North Slope Borough School District2009-2014 Strategic Plan

Mission StatementOur schools will work

closely with parents andcommunities to ensure

our students:

• Excel in reading, writing and mathematics

• Understand and treasure the values, culture, history and language of the Iñupiat people

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• Understand their responsibility to family and community

• Enter higher education and/or the workforce

Mission Statement

Vision StatementThe NSBSD will ensure parents and communities are involved in their children's education. Through this collaboration every child will understand and treasure the values, culture, history and language of the Iñupiat people and understand their responsibility to their family and community…

…Every child of the NSBSD will receive a diploma and be expected to pursue higher education or enter the workforce. Our students will know their destiny. They will have the tools and skills to make life choices here on the Slope or wherever they live.

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Iñupiaq Values

Family and Kinship

Hunting Traditions

Humility Humor

Love and Respect for Our Elders and One Another Compassion

Cooperation Avoidance of Conflict

Spirituality Knowledge of Language

Sharing Respect for Nature

Purpose and the Process

Community Engagement

Iñupiaq Education Initiative

Staff InputBoardGuidance

Our Strategic Direction

OutcomeMeasures

State/FedReporting

School-SpecificGoals

DistrictStrategic Goals

North Slope Borough School DistrictLong-term Strategic Priorities

InstructionalFocus

All students will realize their full intellectual potential, with an emphasis on reading, writing and math.

Integrate the Iñupiaq history, language and culture into the curriculum.

Community and Family

Actively engage parents, businesses and the community to become partners in our children’s education.

Educators, Staff and Board

Strengthen recruitment, retention and professional development of highly qualified and effective staff.

Organizational and Financial Stewardship

Effectively employ our financial, operational and technological resources.

North Slope Borough School DistrictStrategic Priorities and District Goals

Status from February to July 2009

Academic AchievementAll students will realize their full intellectual potential, with an emphasis on reading, writing and math.

1.1 Allow teachers to focus on our core teaching.

• Principals identified areas to increase time on task• Systemized the AIMSweb assessments• Funded a district-wide literacy coach

1.2 Increase student attendance by decreasing absenteeism 20% at each school.

• District-wide and site-specific competitions last year • ASRC did change the dividend release date

1.3 Fully implement a pre-K-12 culturally-integrated curriculum with grade-level expectations and that is outcomes-based across the district.

• Started year with texts/materials at all sites• Updated course descriptions• Teaming with Tumitchiat• NSBSD literacy plan completed• Curriculum committee formed for curriculum mapping• Cultural-based instruction unites aligned with state GLEs

1.4 Strive to implement a culturally sensitive schedule/calendar in fall 2011.

• Changed the 09/10 calendar to end the school year earlier for whaling, other subsistence and cultural activities.

Language and Cultural IntegrationIntegrate the Iñupiaq language, history and culture into the curriculum.

2.1 Launch and sustain pre-K3/K4 immersion program slope wide.

• Pilot launching September 2009 in Barrow for birth from birth to age 3

2.3 Increase the number of trained teachers of Iñupiaq.

• Flier developed and distributed• Partnered with Avante Garde• Created ILT mentoring opportunities • Employed the Type M certificate

2.4 Initiate dialogue with community and elders to assist the District in teaching Iñupiaq language, values and culture.

• Flier developed and distributed• Elders participation in lunch programs

Community and FamilyActively engage parents, businesses and the community to become partners in our children’s education.

3.1 School climate: Share best practices between schools concerning disciplinary issues and academic achievement needs.

• AASB’s School Climate and Connectedness Survey to be executed• Communicated in principal in-service

3.2 Board: One member to visit each village once per year to host community dialogue.

• Some board members visited Point Hope and attended graduation at other sites• Superintendent to visit all villages this fall• Superintendent and COO have met with community leaders

TBD

3.3 Parents: Empower parents in their children’s education to enhance attendance through hosting regular parent events, promoting volunteering and continual parental communication.

• Epstein model for parent involvement plan• Held a PowerSchool parent training night in some schools• Continued activity nights with parents

Educators, Staff and BoardStrengthen recruitment, retention and professional development of highly qualified and effective staff.

4.1 Hiring and recruiting: Improve the hiring and on-boarding process for all employees.

• Hosting a community potluck• Launched site with school-specific pages/sections• Hosted off-site principal meetings• Care packages for all teachers this year

4.2 Retention: Reduce staff turnover by 20% in fall 2010.

4.3 Training and development: Provide professional development and succession planning for employees in support of the goals in the plan.

• Designed a comprehensive in-service plan• Part of new hire, principal, assistant principal and all hire in-service

4.4 Maximize our local workforce by growing and employing local teachers and staff.

• Future Teachers of America participation• Currently our local staff is < 10%

Organizational and Financial StewardshipEffectively employ our financial, operational and technological resources.

5.1 Align the budget with strategic goals and maintain a balanced budget.

• Worked collaboratively with Borough on budget process• Created rural caucus to address legislative funding issues• Implemented training of the District’s fiscal and personnel procedures• Hired a temp employee to supply schools during summer months

5.2 Proactive operational support to provide academically-enriching classrooms.

• Moved business office back to the Slope• See the Operations Master Plan for additional information

5.3 Utilize technology as a tool to facilitate learning, communication and collaboration.

• Refresh of school computers ahead of schedule• Roll in of school computers ahead of schedule• Bandwidth increased• Maintained Apple 1 to 1; funded for six years• Addressed PolyCom issues

5.4 Foster effective and collaborative communication to sustain a culture of unity and trust.

• Held dialogue with supt/directors/principals about strategic plan• Organizational chart updated• Repaired central office phone system• Increased personal, non-business contact• Chain of command established

So what’s next?October 2009 – Strategic plan updateDecember 2009 – Strategic plan updateJanuary 2010 – Board retreat

North Slope Borough School District2009-2014 Strategic Plan

www.nsbsd.org/board/strategic-plan