District 102 Strategic Plan
District 102 is guided by a Strategic Plan that emphasizes meeting the needs of all of our students. This plan closely tracks Policy 1100, the District's first and primary policy. Like our country's Constitution, or a doctor's Hippocratic Oath, the Strategic Plan is the basic set of principles for running our schools. Everything we do and every decision we make --the Board of Education, our teachers, administrators, Aides-- is directed by this Plan. The Scorecard Initiative, which the Board of Education uses to evaluate and track the District's progress, is based directly on the Strategic Plan. Similarly, each of our schools has prepared a Mission Statement based on this Plan:
Congress Park ۰ Cossitt Avenue ۰ Forest Road ۰ Ogden Avenue ۰ Park Junior High
Here is the Strategic Plan for District 102:
Mission
District 102, a diverse community rich in tradition, is committed to ensuring that all students develop the academic abilities and personal attributes necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world by providing an exemplary curriculum delivered by exemplary educators within a respectful and responsive environment which meets the needs of the whole child.
Beliefs
We believe that:
• Each person is unique and has immeasurable value.
• All people can learn.
• Learning is continuous, occurs in many settings, and is fundamental to improving an individual’s quality of life.
• A positive self-image is essential for a fulfilling, productive life.
• We are more alike than we are different.
• Individuals have primary responsibility for their own actions and well-being.
• Society benefits from each person continually striving to reach full potential.
• A community benefits from the full participation of all of its members.
• Agreement on core values is necessary for any society to flourish.
• Core values of individuals in an enlightened society include honesty, respect, trustworthiness, compassion, responsibility, fairness, open-mindedness, responsible citizenship and lack of prejudice.
• Society benefits from seeking out and developing the varied talents of each of its members.
• The family/home unit has primary responsibility for the welfare, development and values of its members.
• Individuals of a community share the responsibility for the growth and welfare of all its members.
Objectives
• Each student will meet or exceed identified academic benchmarks.
• Each student will demonstrate age-appropriate social and emotional growth as measured by the district’s benchmarks.
• All students will demonstrate increased responsibility for their own learning in order to prepare them for a successful transition to middle school and high school.
Strategies
• We will fully implement and communicate the differentiation of curriculum and instruction to enrich students’ education and challenge each student to learn to the best of his or her ability.
• We will teach, model, and reinforce those behaviors necessary for each student to make progress towards the district’s social and emotional benchmarks.
• We will develop plans to encourage and motivate students to take responsibility for their own learning.
• We will use the Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence to unify our board, staff, and community in achieving our mission and objectives.
Parameters
• The district’s academic program will always be the top priority including preparation for success in high school.
• District programs will be conducted in a safe environment.
• We will not initiate any program changes without appropriate involvement from and communication with those parents, community, and staff members affected by the decision.
• We will not accept failure as a final outcome for students.
• We will not accept disrespect of individual differences.
• All decisions will show fiscal responsibility and reflect consideration of costs and benefits.
• We will evaluate all programs based on district objectives.
• We will actively recruit, retain, and develop a high quality, diverse staff.
• We will continue to develop working partnerships with home, school, community, and throughout the world.