Working together to support student achievement

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Mount Vernon School District and our 800 teachers, administrators, and support staff, I welcome you to the 2007/08 school year!

This year, we will focus our efforts around our three school board goals. Here is a summary of some of what you can expect:

Goal # 1: Increase learning for all students, while closing the achievement gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students.

To address this goal, we plan to:

• Train teachers and administrators in research-based teaching strategies;
  
  
• Strengthen reading programs and instruction in grades 5–12;
  
  
• Improve math instruction at all grade levels;
  
  
• Strengthen options for highly capable students at the middle school level;
  
  
• Implement a dual language program in kindergarten and first-grades at Madison;
  
  
• Develop a plan to hold students more accountable for their own learning, while ensuring that supports for struggling learners are available in all schools.

Goal # 2: Increase on time high school graduation rates for all students, while achieving consistency in the rates of disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students.

To address this goal, we plan to:

• Enhance the coordination between teachers in grades 5–9;
  
  
• Strengthen options for middle and high school students who need extra support;
  
  
• Improve the transition of students from elementary to middle and middle to high school;
  
  
• Continue to strengthen and develop the small learning communities model for ninth-grade students;
  
  
• Implement the Navigation 101 advisory program for high school students.

Goal # 3: Address immediate facility needs and establish a long-range plan to address future needs.

To address this goal, we plan to:

• Enhance the standard of care for our facilities;
  
  
• Complete a backlog of routine maintenance items;
  
  
• Identify short- and long-term major maintenance needs;
  
  
• Re-evaluate our plan to address renovation and expansion of our facilities.
  

Some time during second semester, we will ask voters to approve a measure to replace our current Maintenance and Operations levy, which expires at the end of 2008. This levy provides close to 24 percent of our operating revenue and funds basic, essential services including classroom teachers, instructional assistants, fine and performing arts programs, librarians, counselors, programs for highly capable students, and services for students with disabilities.

To be successful, our schools need parents and families to support students' social and academic development beyond the school day, week, and year. I urge you to stay connected to your student's teacher(s), to stay informed about what students are learning, and to consistently stress the importance of working hard in school. For our part, we will continue to work to find better ways to keep parents, families, and the community informed.

Again, welcome to the new school year. Together, we can make it one of the most
successful yet!