Maple Heights Board of Education

Vision and Mission for the District

“Educating Our Students, through Expectations of Excellence, to Prepare them for a Lifetime of Success”

BOARD CORE VALUES
 

1. Student Awareness/Empowerment - We believe that all students can learn at different developmental levels, at different rates and in different ways and we provide resources to increase our students’ ability for growth.

1. safe, respectful, nurturing learning environment
2. students take responsibility for their own learning
3. education is a shared responsibility, students, family, the schools and the community
4. relationships between highly effective student centered teachers/leaders continuously improve learning results
5. engaging innovative technological learning environments
6. clear data
7. strong collaborative school communities
8. alignment of resources

2. Effective and Efficient Practices -  We believe that effective and efficient practices will support positive outcomes (financial or academically) for the District

We will seek out the best programs for our students
 

3. District Accountability -- We believe the policies, practices and systems we establish will help us to measure district accountability and hold the district and each school responsible for continuing to raise student achievement.

High expectations and high standards- We believe in being responsible for the daily processes of making decisions and taking actions and standing behind the final results.

4. Creating a Trauma Informed District - We believe moving forward as a trauma informed district will help us to recognize and respond effectively to students impacted by trauma

1. emotional and physical safety for staff and students
2. trustworthiness in terms of our policies and delivering something consistent for our students
3. collaboration - an inclusive approach vs. a top down hierarchical approach
4. empowerment and self esteem and skill building

5. Communication - We believe that Communicating regularly and clearly with our Staff, Parents, Students and Community is necessary. We believe communication is paramount to District success, we will be focused and intentional in our efforts to engage students, families and the community.

6. District Transparency - We believe that there should be easy access to district information which will allow us to build trust, foster collaboration and strengthen relationships

1. finances
2. curriculum
3. academic data
4. administrative/operational

7. Community Support - We believe that education does not happen in isolation and it is important to have community and stakeholders to give input/feedback to support us in accomplishing our goals.

1. community engagement
2. stakeholders, citywide, nationally
3. advocacy, support
4. partnerships (eg. Cleveland Browns, etc)

We believe in developing an alignment of goals and valuing the different perspectives of our stakeholders in assisting the district’s objectives of meeting the needs of our students.
 

8. Diversity & Equity -We Believe eliminating educational inequities by providing equitable access to services, school resources and other learning opportunities

We believe our approach to Diversity and equity involves student centered and culturally centered practices based on philosophies of social justice and equal outcomes for all students

Equal means the same, fair means giving individuals what they need, we will always try to be fair but this means things won’t feel equal.

BOARD GOALS

1.  Academics

Goal: Increase the level of student achievement through high quality research-based instruction to prepare all students for college & career readiness.

Purpose: Maple Heights School District is focused on teaching students’ skills that will transcend college and career readiness, emphasizing relationships in the instruction and building life related skills. To provide the environment for every student to achieve their highest level of academic performance. Utilizing state guidelines and internal data driven measures to gauge student performance based on district-created progress goals.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Support the best instructional environment whether in person or virtual
2. Provide intervention programs so our students achieve success
3. Overcome virtual learning barriers in order to increase student attendance and performance
4. Meet or exceed State Standards

2. Diversity and Equity

Goal: To provide an equitable learning environment within the structure of each classroom

Purpose:   Maple Heights City School District is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across curriculum, classrooms and hiring practices that will empower, challenge and encourage students to learn and grow personally and academically

Strategic Objectives:

1. Accountability for diversity and inclusion to reduce disproportionality in student achievement and employee performance
2. Maintain the Districtwide focus on equitable programs that include an emphasis on socio-emotional learning
3. Attract and retain a diversified staff that can incorporate and expand upon culturally responsive teaching
4. Eliminate educational inequities by providing equal access to services, school resources and other learning opportunities

3 Communication

Goal: To support and increase parental and community engagement

Purpose:  Maple Heights School District will provide an open and engaging relationship with the parents and the community of the City. The District will create an environment that encompasses collaboration and transparency for our students, families and the community members.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Building trusting relationships with students and their families
2. Increase our marketing efforts to better engage our community
3. Transparent communication with all stakeholders

4. Communication (Internal)

Goal:  To create and maintain effective internal District communication

Purpose: The Maple Heights School District is committed to developing a more cohesive communication culture that creates a collaborative environment between the District and its employees by integrating a more comprehensive process for open lines of communication.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Provide a communication process that outlines the shared goals, values and guidelines of the District
2. Develop the Communication committee to provide ongoing team leadership around this goal
3. Establish regular processes for open lines of internal communication 
    

5. Finance

Goal: To provide financial accountability and transparency in the District

Purpose: Maple Heights School District will manage the District’s finances in a secured and sustainable process from our stakeholders of the local, state and federal government. We will be good stewards of the finances and allocate resources accordingly while supporting academic excellence and expanding resources for students and staff.

Strategic Objectives:

1. Analyze long-term financial impact of the District’s decisions.
2. Seek multiple methods to better involve staff and budget development
3. Develop the District’s financial story

5 year Strategic Plan

How will the district employees work to accomplish the expectations of our board and community?

Focus Area 1: Academics

1. High Quality Curriculum Alignment and Instruction
   
   We understand the importance of providing high quality instruction for all students, as well as providing an environment for every student to achieve their highest level of academic performance. We further understand the importance of having a sound curriculum and resources that are reflective of our students and allow them to take responsibility for their own learning.
    

