Overview

The strategic planning process was launched in the Bozeman School District in the fall of 2007.  Since that time, significant progress has been made on various aspects of the plan and the process has become an integral piece of the District continuous improvement cycle.  At the start of the 2013-14 school year, the Bozeman School District Board of Trustees approved several areas of focus related to the strategic plan.  This report is intended to provide the reader with a summary of progress towards implementing strategic plan.

The School Year Planning Process

Below is a yearly process that the District follows with regard to implementing the strategic plan.

• August: BSD Board adopts areas of focus (Implementation Framework)
• September: Individual schools and departments draft plans with specific strategies for implementation related to areas of focus (Action Plans)
• October - December: Each school is given opportunity to present plans, progress, and related data to Board. (Board Luncheons)
• January: Superintendent provides mid-year update with a focus on the impacts of the strategic plan.  Relevant District-wide achievement data from the previous year is reviewed.  Specific action plan strategies are highlighted. (Mid-year Report)
• February - May: Summative assessment (SBAC, ACT, AP, etc.) occurs at appropriate grade and school level.
• May - June: Individual schools and departments assess their level of implementation for each strategic objective & specific action. (Status Report)
• July: Superintendent provides year-end report with a focus on the level of implementation for the areas of focus. (Annual Report) The level of implementation provides guidance for areas of focus for the new school year.

Progress 2012-13

Impact of the strategic plan - Summary of 2012-13

The 2012-13 school year saw continued achievement and success in academics for Bozeman Public Schools.  The majority of these data points were not available for the LRSP year-end report that was presented to the Board in July 2013.  As such, this summary data was part of the 2013-14 mid-year update.  The entire mid-year update with the summary 2012-13 data can be viewed at the following site: http://tinyurl.com/LRSPmidyear

Revisioning Process - Spring 2013

In June, 2013 a group of District staff and community partners met to discuss, review, and revise the District’s Long Range Strategic Plan (LRSP).  In attendance were BSD7 Board of Trustees, central office administration (Executive Leadership Cabinet), building level administrators and teacher from each grade level, President of the Bozeman Education Association, as well as representatives from our community partners (THRIVE, Greater Gallatin United Way, MSU, and the Bozeman Schools Foundation.)

The result was a revised Long Range Strategic Plan which was streamlined and refocused.  The four goal areas remained -  Goal Area 1: Academic Performance, Goal Area 2: Operations and Capacity Building, Goal Area 3: Community Engagement and Partnerships, Goal Area 4: Student and Staff Safety/Health/Welfare.  Within these four broad goal areas, 18 specific strategic objectives were defined to provide clarity and depth.  The LRSP Committee convened to review the changes and provide feedback regarding the district priorities and the final revised plan was approved by the Board of Trustees on August 12, 2013.

Progress 2013-14

Implementation Framework (Areas of Focus) 2013-14

After the revised plan was approved by the Board, the executive leadership team met to identify the implementation process for the 2013-14 school year.  It was determined that all schools and departments would be asked to focus their planning process on the following strategic objectives:

Strategic Objective 1.01  Personalize learning for each student to help all realize sustained academic growth in all content areas.  (Short title: Personalize Learning)

Strategic Objective 1.02  Utilize content area standards in planning, instruction, and assessment.  (Short title: Instruction and Assessment.)

Strategic Objective 3.01 Enhance District transparency and accountability through effective communication with our community.  (Short title:  Communication)

Strategic Objective 4.01 Create safe, supportive, engaging and healthy school environments.  (Short title: School Environment.)

Action Plans 2013-14

Each school and department wrote action plans for the four areas of focus defined in the implementation framework.  Each action plan contained specific strategies that would be used by school staff during the 2013-14 school year to experience progress towards achieving the strategic objective.  All schools created two action plans for Strategic Objective 1.02.  One plan related to implementation of Montana English/Language Arts Standards and one plan related to implementation of Montana Math Standards.  Additional action plans for other key District initiatives were written by central office departments.  All 2013-14 action plans can be viewed on the District website or by going to the following site: http://tinyurl.com/LRSPactionplans13-14

Level of Implementation Scale

At the conclusion of the school year, staff were asked to assess their progress towards implementing the various strategies contained in each action plan.  A separate column was established on the action plan form titled “Progress Summary.”  For each action strategy, the progress summary was to be reported according to the following Level of Implementation Scale:

Summary of Level of Implementation 2013-14

After reviewing action plans from all schools/departments, a summary (average) value for each strategic objective was compiled.  Below an overall District value as well as K-5, 6-8, & 9-12 value are reported for each of the Strategic Objectives that were identified as area of focus for the 2013-14 school year.  (A score of 3 would represent high level of implementation, where as a score of 1 would represent a strategy or initiative that has just been started.)

