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Biloxi Public Schools
Strategic Planning 2006
(rev. October 18, 2006)
“Excellence from all, for all.”
This document was adopted by the school board at their regularly scheduled meeting, November 14, 2006.
Goal 1: Ensure an understanding of and commitment to the Biloxi Public Schools vision of excellence.
Objective 1: Communicate the Biloxi Public Schools vision as measured by school climate survey, community, staff and student surveys.
Suggested Action 1: Use various media (DVDs, posters, bumper stickers, fliers, brochures, website, z-card, etc.)
Suggested Action 2: Communicate at staff meetings
Suggested Action 3: Identify the benefits (WIFM… What’s in it for me)
Suggested Action 4: Constantly reinforce the vision; communicate it and post it
Objective 2: Encourage innovation and creativity to eliminate status quo thinking as a barrier to change through an end-of-the-year “innovation and best practices” report.
Suggested Action 1: Develop a reward system
Suggested Action 2: Establish a suggestion box in all schools
Suggested Action 3: Establish a Think Tank at each school for regularly scheduled roundtable discussions based on current research and practices
Suggested Action 4: Recognize faculty for innovative thinking, actions, etc.
Suggested Action 5: Solicit community (Biloxi First) Named Grants for innovative lessons
Suggested Action 6: Establish school advisory committees to advise the principal on school issues; may include a student advisory committee
Suggested Action 7: Read and discuss current research in faculty meetings and planning periods
Suggested Action 8: Hold administrative meetings that involve principals’ discussions and an exchange of information
Suggested Action 9: Establish a professional library within each school
Suggested Action 10: Encourage membership in professional organizations and attendance of outside conferences
Suggested Action 11: Hold district grade level meetings
Suggested Action 12: Teacher observations/reflections… elementary to secondary… secondary to elementary
Suggested Action 13: Teacher weblog for exchange of ideas that promote excellence
Suggested Action 14: Develop and implement a reward and recognition system for actions or ideas that promote excellence
Suggested Action 15: Allow teachers who maintain exemplary programs to attend regional/national conferences
Suggested Action 16: Highlight teacher accomplishments in school and district newsletters and website
Suggested Action 17: Initiate “Teacher of the Month” parking spot with a recognition sign on the bulletin board
Suggested Action 18: Initiate “Teacher of the Quarter” lunch with the superintendent
Suggested Action 19: Establish teacher monetary rewards… not cash, but “mad money” to be spent on supplies, equipment, or substitute teachers to attend conferences, etc.
Goal 2: Provide consistent, quality instruction
Objective 1: Implement the district’s “guaranteed curriculum” (minimal, common curriculum delivered to all students) as measured by student performance on common term exams in grades 3-12 by SY 07-08 and annual state assessments.
Suggested Action 1: Use the same textbook/publisher as a resource
Suggested Action 2: Use teacher teams (grade level or subject area) to determine the content by term that will be published
Suggested Action 3: Purchase software/hardware to generate tests/test
Suggested Action 4: Use teacher teams to generate test items that include open-ended response items and related scoring rubrics.
Suggested Action 5: Determine if term exams should affect student term averages, i.e., term exams are graded in grades 7-12 and the grades count
Suggested Action 6: Term exams in grades 3-6 will be graded and count
Suggested Action 7: Conduct item analyses of term exams to determine the effectiveness of instruction
Objective 2: Use effective teaching methods, strategies and programs as measured by student performance on common term exams and annual state assessments and teacher performance as reflected by the district teacher evaluation instrument and national assessments.
Suggested Action 1: Utilize the Learning Institute
Suggested Action 2: Document all staff attendance at conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.
Suggested Action 3: Make sure all teachers attend required training
Suggested Action 4: Ensure that a “new teacher” support system is in place at each school
Suggested Action 5: School administrators and teachers will collaborate to engage in a collective inquiry of best practices
Objective 3: Apply and use consistently the teacher evaluation instrument to evaluate teacher performance as measured by documentation submitted to district level administration.
Suggested Action 1: Train principals to be more consistent in the teacher evaluation process to ensure all teachers know subject matter and are effectively delivering instruction
Suggested Action 2: Train principals to effectively evaluate and communicate with teachers
Suggested Action 3: Survey teachers on the effectiveness of the instrument (Is it making a difference?)
Suggested Action 4: Measure whether the instrument is being used consistently by administrators
Suggested Action 5: Require a minimum number of teacher observations and document the observations
Objective 4: Recruit and employ qualified minority staff as measured by an increase in applicants over the previous year.
Objective 5: Establish educational programs to meet the needs of non-traditional learners, focusing on extended instructional time as measured by daily enrollment figures.
Suggested Action 1: Provide Pre-K programs
Suggested Action 2: Implement extended day and extended year tutorial and enrichment programs to enhance student learning
Suggested Action 3: Provide after-hours instructional opportunities for adult learners
Suggested Action 4: Continue a General Education Development Program to address the needs of non-traditional learners
Suggested Action 5: Development of secondary school “magnet” type programs
Objective 6: Staff that ensures the needs of all students are met.
Suggested Action 1: Counselors for K-6 schools
Suggested Action 2: Special education staffing adequate to serve all students appropriately
Suggested Action 3: Planning opportunities for special education /regular education inclusion teams
Suggested Action 4: Structured tutoring program and extended learning opportunities
Suggested Action 5: Second and third grade assistant teachers
Suggested Action 6: Timely identification and placement of students in the gifted/talented program
Suggested Action 7: Extend the gifted/talented program to grades seven and eight
Suggested Action 8: Offer orchestra/band in lower grades
Suggested Action 9: Offer foreign language classes in the elementary schools
Suggested Action 10: Offer dual enrollment opportunities during the school day at Biloxi High School
Objective 7: Continuously replace and update technology in all schools as measured by survey, lesson plans, and software tracking.
