BOARD GOALS FOR 2005-2006 and Beyond

(Five-Year Plan)

In an environment of mutual respect, the Byram Hills School District and its community will provide students with the means, the knowledge and the opportunity to excel in order to become productive and responsible citizens of the twenty-first century.

The Board of Education strives to fulfill this mission by:

• defining and achieving annual goals which address current issues;
• providing ongoing oversight of program effectiveness;
• reviewing and refining past initiatives;
• using the time and talents of staff and board members effectively.

Our Board and administrators regularly utilize a continuous improvement model in carrying out the work of the district.  This model:

• begins with the premise that, as a school district, we continuously look for ways in which to improve our educational program according to a logical plan for its development and revision;
• includes the following activities:  Study, Plan, Implement, Evaluate, Reflect, Refine/Revise;
• allows us to allocate time and other resources appropriately;
• allows us to identify our expectations in a given year;
• offers the opportunity to address goals which will require more than one year to complete.

    The goals adopted for 2005-2006 and beyond fit into this context of work toward continuous improvement.  Still other ongoing work of the Board of Education and administration is already under way as a result of previous years' initiatives, and will continue even though not explicitly listed as one of the goals for this year's priority.  Examples of this ongoing work include:

·         "Curriculum Conversations" held in conjunction with Board meetings;
·        Finance and facilities management, including careful attention to the challenge of responsible annual budgets, and the building projects currently in process;
·        Communications efforts, including Board accessibility, publications and the new CTV 20;
·        Character education efforts, including service and diversity awareness;
·        Assessment of student work, both through state and federal testing mandates, and through performance measures within the District's own curriculum design;
·        Board review of their entire Policy manual.