January 2010

At the January 14, 2010 meeting of the board of education, district officials presented a review of the district's strategic plan for teaching and learning.  The presentation focused on the progress of the specific goals to be met in each of several academic areas over the next five years.  To view the presentation from the board meeting, please click here.

September 2008

At the September 4, 2008 meeting of the board of education, district officials unveiled the implementation plan for year one of the district's strategic plan for teaching and learning. This plan set specific goals to be met in each of several academic areas over the next five years. To view the presentation from the board meeting, please click here.

June 2008

One of the goals of the school year just completed was to develop a  plan for teaching and learning that would guide our academic efforts for the next five years. To accomplish this goal, we worked with PLC Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in strategic planning.  Several groups of nearly one hundred faculty, staff, administration and parents met throughout the year to develop this plan. You can learn more about the process by visiting the Strategic Planning page of this web site. The plan itself (click here to read) was approved by the board of education on June 5, 2008. Faculty, staff and administration will begin implementing the plan in September. Check this web site for updates.

On July 24, 2007, the district began a process of  Strategic Planning that will map out the goals and objectives for teaching and learning in the district for the next several years.  This highly collaborative process has 95 teachers, administrators, parents and community members working together to define what we want for our students and the steps we need to take to reach our goals.

September 2008

As the core of the surrounding community, Minisink Valley Central Schools provide a safe haven for our students. They come together to learn and to take part in extracurricular activities that will build character and enhance their social and emotional development. They will possess the skills they need to be the community builders of the future.

 

Using a dynamic curriculum, our students will acquire the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in an ever-changing, global community. We will challenge our students to meet and exceed state and national standards through updated methods of instruction, assessment and student support.

 

Our faculty, staff, and administration are dedicated to the concepts of excellence and continuous improvement. They will keep their skills updated and learn new skills that will allow them to maintain an active and vibrant learning environment.

 

Our students will appreciate diversity, exhibit responsibility and acceptance, embrace differences and demonstrate respect for themselves and others. 

 

Our students will be adaptable, technologically savvy, creative problem solvers and critical thinkers.  They will embrace new challenges, cultivate an active and healthy curiosity and develop a passion for life-long learning.

September 2008

The Minisink Valley Central School District encourages all students to reach their full potential by providing equal opportunity for academic, social, physical and moral education in a safe, caring and challenging environment. In partnership with the community, we are committed to meeting and exceeding New York State Learning Standards while preparing our students to be productive, responsible citizens and life long learners.

September 2008

1.      All children can learn.

2.      Academic progress is everyone’s first priority.

3.      Everyone in the process must feel personally responsible.

4.      We must review and use the data.

5.      We should be “restless” about the rate of improvement.

September 2008

1. All of our work will conform with the stated mission, beliefs and vision of the Minisink Valley Central School District.
2. We will conduct careful and detailed analyses before adding, eliminating, or revising any program.
3. We will consult with people closest to the job before making any changes to program.
4. We will continue to hire and retain only those people who contribute to the mission, beliefs, and vision of Minisink Valley Central School District.
5. We will encourage, recognize, and support everyone’s success.
6. We will include all stakeholders in the decision making process.
7. We will use this strategic plan to guide the budget process.
8. We will use this strategic plan to structure our staff development program.

September 2008

Strategic Intent #1: By 2012-13, there will be a 10% growth in students scoring at level 3 or 4 on the NYS assessments in ELA and math at grades 3-8.

Strategic Intent #2: By 2012-13, 40% of our students will receive an advanced diploma.

Strategic Intent #3: By 2012-13, the number of students achieving mastery on NYS Regents exams will increase by 10%.

Strategic Intent #4: By 2012-2013, 90% of high school students will graduate in 4 years.

Strategic Intent #5: By June 2013, the Minisink Valley School District will have a fully operational Gifted and Talented Program, featuring a complete continuum of services with a minimum of 10% of students served by the program.

Strategic Intent #6: By 2013, the Minisink Valley Central School District will increase the level of participation in all areas of professional development by at least 25%.

Strategic Intent #7: By 2012-2013, all educational buildings will offer an appropriate continuum of services as defined by IDEA.

Strategic Intent #8: By 2012-2013, 90% of Minisink’s teachers will use an online forum as a communication/learning/teaching tool.

Strategic Intent #9: By 2012-2013, changes will be implemented to the district music programs to provide services to students in a developmentally appropriate manner that aligns with NYS Standards for the Arts and National Music Standards.

Strategic Intent #10: By 2012-2013, improvements will be made to the performing and fine arts programs to provide for increases in student participation as well as upgrades in the quality of instructional and performing environments.

The planning process began this past summer with a Core Team of administrators, teachers and community members examining issues related to the mission of the district.  This group has developed the vision, beliefs and parameters to follow going forward.  This team also endorses the work of the individual task forces. 

