PUTNAM COUNTY
The Putnam County Board of Education met at The Plaza, July 18, for a called meeting to discuss its strategic plan.
The new strategic plan is founded on five pillars: student achievement and readiness; effective staff and engaged students; operations, support and systems; culture, communication and community; and safety and wellbeing. During the meeting, the board discussed what they would like to see through these pillars.
Regarding student achievement and readiness, board chair Steven Weiner proposed that Putnam County research ways to follow graduates and see how they are doing six months after graduation. During this discussion, Superintendent Eric Arena proposed creating an alumni division and Weiner proposed adding an alumni tab to the school system website.
Other board members proposed surveying students, before they graduate, to better understand what their plans are and receive feedback from the students about their school experience. Board members Rev. Simone Jones and Carol Ann Guthrie, however, did express concerns that any post-high school surveys and ways to keep in contact with alumni may be too difficult and that even when receiving feedback, how does the board judge the success of a student?
Many board members agreed that judging the success of a student’s life after graduation would not be easily definable and suggested focus should be more on tracking success throughout their school years to graduation. Weiner proposed improving the individual education plans for each student.
The board, as a whole, discussed improving the tracking of career desires, having students meet with counselors more frequently, and working with students more closely to help them understand how their skills may or may not apply to their future goals.
Currently, individual education plans are created in primary schools and track the students digitally throughout their school years. Weiner proposed that the school system work toward a formal written plan that could be presented to students and their guardians.
The board remained undecided on the decision and regarded that the planned improvement would come first before looking into the difficulties of turning digital informal plans into written documentation.
Despite back-and-forth on many matters, the board unanimously agreed on potentially working on the implementation of “Moving on Up,” a program that would create camps during the school year.
Inspired by Summer Inspiration camps, the board proposed that smaller activities or afterschool camps could occur during the school year to improve the “energy” of students and create a new environment to learn. It would also offer the community and teachers a chance to be more creative and partner with each other. Details for the program and how it could be implemented without putting too much stress or work on students and teachers is still being discussed but the board was highly favorable of future implementation.
Discussions and plans for the new strategic plan will be continuing in preparation of the new school year. The next board meeting is Aug. 21 at 6 p.m.