School Board Endorses New Strategic Plan

The Avon Board of Education unanimously endorsed a strategic plan Tuesday night for 2012-17 that focuses on culture, achievement and communication.

The plan outlines the following goals associated with the strategic plan, as presented in the board meeting materials. The Strategic Planning Committee, made up of staff, teachers, town officials and parents, collaborated on the process.

GOALS

Culture

• Make sure "district culture" matches "mission and beliefs."
• Lead by example with "professional ethics."
• Foster respect in Avon schools and inspire "innovation" and "excellence".
• Spark partnerships between schools, families, the community and more.
• Keep the schools safe and promote a "healthy learning environment."
• Utilize resources and staff appropriately to meet school, local, state and national mandates. 
• Show students their "worth" by cultivating a dignified, respectful culture.

Achievement

• Give students opportunities to learn through "collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, innovation and creative expression."
• Prepare students for college, careers and the real world through programs and activities.
• Continue curriculum alignment for pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
• Encourage student participation in community organizations and activities.
• Evaluate and design a curriculum that upholds high standards.
• All students should have the opportunity and support to excell. 
• Link professional development to needs of staff and district.
• "Integrate evolving technologies" into the schools to support a high standard of education.
• Build connections with alumni as a reference.

Communication

• Maintain strong communication between "students, parents, school personnel and community members."
• Communicate in a "purposefull, clear and concise" manner.
• Plan out different ways to communicate information. For instance, the school board had a new Facebook page (not directly mentioned in the plan). 
• Inform the public about how "resources are secured and utilized to operate the schools."

The people who participated on the strategic planning committee include the following:

• Jason Beaudin, Avon High School principal
• Joanne Beers, president of Avon Education Foundation
• Abha Bernard, representative of CC4A
• Crisanne Colgan, principal
• John Czepie, president of Avon Education Foundation
• Gail Dahling-Hench, principal
• Patricia DeRossi, health services supervisor
• Jane DeSimone, Pine Grove School teacher
• Jamie DiPace, Avon fire marshal and director of emergency management
• Marco Famiglietti, principal
• Peter Gaski, school district director of facilities
• Gwendolyn Hahn, parent
• William Hickey, pupil services director
• Wendy Howard, school board member
• Randy Leaning, parent
• Houston Putnam Lowry, school board member
• John Mason, middle school teacher
• Donna Nestler Rusack, assistant superintendent
• Michael Netkovic, School teacher
• William Newman, of Veterans' of Foreign Wars 
• Lou Pellegrino, Avon High School teacher
• Peggy Roell, school board chairperson
• Ames Shea, school board member
• John Spang Jr., interim finance director
• Florence Stahl, director of Avon Taxpayers Association
• Magda Stayton, parent
• Virginia Vocelli, director
• Anne Watson, Thompson Brook School principal

Editor's Note: If there's something in this article that you think should be corrected or you'd like to nominate a future Patchlete of the Week, contact Avon Patch Editor Jessie Sawyer at 860-356-6339 or Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com. Join in on the Avon Patch conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvonPatch) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/AvonPatch). You can also add your own announcements and events or apply to blog on Patch. To get daily Avon Patch updates in your email inbox, sign up for our newsletter.