RSU 68 officials hope to have 2017-22 strategic plan finalized by the fall

DOVER-FOXCROFT — With the previous five-year document having been in place since 2012, officials in RSU 68 are hoping to have a strategic plan for the next half decade enacted by September or October. As part of the development process, the community was invited to a public session on the proposed strategic plan June 26 at the SeDoMoCha School.

“The board already looked at a draft of the plan,” RSU 68 Superintendent Stacy Shorey said at the start of her presentation. She said following a review by the school board, the strategic plan went to the district’s administrative team and earlier in the month a meeting was held for teachers and staff.

“Now it is out to the community to give feedback as well,” Shorey said. “Of course it all goes along with our mission, ‘In our SeDoMoCha community, students are supported in their personal, academic, artistic, and athletic growth. A strong partnership between families and school nurtures students as they develop their full potential with determination and courage. We are committed to preparing students to be active citizens in a diverse and ever-changing world.”

The superintendent said the last strategic plan was developed in 2011 and outcomes from the work included strengthening the connecting between the SeDoMoCha School and Foxcroft Academy, increasing community involvement, expanding co-curricular and exploratory programs, and less emphasis on testing. Shorey said four goal areas for the 2012-17 strategic plan were community, curriculum, safety, and technology.

“We have moved to this model for our vision for the next five years,” Shorey said showing a graphic of three connected circles indicating the look to the future is comprised of three equal elements — educational programs, facility, and community. “And it always comes back to the mission,” she said.

Shorey explained each aspect of the vision with facility being examining space, equipment, and safety; community involving communication, volunteering, and community involvement; and educational programming being a continuation of work on written curriculum, creating opportunities for participation in a second language, intervention work, and technology updates.

Following the June 26 meeting, Shorey said the ensuing step in the process will have the strategic plan “go back to the administrative team, we have a retreat day at the end of July.”

She said the school board is scheduled to have its next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, with a workshop to review the strategic plan to be held prior to the regular 6:30 p.m. meeting start. “At that time I will ask them if they want another session,” Shorey said.

If another community gathering is not requested then the 2017-22 strategic plan could be brought to the directors for a vote at the September meeting. Should there be a second community session then the document may be voted on in October instead.