1. Curriculum
   1. Relevancy- ensure that we have resources that are relevant and reflective of our student demographics.
   2. Gaps- identify gaps in the curricula and make adjustments for the following school year
       
2. Instruction
   1. Daily Protocols- to ensure the development of vocabulary and other basic skills
      Teaching & Learning- Implement high quality instruction on a consistent basis. This will include PD and coaching and expanded walkthrough practices
       
3. Honors/Gifted Programs - Review and audit the district’s honors program to seek the best options for serving students identified as gifted.

2. Prepared for Success

We understand the importance of meeting or exceeding state standards. The state has set standards for Prepared for Success that are measured on the state report. In addition to this, we further understand the importance of ensuring that students are prepared for a lifetime of success when they graduate from the district. 

1. College & Career Readiness
   1. ACT- Increase awareness of the importance of ACT and increase student performance
   2. CCP- Expand student participation and staff teaching CCP courses
   3. Career Exploration- Create a comprehensive K-12 district plan that addresses career exploration for students in all grades.
   4. Industry Credentials -Review and audit our current program success rate as well as align CTE from middle school to high school.
       
2. Graduation Rate

Cohorts- Expand our process of tracking cohorts, starting in the 9^th  grade.
 

3. High Quality Assessments

We understand that high quality assessments will help us establish a measure of accountability in continuing to raise student achievement. 
 

1. Benchmarks- Establish a benchmark assessment practice and system for effective and efficient placement for all students who are newly enrolled into the district. 
    
2. Curriculum Committees- Analyze and create high quality assessments that are aligned to our curriculum and state assessments.  
    
3. RTI/IAT- Expand upon our RTI/IAT system, K-12, in mathematics and ELA

4. Data Analysis

We understand the importance of developing a common methodology for analyzing and reporting data from classroom-based assessments involved in the OIP process. The resulting methodology will allow teams across the district to identify gaps in student knowledge and application of state standards. Moreover, a common methodology of data analysis will help improve the dissemination of academic goals across teams involved in the OIP process, resulting in a higher level of targeted intervention and accountability.
 

1. Rooms, Walls, & Folders - To interpret and analyze student data
2. Goals- Annually review academic data and set goals  
3. TBT- Streamline the TBT process across the district.

Focus Area 2: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In each of these sub categories, we will annually improve the educational experiences for all children through culturally inclusive classroom environments and classroom instruction to reduce disproportionality.

A. Create culturally responsive and equity-informed district policies and practices.

1. Equity Audit
   1. Review the data and create action plans on how to address the deficiencies
   2. Establish a committee to provide recommendations around the four priority areas
   3. Transparent communication to all stakeholders throughout the process

B. Reduce the opportunity gap for structurally disadvantaged students.

1. Curriculum Audit
   1. An unbiased review of curriculum to ensure cultural relevance and supplement and replace where needed (ELA & Social Studies to start)
2. Auditing Culturally Relevant Course Offerings
3. Evaluate Placement Procedures for CCP, AP, Honors, and Elementary Groupings

C. Creating equitable, inclusive and supportive school environments.

1. Building Leadership Team (BLT) Yearly DEI Action Plans to Be Shared With DLT
2. Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) Completed Every Year and Action Plan Developed and Implemented to Address PBIS Plan
   1. Trauma Informed Practices
   2. Restorative Justice

D. Attain diverse and culturally proficient teachers, administrators and staff.

1. Recruit and Retain a Diversified Staff
2. Provide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Training
   1. Culturally Relevant Instructional Practices and Strategies
3. Revise New Teacher Orientation to Emphasize DEI

Focus Area 3: Communication

A. Use Technology to Communicate Clearly and Consistently with all Stakeholders

1.  We believe that clear and concise communication is the key to establishing and sustaining positive relationships with all stakeholders. We also believe that transmitting multiple methods of communication on various platforms ensures that all stakeholders have access to important district information.

1. District social media platforms (e.g., Facebook and Instagram)
2. Transition to a paperless district  
3. Students provide news programming for the district

2. We believe that communicating clearly and consistently with all stakeholders is essential to academic success.

1. Monitor all social media communications and respond in a timely manner
2. Maintain current information on district website
3. Notify parents of changes to student transportation electronically

B. Establish logistically sound communication systems to ensure effective communication

1. We believe that communication amongst all stakeholders is paramount to the district’s success. We will develop an effective transference of communication that is clearly defined and understood throughout all levels of the organization. 

2. We recognize the importance of keeping current, effective technology systems in place and updated in order to maintain the integrity of the District.

3. We will establish clear expectations and protocols for communicating and conducting meetings within each building or department

1. Provide technology training for certified and classified staff
2. Provide technology training for parents/community members
3. Inventory and update our current communication systems/processes

C. Design District and School Activities that Engage Families and Community Members

1. We believe all stakeholders should be given opportunities to engage with school district Board members, administrators, faculty, and staff. Through varied engagement opportunities stakeholders can ask questions and express concerns about academic performance and operations. Ongoing transparency through regular interactions will allow us to build trust, foster collaboration, and strengthen relationships.  

a. Annual State of the School District Address

2. We believe that community engagement plays a critical role in student achievement and building relationships. We plan to provide opportunities for meaningful engagement throughout the school year by way of  district- and school-sponsored events.

a.  Seek feedback from families, students and community regarding school events and activities

Focus Area 4: Finance

We understand the importance of providing transparent information regarding district finances for all stakeholders, as well as providing an environment for any stakeholder the ability to ask questions if they need clarification and to know where to go for the answers to their questions.

A. We recognize the importance of keeping current, effective financial systems in place and updated in order to maintain the integrity of the District.

B. We will establish clear expectations and protocols for communicating with stakeholders the monthly and annual financial information.

C.  We will prepare and present the Five Year Forecast twice a year as required by the Ohio Department of Education as well as preparing and presenting the monthly financial statements, which includes sharing on the District Website.