The Poplar Bluff R-I School board will vote on the district’s direction for the next five years at next week’s meeting.
Dr. Scott Dill, superintendent, presented board members with a proposed draft of the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) for 2021-26 in January so they could look it over before voting.
Every five years, the district implements a new CSIP, which guides decisions both at the district and building levels.
Dill received input from his cabinet and administrative team when working on the plan.
The plan has four focus areas: leadership, teaching and learning, equity and access, and culture and climate.
Each focus area includes multiple goals.
Under the leadership focus area, the district plans to work on attracting and retaining highly-qualified staff.
The plan calls for creating a support system for current and aspiring teachers through financial support for completion of additional training, improvements to the evaluation system, supporting staff members of culturally-diverse backgrounds and a competitive salary schedule.
It also seeks to increase the number of qualified applicants through the “grow your own” program, which encourages students to explore the teaching profession.
The district also plans to look into a leadership development program that would continue professional development and create opportunities for aspiring administrators within the district to get field experience.
It addresses additional opportunities for board members through the Missouri School Boards Association and annual conferences.
Another area under the plan is the teaching and learning methods offered by the district.
Under this, the district plans to improve student proficiency in all areas by developing a structured intervention process and ensuring assessments align with Missouri Learning Standards.
It also addresses redesigning teacher evaluation. Part of teacher evaluations includes classroom observations, which the plan wants to ensure reflect ongoing professional development.
Teachers will work collaboratively to revisit common assessments as part of the CSIP and evaluate them based on pre- and post-assessment reviews and feedback from students and parents.
In terms of the district’s curriculum, the CSIP calls for ensuring all areas align with Missouri Learning Standards, evaluating the curriculum annually and continuing to work on a virtual classroom and instruction platform for distance learning opportunities.
When looking at the equity and access within the district, the CSIP plans for the school board to nurture a learning community based on mutual respect.
It addresses doing this through trauma-informed school training and implementation, expanding the alternative school offerings and tracking student data.
By the end of the 2021-22 school year, the district hopes to “evaluate organizational structures to reduce learning barriers” and foster partnerships among adults to address short- and long-term challenges students face.
The district also plans to address subgroup student achievement as well as increase enrollment in dual credit, advanced placement and vocational-technology courses.
The district hopes to see a 5% reduction in discipline referrals and decreased student bullying behaviors by 2026.
Each building will establish an improvement plan to address supporting positive behaviors, which would be analyzed annually.
The CSIP calls for ensuring staff and students feel secure/safe within the district and conducting an annual survey to evaluate, which would address any concerns.
Part of addressing concerns would include another aspect of the CSIP. This calls for continuing programs such as Capturing Kids Hearts, expanded social-emotional and behavioral support initiatives and developed practices that ensure classrooms are culturally responsive to student needs.
The school board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the central office. Part of the agenda includes the approval of the CSIP plan and any additional changes to it.