Suggested Action 1: Purchase new computers
Suggested Action 2: Update software Goal 3: Communicate openly and honestly.
Objective 1: Create open, welcoming, and inviting environments for students, parents, staff, establishing a climate that promotes openness and honesty as measured by the annual school climate surveys, web site, suggestion boxes, etc.
Suggested Action 1: Increase attendance of parents, students, and community members at school board meetings, and increase the number of people speaking at the citizens' comment period during school board meetings· Increase publicity of school board meetings and issues. Send summary of school board agenda home with students in advance of meeting; send summary of minutes home with students. Advertise upcoming board meetings and issues through various media, in addition to web site, including public service announcements. Continue to encourage media coverage of meetings.· Increase publicity of the fact that people can speak at citizens’ comment period, and that they are welcome and encouraged to do so.· Grant service hours to students who speak at or attend school board meetings.
(Note: National Honor Society, Key Club and others require service hours.)· Incorporate attendance and speaking at school board meetings as part of the curriculum of certain courses.· Provide ample seating in a setting in which audience members can easily see and hear presentations and discussions. Use microphones when needed.
Suggested Action 2: Increase direct interaction among the schools, the parents, and the community by increasing the number of school events and by increasing the use of school facilities by the public· Have at least one open house (back-to-school night) per quarter · Stagger the hours for the open houses over the school year· Increase the number of school plays, concerts, talent shows, awards assemblies, receptions, student art and other exhibits, and other student activities that bring parents and community members to the schools· Encourage, promote, and facilitate tailgate parties and gatherings prior to BHS home football games· Build a full-sized auditorium at Biloxi High School, large enough to accommodate all students, parents, and staff. Build full-sized auditoriums at all schools. Require that an acoustics engineer help with the design of all auditoriums. Provide comfortable seating with ample legroom, and require that visibility is good from all seats. (Note: Multi-purpose rooms and gyms are not auditoriums.)· Encourage use of school district facilities for meetings sponsored by individuals and by community groups such as civic clubs, class reunions, chambers of commerce, and the City of Biloxi. Do not charge a fee to these groups--remove existing fees· Improve cleanliness of restrooms and other facilities; obtain contract with janitorial services that gives school staff the power to readily require and enforce thorough, professional cleaning at all times. (Poor sanitation discourages use by public.)· Reduce use of voice mail at central administration offices and at schools. (Voice mail is less helpful than a person and discourages direct interaction.)
Objective 2: Encourage interaction and participation of parents, students, school personnel, and community members in school issues and decisions, as measured by annual school climate surveys, sign-ins, etc., to determine participation levels.
Suggested Action 1: Establish a working committee at each school (site council) made up of parents, students, community members, and staff that will meet at least monthly to provide a forum for discussion of school issues and an opportunity for parents, students, and community members to have a meaningful role in decision making, to promote student learning in an atmosphere of participation, responsibility, and ownership. Anyone can participate; there are no appointed positions. Anyone may bring up a subject of concern for consideration. This could be coordinated through PTA/PTO.
Suggested Action 2: Establish a similar working committee on a district level, to meet at least monthly to address district-wide issues.
Suggested Action 3: Have quarterly, publicized briefing meetings with key community members. The district will encourage public participation in these meetings, including the opportunity for all people in attendance to speak and ask questions. An appropriate meeting room will be used, with ample seating, good acoustics and good visibility. Any handouts will be available to all attendees.
Suggested Action 4: Conduct a feasibility study on providing transportation for after-school programs, tutoring, and extra-curricular activities.
Objective 3: Establish a climate within schools and school district that promotes openness and honesty, as measured by school climate surveys.
Suggested Action 1: Regular cross-curriculum/grade-level meetings
Suggested Action 2: Administrative and teacher retreats
Suggested Action 3: Common “social” times, e.g., Breakfast of Champions
Goal 4: Increase parental involvement in educational issues
Objective 1: Develop and implement a comprehensive parent involvement plan by school year (SY) 2007-08.
Suggested Action 1: Create a Superintendent’s Advisory Council
Suggested Action 2: Create position of Parent Involvement Coordinator
Suggested Action 3: Utilize the Learning Institute to provide training for parents in academic skills, technology usage and self improvement
Suggested Action 4: Implement parenting skills courses
Suggested Action 5: Coordinate planning of schools events/activities to avoid calendar/scheduling conflicts Goal 5: Provide permanent school facilities that support optimal student learning and development.
Objective 1: Maintain an average pupil-teacher ratio in elementary grades of 16:1
Objective 2: Ensure that facilities meet the needs of students while providing support for community activities as measured by community feedback.
Suggested Action 1: Conduct a comprehensive facilities study
Objective 3: Create and maintain a safe, sanitary, and healthy environment as measured by custodial report forms, cafeteria surveys, maintenance/grounds inspections and accident safety reports.
Suggested Action 1: Implement a wellness policy that includes physical fitness
Suggested Action 2: Encourage nutrition education
Suggested Action 3: Insist on healthy menus (food service vendor)
Suggested Action 4: Require regular custodial inspections
Suggested Action 5: Require regular building and grounds inspections
Suggested Action 6: Analyze and identify ways to improve traffic flow and safety
Suggested Action 7: Improve landscaping at all district facilities
Objective 4: Create a Safety, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee at each school consisting of students, parents, community members, teachers, and a school administrator.
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