kaukauna area school district Making our Community STRONGer

kaukauna area school district Making our Community STRONGer

Kaukauna Strong our past inspires our future In 1828, Electa Quinney, a Stockbridge Native American, became the first Wisconsin public school teacher in the area that would later be known as Kaukauna, Wisconsin. By all accounts, Electa Quinney s goal was to provide the very best education for all students. It is with that spirit that the Kaukauna Area School District continues to educate and inspire students to be effective, life-long learners who are equipped to successfully meet the challenges presented to them along their paths, and become positive contributors to society. Examining, dissecting and defining these goals brings new clarity to our vision, which is presented here as a blueprint for our Board of Education, students, staff, parents and community members. Our school community is focused on three essential goals: student achievement, culture, and fiscal sustainability. The renewed vision enhances the student achievement goal to focus on education, growth and success of the whole student (academic, social and emotional); the renewed vision enhances the culture goal to include climate as an essential component of school culture; and the renewed vision continues to recognize financial sustainability as an essential component to District success. As we challenge ourselves to follow the action steps of this renewed vision s goals, we must maintain and expand areas that are serving our students well, and we must swiftly address our areas of concern. With inspiration from our past and the remarkable work of Electa Quinney, with our passionate determination to continually move forward, and with this renewed vision, the future success for Kaukauna Area School District students, staff, parents and community members is immeasurable. Thank you to the District Vision Committee (2015-2017) for your special commitment and participation in the development of this vision; we are forever grateful. I look forward to the opportunities that this vision holds for Kaukauna Area School District and our Kaukauna Strong mindset. I trust that Electa Quinney would be proud of our work. Sincerely, Mark P. Duerwaechter, Superintendent Vision Statement The Kaukauna Area School District will educate students to be effective life-long learners who can successfully meet the challenges of their lives and be positive contributors to society. Mission Statement The Kaukauna Area School District, in partnership with our community, will provide a rigorous and relevant curriculum through best instructional practices which emphasize student achievement and accountability, delivered in a safe and caring environment.

student success All KASD students will grow emotionally, socially and academically. deliver a rigorous and relevant 4k-12 curriculum Hire and retain high-quality staff Support and provide high-quality professional development opportunities Articulate and maintain a written curricula via online database Articulate learning targets aligned to approved standards Ensure vertical curriculum alignment Explore and implement Career Pathways Promote community partnerships Utilize The Heart of the Valley Chamber and other organizational entities Develop and implement efficient means to communicate opportunities to students WI state assessments Local assessments Annual Curriculum Review and Alignment Process (CADR) Up-to-date curriculum database Evidence of vertical alignment Effectiveness Project (EP) Standard 2 (Instructional Planning) summary evidence EP Standard 3 (Instructional Delivery) summary evidence Benchmark assessments provide successful attainment of the college/career/life readiness indicators Provide collaboration time for certified staff Address mental health needs of students Develop and implement strategies to address programmatic gaps: students in need of intervention(s) at all tiers; Gifted and Talented; English Language; economically disadvantaged; and Special Education The School Superintendents Association (AASA) indicators data Articulated Response to Intervention Model Youth Risk Behavioral Survey Data (YRBS) Check-in/check-out data Counseling data Academic and Career Planning (ACP) process engage and empower student learning through best instructional practices Provide and maintain optimal learning environments (regular education, charter schools, at risk education, personalized learning, on-line learning) Utilize instructional coaches for professional development for staff Hire and retain high-quality staff Provide and support high-quality professional development for staff Create 21st-century learning and work spaces encourage students to engage in community stewardship Consider graduation portfolio, including community activities as a component Promote community partnerships Utilize The Heart of the Valley Chamber, along with other organizational entities Develop and implement efficient means to communicate opportunities to students Environmental Scale for Assessing Implementation Levels (E-SAIL) data Effectiveness Project (EP) Standard 3 (Instructional Delivery) Summary Evidence Professional development tracking Career cruising School or co-curricular summaries Courses with community components (civic engagement, leadership, music etc.)

student success, cont. utilize valid, reliable assessments to inform instruction and measure learning Provide for continuous and systematic curriculum assessment Train evaluators in high-quality instruction components Provide both time and training for development and maintenance of common formative and summative assessments Understand and respond to the social and emotional impact of the assessments Define trust and learn how it is developed Plan and deliver trust-building activities Communicate and implement a District safety plan Create a systematic culture and climate survey process that addresses each of the goal components for students, staff and community Utilize a survey to collect baseline data ACTION regarding STEPS District and building culture and climate Hold listening session to monitor progress Host employee group meetings Employ meaningful decision-making at ACTION the STEPS building and District levels Utilize and expand current KASD Communication Plan Promote and exhibit growth mindset Define professional expectations Define professional accountability Effectiveness Project (EP) Standard 2 (Instructional Planning) summary evidence EP Standard 4 (Assessment for and of Learning) summary evidence Local assessments Wisconsin state assessments Benchmark assessments culture and climate KASD will cultivate safe and positive school environments that are responsive to the dynamic needs of the students, staff and community. grow a positive, safe, trusting, and engaging learning environment for all cultivate and establish productive staff relationships, CONT. Develop monthly themes that positively impact the learning environment Create strategies to address areas of need Measure effectiveness of the survey Deliver clear and timely communication to internal and external communities Staff, student and community survey results Building and District perception survey tools Periodic updates to staff handbook communicate and engage with the community to promote investment Utilize and expand KASD Communication Plan Community survey results Engage the community in information and Community engagement opportunities listening sessions

culture and climate, cont. foster healthy physical, social and emotional wellness behaviors Strengthen student assistance programs ACTION Maintain STEPS employee assistance programs Partner with mental health care provider(s) for on-site and off-site care Maintain and promote school activities (extra- and co-curricular) Utilize professional mental wellness services for support and care, CONT. Examine and adjust Pupil Services staff-to-student ratios attract, develop, recognize and retain high-performing staff Building and District perception survey tools DPI Pupil Services guidelines Offer fair, competitive wages, benefits and working conditions Regional wages and benefits comparison Attrition rates fiscal sustainability KASD will meet the educational needs of all learners while maintaining a balanced budget which reflects the values and priorities of the community. prioritize and align the allocation of resources based on district goals and needs Effectively manage District resources to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency Review and examine revisions to the District transportation policy and provider Review staggering start and end times Examine the implications of reconfiguration Examine benefit costs secure additional revenue sources Decrease open enrollment out Increase open enrollment in Utilize grant opportunities for funding both existing and future programs maintain an annual projection budget Understand and monitor legislative implications on funding Understand, monitor and engage in professional advocacy organizations related to funding retain, recruit and attract high-performing staff Offer fair, competitive wages, benefits and working conditions Develop and implement unique market incentives Annual staff survey BOE Fund Balance Policy #662 (non-borrowing not to exceed 25%) District budget, developed based on District goals and student needs Decreased trend of open enrollment out Increased trend of open enrollment in Annual reports on community contributions Increased endowment contributions Increased grant-funded opportunities Annual budget review PMA Financial Network service utilization Five-year budget comparisons Quarterly reports to the Board of Education Kaukauna Area School District benefits package Employee evaluations Perception survey