995.
3. Continue to emphasize the Effective Schools Model, ``CAMEL,'' and its applicability to the School Improvement Teams' efforts.
4. ``RED, WHITE & BLUE'' CHART: Continue efforts to design an education system that provides the appropriate services to all of our customers.
5. Management Study for Reallocation of Assets & Resources
Convert excess property
Joint study leading to cooperation with Norfolk Public Schools
Share services with the Portsmouth City government
6. Design a plan to improve the image of Portsmouth Public Schools.
7. Continue the use of ``other'' contract management such as energy management, vehicle maintenance, etc.
8. Explore methods of creative fund raising.
9. Continue to refine and use the performance assessment systems for principals, teachers and all other employees.
10. Improve courtesy, professionalism and customer focus in every office that deals with the public. This shall be a mandatory item for every School Improvement Teams' action plan.
11. Update the VSBA and Portsmouth Public Schools policy manual(s). Study the possibility of an ``employee handbook'' (low priority).
12. Explore the best ``system'' of alternative schools.
13. Design a fair and consistent across-the-system, rewards and recognition for our employees.
THINGS TO PUT ON HOLD
1. Contract management (privatization)
2. Site-based management
3. Enterprise zones MEMO: Related stories on pages 10 and 11.
ILLUSTRATION: Chart
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE SCHOOLS\ GOALS
The Portsmouth Public Schools will:
Provide effective instruction in all classrooms, pre-K-12.
Develop and implement a quality curriculum which will provide
opportunities for all students to compete in a global society . . .
will reflect the process skills of thinking, communicating,
collaborating, quantifying and problem-solving . . . will reflect
cultural diversity . . . will ensure opportunities for all students
to acquire academic skills . . . will emphasize the development of
the student competencies.
Decrease the difference in the scores between white and black
students. There is no research to verify inherent differences in
ability between ethnic and racial groups. However, a significant
difference in test scores exists between African-American and White
students . . . Therefore, a vital goal . . . is to eliminate this
difference while raising the test scores of all students.
Establish long-term cooperative partnerships with the community
to provide for meaningful involvement with the school system.
Maximize opportunities to recruit, employ, retain, and develop
employees in a work environment where all employees experience
success.
Provide drug and weapon-free workplaces.
Develop and communicate measures used to assess
accountabilities.
Improve the monitoring process of all staff to ensure the
implementation of curriculum.
Identify impact indicators to measure our school system.
Assess or evaluate programs on a continuous basis.
Increase levels of performance for all students taking national
and state tests. District performance is expected to meet or exceed
state and national averages for all students, regardless of race,
gender, or socioeconomic status. National tests include the
Scholastic Aptitude Test. State tests include the Iowa Tests of
Basic Skills, Literacy Passport Test, and Tests of Achievement and
Proficiency.
OBJECTIVES
Update the Performance Assessment System (PAS) for all
employees.
Develop and implement a menu of staff development opportunities
that are closely aligned to effective instructional practices as
contained in the PAS.
Develop a timeline for transforming the school system into one
that prepares students whose capabilities are equal to any in the
world.
Establish a systematic plan to start raising and closing the
variance of test scores among black and white students.
Create a public relations committee to ensure the flow of
information in regard to the activities of the school system, which
will promote open communications between the public and the system.
Develop a timeline for implementing a plan to improve student
achievement as currently measured by the Outcome Accountability
Project.
Develop a plan to evaluate all instructional programs. This
includes the consistent and continuous evaluation of instructional
programs for quality, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with the
district's strategic plan. Examples of these programs include
subjects, grade levels, reading recovery, instructional techniques,
Bridge, etc.
Form a task force with our local housing communities to set up
after-school study programs.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD PORTSMOUTH SCHOOLS by CNB