The members of the Core Team are

1. Dr. Martha Murray - Superintendent
2. Priscilla Holden - Assistant Superintendent for Business
3. Sean Michel - Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
4. Ruth Zuclich - Director of Pupil Personnel Services
5. Debbie Wilson - Supervisor of Special Education
6. Brian Monahan - Director of Personnel
7. Joan Romanyschyn - Member of the Board of Education
8. Joyce Memmelaar - Intermediate School Principal
9. Michael Giardina - Middle School Principal
10. Christian Ranaudo - High School Assistant Principal
11. Joseph Horner - Teacher
12. Patti Lynn Mitchell - Teacher
13. Janet Marquez - Teacher
14. Amy Peluso - Teacher
15. Shawne Demberg - Teacher
16. Lourdes Desplantes - Teacher
17. Vil Vaitas - Parent
18. Wendy Enoch - Parent
19. Michael Goliber - Parent
20. Stelly Brunelle - Parent

Curriculum and Instruction (Sean Michel)

• K-5 (Alice Reh)
• 6-12 (Ken Hauck)

Special Education (Debra Wilson)

Staff Development (Brian Monahan)

Technology (Patti Lynn Mitchell)

Gifted and Talented (Joyce Memmelaar)

Performing Arts (Joseph Horner)

JOIN A TASK FORCE.  GO TO STRATEGICPLAN@MINISINK.COM.

January 1, 2008 Update:  The task forces are currently meeting to take a look at the data, identify critical issues and suggest key initiatives, along with the resources needed to see the initiatives through to fruition.

The Core Team will meet with our facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed, on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 to begin the strategic planning process using the following agenda:

8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Orientation

• Components of the strategic plan
• Roles and responsibilities
• Work flow and process
• Deliverables and timeframes
• Reporting responsibilities
• Decision making model

Strategy Session One

• Getting started
• Data review
• Force field analysis
• Closure

Members of the Core Team met on July 24, 2007 with Dr. Diane Reed from PLC Associates who will work with the district throughout the 2007-2008 school year.  Click here to view the minutes from the first meeting, and click here to view some of the work done by the Core Team during this first session.  To enlarge the pictures, click on the image.

 

To view the data the Core Team will use throughout the project, please click on the presentation below. 

The Core Team will meet with our facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed, to continue the Strategic Planning process.

8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Strategy Session Two

• Review items from session one
• List challenges the district is currently facing
• List possible challenges during the next ten years
• Discuss district vision
• Review district mission statement
• Review core academic beliefs
• Identify technical writers
• Task force charges
• Task force critical issues
• SWOT Analysis
• Plan for session three

Members of the Core Team met with our facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed to continue with our strategic plan for teaching and learning.  To view the minutes of the second strategy session, click here.  Pictured here are some of the Core Team members at work during the session.  Click on the image to enlarge the picture.

Task force facilitators will meet with planning facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed, at 9:00 AM in the middle school board room.  Click here to view the agenda.  Teachers and community members who are interested in joining one of the task forces (listed above) may send a message to strategicplan@minisink.com.

Core team members will meet with Dr. Reed at 1:00 PM for Strategy Session #3.  Click here to view the agenda.

Members of the Core Team met for their third strategy session on October 19, 2007.  Our facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed, worked with the group of administrators, teachers, and parents to set a vision for teaching and learning here in the district.  To read the minutes of the meeting, please click here.

January 1, 2008 Update:  The next meeting of the Core Team is scheduled for Friday, February 8, 2008.  Working with facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed, the group will begin to review the work of the individual task forces.

The core team met with facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed on Friday, February 8, 2008, to continue the strategic planning process.  Each of the task force facilitators reported to the core team and received feedback on their efforts to date.  To view the minutes from the meeting click here.

The core team also reviewed the district vision and agreed that the vision statement should read as follows:

1. As the core of the surrounding community, Minisink Valley Central Schools provide a safe haven for our students. They come together to learn and to take part in extracurricular activities that will build character and enhance their social and emotional development. They will possess the skills they need to be the community builders of the future.

2. Using a dynamic curriculum, our students will acquire the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in an ever-changing, global community. We will challenge our students to meet and exceed state and national standards through updated methods of instruction, assessment and student support.

3. Our faculty, staff, and administration are dedicated to the concepts of excellence and continuous improvement. They will keep their skills updated and learn new skills that will allow them to maintain an active and vibrant learning environment.

4. Our students will appreciate diversity, exhibit responsibility and acceptance, embrace differences and demonstrate respect for themselves and others. 

5. Our students will be adaptable, technologically savvy, creative problem solvers and critical thinkers.  They will embrace new challenges, cultivate an active and healthy curiosity and develop a passion for life-long learning.

The core team met with our facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed, on Monday, March 31, 2008.  During the session, the team established the following parameters for developing and implementing the strategic plan:

1. All of our work will conform with the stated mission, beliefs and vision of the Minisink Valley Central School District.

2. We will conduct careful and detailed analyses before adding, eliminating, or revising any program.

3. We will consult with people closest to the job before making any changes to program.

4. We will continue to hire and retain only those people who contribute to the mission, beliefs, and vision of Minisink Valley Central School District.

5. We will encourage, recognize, and support everyone’s success.

6. We will include all stakeholders in the decision making process.

7. We will use this strategic plan to guide the budget process.

8. We will use this strategic plan to structure our staff development program.

To view all of the minutes from Strategy Session #5, click here. 

The core team held its final meeting on Tuesday, May 27 to formally certify the work of the task forces in putting together the strategic plan which will guide the efforts of the district in teaching and learning for the next five years.  Each task force facilitator reviewed the strategic intents and the key initiatives of their task forces. The core team also had the opportunity to review the action plans that will make the key initiatives a reality. The core team will assist our facilitator, Dr. Diane Reed, in presenting the plan to the board of education for their approval on June 5, 2008.