These 7 Components Of Collingswood, Oaklyn Schools May Undergo Review

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — The Collingswood and Oaklyn Public School Board of Education will vote later this summer on a plan that, if adopted, will initiate reviews in seven components of the schools' operations, a recent meeting suggested.

The reviews, if they occur, are part of the districts' and boards' ongoing strategic plan called Vision 2026, which are intended to provide "an inclusive and supportive environment that inspires and empowers every student," the school district said at a June 27 school board meeting.

The seven components that may undergo review are those that:

• Prepare graduating students for the future
• Develop students' life and character skills
• Enhance students' social, emotional and mental health
• Ensure students' diversity, equity and inclusion
• Showcase students' voices and their lives
• Offer students ways to communicate
• Provide infrastructure, facilities and finance

These components were not thrown together haphazardly, according to Collingswood Public Schools Superintendent Fredrick H. McDowell Jr.

"[This] is the embodiment of the last six to seven months' worth of work, a collaborative effort of both internal and external stakeholders, and a large team of leaders of internal and external stakeholders," he said at the June 27 meeting.

The school board will vote on allowing these reviews and the other new parts of the strategic plan at its August meeting, according to McDowell. Assuming the school board votes 'yes,' there will hold public meetings in September and October to outline the next steps for the community at large, according to McDowell.

Some parts of the strategic plan can be implemented as those public meetings occur, others require financial support and be part of the school district's adopted budget for the 2023-24 academic year before that work can start, he said.

Either way, public input will be critical, he said.

"[That's] because when we shift into implementation, it will require the entire institution rolling our sleeves up and moving the work forward," McDowell said. "We don't lead through mandates or one pagers, we actually lead by coming together as a community and figuring out what are appropriate steps that are reasonable and manageable to be able to meet the moment and to meet the needs of each and every one of our students."

According to Bill Adams, a consultant who is working with the district on the strategic plan, some will think maintaining the status quo would have been a simpler way forward; however, for the sake of the district's students, he said it is not wise to do so.

"It's easy to say we liked the way things were," he said. "We know there are some silos that have to be broken down. The strategic plan is a great way to get to the next level for every child and to provide equitable access for every child to succeed."

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