10/22/2014

School Board eyes revised measures of strategic-plan success; possible adoption Nov. 18

The School Board is preparing to adopt a set of performance indicators for its five-year strategic plan, a formal step in reaching the mission and vision set out for Cape Elizabeth schools.

A list of 14 "Indicators of Success" was presented to the board at their meeting Oct. 14, 2014. The list outlines methods to measure how well the schools are living out its mission, to "empower students with the academic, personal, and social knowledge and skills needed to build fulfilling and engaged lives."

The indicators presented on Oct. 14 are an outgrowth of draft measurements presented to the board in February [news article]. The latest draft is a streamlined version, developed during board workshops incorporating feedback gathered during the spring and summer.

Unlike those presented in February, the latest draft indicators are not tied to specific goals of the strategic plan adopted in 2013. "They aren't tied to specific goals because there is a great deal of overlap and the consensus was that connecting them directly to goals made things more confusing," Superintendent Meredith Nadeau said in an email.

The list was also reordered so that indicators related to academics take a back seat to those relating to the whole child. As an example, the first indicator reads: "By September 2016, we will have in place a system to help students identify passions and interests through examination of strengths and growth areas, and to tailor learning experiences to cultivate those areas. These experiences can include participating in internships, service learning, dual-enrollment courses, on-line courses, independent studies, and extended learning opportunities, and student involvement will increase by at least 10 students per year."

Further indicators will measure improvements in academics, but also in areas such as school climate, student engagement and interest, and staff development.

Board members at the Oct. 14 meeting said they were excited to see these measures come forward. "It was two years ago we as a community set out to write a very beautiful and ambitious mission and vision statement," said John Christie, board chair. "I am excited about how this is coming together, I think there are some really good, very exciting metrics in here that will be valid indicators of how well we are doing against that mission."

Christie said he was especially excited about encouraging alternate learning experiences, and thanked administrators for their willingness to explore new territory. "It's not an easy thing for administrators to embrace, it widens the number of variables in a work experience that is very challenging," he said.

Some of the programs and initiatives for implementing the measurements are already in place, and some will need to be developed, Christie said. Nadeau added that budget recommendations will also be made to support reaching the measurement targets.

"What I think this reflects most of all is a commitment of this community to every child, and to making sure we are being flexible about meeting individual student needs and giving every student the opportunity to be successful and grow and move on to a great future," said Superintendent Nadeau.

Plans are to incorporate feedback gathered in the next few weeks, and to present the indicators-of-success list again to the board for adoption Nov. 18. The meeting, to be held in the High School library, was rescheduled from the usual second Tuesday of the month to avoid the Veterans' Day holiday. It will not be televised.

Nadeau said she believes that even after adoption, the measures may evolve as the schools implement the strategic plan. "So I hope that we see this as a continued dialogue, not the end game," she said.

The plan of actions and initiatives presented to the board in February does not need adoption and will serve as a "rough road map" for getting the schools to the targets outlined in the indicators of success, Nadeau said.