The Cumberland County School Board took a half-day retreat this week to review and discuss key items in the five year strategic plan.
School Board Chair Chris King said the strategic plan is due for review, renewal, and updates every couple of years. King said things like academics, athletics, activities, and the budget were discussed as the board prepares for the near future.
“Everybody’s is to improve test scores and academics for the students first of all,” King said, “And we look at a lot of new laws and policies that’s come into play. Communications devices in the school, safety plans.”
King said the retreat was the first of two half-day informal sessions the board will spend on reviewing the strategic plan. The second retreat will be at a later date, and it will be open to the public.
King said the discussion around safety is a touchy one in a public setting because oftentimes, school safety is a confidential matter. King said the conversations there revolved more around the security systems that are in place.
“What do we need for things to be good,” King said. “Is it radios? More SROs? Less SROs? What changes have happened in the law that help or don’t help, those kind of things.”
King said the strategic plan has to include capital projects because things are bound to age and need replacing. King said there is a master maintenance plan, which helps the board determine they are looking to upgrade the right things.
King said advice from architects and consultants may factor in for things like additional resources, such as more classroom spaces or technology.
“We have a community involvement group every five years that we bring in to make sure we’re hearing everything,” King said. “Parents, stakeholders of all sorts, businesses, commissioners, just everybody in general.”
King said the group last came in a couple years ago, and the process was guided by a consulting company. People were divided into teams to work on individual sections of the plan. King said this was to ensure community involvement.
King said the Board works with the Director of Schools on the plan to ensure the district is set to keep moving forward. King said he is optimistic about the direction of Cumberland County Schools.
“I think we’re seeing common grounds to get together and agree on things,” King said. “Or even disagree and work on alternate solutions.”
The Cumberland County School Board Retreat Tuesday was open to the public. Since the retreat was not an official meeting, board members could not take action on any issues.
