Potlatch School District No. 285 130 Sixth St. Potlatch, ID 83855

District Office (208)875-0327 Elementary School (208)875-1331 Jr.-Sr. High School (208)875-1231

Potlatch School District #285 Strategic Plan Board Adopted – 9/2014 Board Reviewed – 8/10/16

Our Vision: We envision a community where the best available tools are used to educate our children in the most efficient and effective way. Our Mission: Our goal is to help our children become academically competitive, technologically literate, motivated, and responsible individuals, who remain positively engaged in the learning process. Our Purpose: The Potlatch School District and the Potlatch community believe that every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment that prepares life-long learners to contribute to our global society. Our Motto: “What’s Best For Kids” District Focus Areas/Strategies (Goals): Focus Area #1:

Academic Achievement

Strategy #1: Increased educational opportunities. - Students will be given ample opportunity to be successful in coursework that will be motivating and challenging. - Class offerings will be increased to address growing needs for dual-credit classes, as well as Honors courses, at the secondary level. - Provide opportunities for enrichment at both the elementary and secondary levels. Strategy #2: Increased academic success. - All students will perform at or above grade level, as measured by local or state assessments. - Students will be given opportunities to receive academic assistance and enrichment through after-school programs. - Research-based curriculum materials and teaching styles/strategies will be utilized that emphasize the mastery of the Idaho Core Standards.

Potlatch School District No. 285 130 Sixth St. Potlatch, ID 83855

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District Office (208)875-0327 Elementary School (208)875-1331 Jr.-Sr. High School (208)875-1231

Student performance will be measured utilizing a combination of growth indicators, observation, and data points.

Focus Area #2:

Leadership

Strategy #1: Professional development opportunities for staff. - Focus professional development opportunities on research-based practices that are designed for high student performance. - The district will provide on-going training for staff to learn the skills necessary to instruct our students and provide them with the tools to be successful in and out of the classroom. - Allow staff to be part of a collegial, collaborative atmosphere where they work together to solve district and community educational concerns. Strategy #2: Create a positive school “culture”. - Develop a philosophy that allows students and staff to work together; placing an emphasis on student learning and student success. - Celebrate and honor those successes. - Administrators will be educational leaders; whose primary focus will be to create a learning environment where students can experience academic success, be safe from harm, and grow into productive citizens. - Provide professional development opportunities for personnel that meet student and district needs. Strategy #3: Recruitment and retainment of effective teachers. - Create a recruiting and hiring system that seeks out the best, most highly-qualified teachers for our district. - Provide a mentorship program that matches new teachers with “master” teachers for a two-year period. This will provide monitoring and growth opportunities for new teachers to develop effectiveness. - Utilize various incentive programs that provide opportunities for leadership premiums, exposure to the school community, and professional development growth. - Develop a competitive salary schedule and benefits package to compete with neighboring school districts – out-of-state, as well as in-state. Strategy #4: Evaluation of personnel. - Train administrators in the use of evaluation and measurement in order to obtain quality teaching and quality instructors. Continue use of the Charlotte Danielson model of assessing “domains” of instruction. - Utilize data to drive decision-making, as well as provide tools that measure high performing classrooms and teachers.

Focus Area #3:

District Facilities

Strategy #1: Develop a “Facilities Plan” for the district’s future. - Create a collaborative document outlining the needs of the district for facility growth and upgrades. This document should be a plan created by administration, teachers, students, parents, the School Board, community stakeholders, and business partners. - Identify and prioritize the district’s facility needs. What is needed immediately versus what may be needed further down the road.

Potlatch School District No. 285 130 Sixth St. Potlatch, ID 83855 -

District Office (208)875-0327 Elementary School (208)875-1331 Jr.-Sr. High School (208)875-1231

Prepare an extensive cost analysis on the repair and/or replacement of the current facilities.

Strategy #2: Utilization of current facilities. - Improve the safety, functionality, efficiency and security of our current buildings. - Explore and identify the creation of additional usable space within our community and with our current buildings and grounds. - Create a committee to oversee a study for cost effectiveness and community support to renovate or recreate our school district.

Focus Area #4:

Community Involvement

Strategy #1: Provide on-going communication to parents and community. - Update information on District website on daily/weekly basis to provide more current news and events for the public. - Seek parental involvement and input on decision-making processes and program evaluation, as well as evaluation of personnel. - Work at strengthening our relationship with parents and community members by including their participation in district-wide committees, such as Leadership, Strategic Planning, and School Facilities. Strategy #2: Partnerships - Make an extended effort to develop a Volunteer program to get parents and community members into the school on a daily basis to provide assistance and supports to the schools. - Provide the opportunity for local businesses to work with the District and help “brainstorm” ideas for growth.