Superintendent Details Goals for Upcoming School Year

Preparation has already begun for the upcoming school year, which will include improved lesson plans and technology that will appeal to both students and faculty alike. On Thursday, Hopkins School Superintendent John Schultz spelled out eight goals to encourage consistency, productivity and improvement. 

Goal 1: Implement and explore curriculum and instructional models that have positive impacts on student growth and learning.

• "Ready 4 K pre-school" program at both and will be implemented. This program will underline the skills necessary to succeed in kindergarten.
• Examine the equity/integration plan in light of new state innovation in eliminating the achievement gap. Expanding on the idea, Schultz said, “One way to eliminate the achievement gap is to provide students with rich discussion and provide intervention early.”
• Expand after school programs at each elementary school, including service learning, academic supports and enrichment opportunities.  

Goal 2: Continue to improve the systems so that student data influences teaching and learning. 

• Provide support and direction to the implementation of Professional Learning Communities.
• Present and explore, with the school board, the concept of personalized learning for all EC-12 grade students. 

Goal 3: Engage the Hopkins community in the education of its citizens.

• "Continue to meet with 'Choice is Yours' families as a leadership team."
• "Explore the development of a 'community council' to discuss issues in the community and education as a whole." Superintendent Schultz pointed to Wayzata's similar structure, saying he is interested in learning from them.

Goal 4: Examine and implement improvements in communications and marketing for the District.

• "Meet with local media, realtors and other key communicators to share perception with District's marketing and communications." This will ensure the school board's message is heard by a wider community audience and that the school board can receive as much input as possible from differing areas of the community.
• "Provide staff development and other resources for staff to have professional presence on all web-based systems that communicate with students and parents." This will mean expanding upon the Infinite Campus Portal and the possible creation of others. With regards to creating another web-based commune, Schultz said, “It’s one thing to put the parent portal and such in place, but it is a whole other to get the community wrapped around it.”

Goal 5: Provide leadership and manage all aspects of District Strategic Planning.

• Discuss the necessary steps in the event the state decreases education funding with parents, community, school board and staff. Board Treasurer Wendy Donovan said that it may be necessary that the board "doesn’t do more, but does better at what we currently do."
• "Develop strategies for programming based on survey results of parents and community members."

Goal 6: Continue to examine all systems to ensure sustainability of fiscal resources and programs.

• "Continue to work with the School Board to meet the demands of developing the 2012-2013 School District Budget"
• "Maintain budgeting process flexibility in order to adapt to unpredictable changes in State revenue." This goal goes hand-in-hand with preparing for the possibility of decreased state education funding.
• "Present short term (3 years) and long term (10 years) plans for facilities in light of future levy questions." Schultz said he feels strongly that this plan needs attention. “We really have not had a facilities plan in the district since 1995,” the superintendent said.

Goal 7: Support the development and implementation of School District policy.

• "Work with School Board to develop academic milestones that are key indicators of student growth and achievement for District students." The superintendent directed the board's attention to how valuable these academic milestones can be.

Goal 8: Attend professional development opportunities that develop necessary leadership skills to implement a fiscally responsible organization based on 21st century learning.

• "Inform and reform leadership practices in the District as a result of attending professional development opportunities surrounding educational change for 21st century learning."
• "Provide leadership that fosters a collaborative work environment, where all opinions are valued and different viewpoints work in synergy to create optimal outcomes." Collaboration is at the heart of the Superintendent's goals, and his final goal underlines this point.