The Mount Airy Board of Education was presented with work from its community-based strategic planning initiative at its regular meeting Wednesday.

MCO Leadership Associates Dawn Wooten and Melody Coldfelter presented the board with some draft recommendations from the committee on priority focus areas as well as drafts of a vision and mission statement for the schools. Clodfelter told the board individual school improvement plans would be developed along with the strategic planning process.

Priority focus areas identified are academics, staff and school district culture and climate. The committee’s draft to the board placed academics as the top priority with an emphasis on being world class. Steering committee members also indicated the focus for staff would be on developing staff because it felt the district already does well in hiring and retention of employees.

The committee also expressed its support of increasing partnerships both with business and community as well as more parent involvement as another priority focus area.

“Much of the methods here will hopefully support you not being a system of schools but a school system,” said Clodfelter. “For instance, you will be building on pride of community that is already there instead of starting without community support. The critical thing to consider is how do we align our resources with our priorities or how do we move the district to the next level.”

Although a full strategic plan has not been formally adopted by the board, one draft of the vision statement for the district indicates that it aims to have students who will think critically, innovatively solve problems and be responsible citizens and confident leaders with a passion for learning.

One draft mission statement for the schools states the goal of the school system will be to deliver a superior curriculum which establishes a foundation of knowledge and empowers students to choose their future and be successful. The mission statement also stipulates the district will provide a safe, supportive and stimulating learning environment that motivates and develops the confidence and persistence necessary for students to meet challenges.

Clodfelter and Wooten said the next step for this process begins this Friday and is the action planning phase which will involve principals in setting specific goals reflecting the general priority focus areas. These specific plans will be brought to the steering committee and then will be brought back to the board for approval.

“Clarity is the key to all of this,” said Mount Airy Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory Little.”At the end (of the strategic planning process) people have to have a clear idea of what we want to accomplish. There has to be a clarity and specificity on how to push our district to the next level.”

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.