Goal Area 1:  Academic Performance - Each student meets or exceeds the high academic standards necessary for college and career readiness.

Strategic Objective 1.01 - Personalize Learning for each student to help all realize sustained academic growth in all content areas. (Short Title: Personalize Learning)

Overall District Level of Implementation Value:  2.06

K-5 Level of Implementation Value:  2.24

6-8 Level of Implementation Value:  2.15

9-12 Level of Implementation Value: 1.81

Specific Strategies and Actions related to Strategic Objective 1.01

2.57        Interventions at the K-5 level, review of the model

2.36        Pearson Inform for storing assessment data

2.23        Multi Tiered System of Supports (AKA RtI)

2.17        Teachers collaborating around interventions

2.13        Interventions for Skill Building:  Implementation of programs like IXL Math

2.11        Middle School Math Course Sequencing

2.00        Graduation Matters (at-risk student support)

1.92        Early Warning System (Dropout prevention)

1.86        Assessments - use of data to guide interventions

1.69        Pearson Inform for tracking interventions

Strategic Objective 1.02 - Utilize content area standards in planning, instruction and assessment. (Short Title: Instruction and Assessment)

Overall District Level of Implementation Value:  2.14

K-5 Level of Implementation Value:  2.19

6-8 Level of Implementation Value: 2.15

9-12 Level of Implementation Value: 2.08

Specific Strategies and Actions related to Strategic Objective 1.02

2.58        Other Curriculum Revision:  Fine Arts, Health Enhancement

2.57        Instruction in three writing types: Narrative, Informative, Argumentative

2.50        Content Standards Work - ELA

2.39        STAR assessment at 6-12

2.17        Implementation of K-5 Standards-Based Report Card

2.15        Close Analytical Reading across all content areas and grades

2.11        Content Standards work - Math

2.00        Indian Education for All - continued integration

2.00        Smarter Balanced Assessment - formative and summative

2.00        Tech Integration / Digital Citizenship Lessons

2.00        STREAM Grant - Development of math teaching strategies K-8

1.94        Fair Grading Practices discussion at all levels

1.83        Exploration of 6-8 Standards-Based Assessment

1.72        Quadrant D & UBD Instruction and Planning

1.70        Electronic Gradebook implementation K-5

Goal Area 3: Community Engagement and Partnerships - Bozeman Public Schools has created an environment in which all education stakeholders at the local, state and national level are supportive, engaged, and contribute to successfully educate our students.

Strategic Objective 3.01 - Enhance District transparency and accountability through effective communication with our community. (Short: Communication)

Overall District Level of Implementation Value:  2.25

K-5 Level of Implementation Value: 2.40

6-8 Level of Implementation Value: 2.36

9-12 Level of Implementation Value: 2.00

Specific Strategies and Actions related to Strategic Objective 3.01

2.83        Classroom newsletters & team newsletters (K-8)

2.75        Parent/Teacher conferences, Student-led conferences (K-8)

2.33        Exploring other forms of Electronic Communication

2.29        Communicating new standards-based report cards (K-5)

2.16        Parent education, events, training, & written communication

2.02        Sharp School - school website revision

1.99        Communicating student performance (assessment and standards)

Goal Area 4: Student and Staff Safety/Health/Welfare - Bozeman Public Schools has effective systems in place for students and staff to learn and work in a safe and healthy environment.

Strategic Objective 4.01 - Create safe, supportive, engaging and healthy school environments. (Short: School Environment)

Overall District Level of Implementation Value: 2.25

K-5 Level of Implementation Value:  2.23

6-8 Level of Implementation Value:  2.53

9-12 Level of Implementation Value: 2.00

Specific Strategies and Actions related to Strategic Objective 4.01

2.83        Bike/Walk School Initiatives (K-8)

2.50        Implementation of Counseling Curriculum (K-5)

2.46        Olweus class meetings, school protocol

2.25        Olweus Parent meeting/education

2.25        Implementation of Project REAL (RtI and MBI) in some schools

2.10        Implementation of individual or group behavior interventions

2.00        School-wide positive behavior support

Other Key District Initiatives with Level of Implementation Values:

In addition to the areas of focus described above, other significant progress was made on Key District Initiatives.  Those initiatives are described below with the Level of Implementation Value.

3.0        Chromebook Pilot (1.03 Technology Productivity)

3.0        Other PD models, i.e.Teacher Tuesdays, Screencasts (1.04 Professional Development)

3.0        Redevelopment of District calendar (2.01 Align Resources with Goals)

3.0        Participation in AA Caucus activities, i.e. Education and Local Government Legislative Committee (3.06 Advocacy)

3.0        Reduce workplace injuries with District-wide safety initiative (4.02 Wellness)

3.0        Transition to the HiSET graduation equivalency exam (1.02 Instruction & Assessment)

3.0        Expanded SRO Model, Curriculum review (3.02 Educational Partnerships)

2.5        Expansion of Powerschool K-5 (1.01 Personalize Learning)

2.5        Mega Issues:  School Safety, MTSS, School Facilities (3.04 Mega Issues)

2.5        Health Services - CPR, Vision Screen, Epi-Pen (4.02 Wellness)

2.5        Implementation of the Teacher Standards and Evaluation Process (2.03 Evaluation Process)

2.0        Implementation of new Business and HR Software (1.03 Technology Productivity)

2.0        Implementation of STAR and Smarter Balanced Assessments (1.03 Technology Productivity)

2.0        Collaboration for Common Core Implementation (1.04 Professional Development)

2.0        Long-range Facility Planning to accommodate enrollment increases (2.02 Enrollment & Facility Decisions)

2.0        Budget Reporting: Investigate methods of other reporting options (3.01 Communication)

2.0        Communicate BSD7 needs and initiatives with stakeholders (3.05 Funding Awareness)

2.0        Opportunities for partnership: summer learning loss, lab school, STEM (3.02 Educational Partnerships)

1.5        Continued work on the Principal/Leadership Standards and Evaluation Process (2.03 Evaluation Process)

1.5        School Messenger communication system (3.01 Communication & 4.01School Environment)

Implementation Framework 2014-15 (DRAFT)

After a careful review of the results of the 2013-14 strategic objectives and level of implementation, the following strategic objectives are recommended for areas of focus in the 2014-15 school year.

Focus Initiatives for the 2014-15 School Year (A focus for ProDev & collaboration)

1. MTSS/ Early Warning System / Data-driven instructional decisions (LRSP 1.01)
2. STAR Assessment and Reports; K-12 (LRSP 1.01 & 1.02)
3. Electronic Gradebook & Report Card (K-5) (LRSP 1.01, 3.01)
4. Utilizing content standards (CCSS & other MT/BSD7 content standards) in planning, instruction, & assessment (LRSP 1.02)
5. New evaluation process; development of the professional practice and student learning goal, flexible PIR, collaboration.  (LRSP 2.03)

Long Term Initiatives that will require some planning but may be a longer timeline (2-3 years).

6. Parent/Teacher conferencing (K-8) and Parent Engagement (9-12) (LRSP 3.01, 3.02)
7. Smarter/Balanced Assessments (LRSP 1.01)

8. Sharp School & other forms of electronic communication  (LRSP 3.01)
9. Technology Integration - improving student skills and meeting basic proficiencies (LRSP 1.03)
10. Fair Grading Practices (AKA 15 Grading Fixes) - assessment strategies (LRSP 1.02)

Sustaining Initiatives - require progress monitoring and check for fidelity

11. School Safety & Security - School messenger, Review/Revise safety protocols, Visitor Management System (pilot).  (LRSP 4.01)
12. Olweus/bully prevention - level of implementation and fidelity (LRSP 4.01)
13. IEFA: fidelity and level of implementation of the IEFA standards.  (LRSP 1.02)
14. Long range facilities planning to meet the needs of growing community. (LRSP 2.02)

Acknowledgements:

The superintendent’s office and BSD Board of Trustees wish to thank our entire education team for embracing the LRSP.  The effort of those who have been a part of the LRSP process is key and we look forward toward the growth of our plan as we enter the next phase of implementation.  This report represents the work and commitment of the BSD Staff, Board of Trustees, and members of the Bozeman Community.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the BSD7 education team on July 28, 2014 by

Robert J. Watson, Ed.D

Superintendent, Bozeman Public Schools