A focus for ongoing improvement in instruction, staffing, facilities and finance
A CONTINUING AGENDA for EXCELLENCE
Leadership:
- Create a clear and unified vision for progress.
- Set measurable goals for all, and support all in achieving them.
- Emphasize high performance standards; expect and reward excellence.
- Communicate openly, honestly and often.
- Oversee and safeguard a culture of integrity, respect and fair play.
Staff:
- Make competitive salaries a financial priority. (Hiring and retaining a quality staff is vital to learning. California will experience a shortage of 300,000 teachers within the next decade.)
- Keep knowledge current through ongoing staff development.
- Encourage and support collaborative planning.
- Foster open communication and inclusive decision making.
- Evaluate performance often through formal and informal assessments.
Parents & Community:
- Welcome parents as educational partners.
- Engage all stakeholders in decision making.
- Team up with government and business on projects that advance school/district goals.
Finance:
- Commit to balancing the budget.
- Maintain adequate reserves for financial uncertainties.
- Wherever possible, tie expenditures to educational goals.
- Continue legislative advocacy efforts (construction bonds, equalization and special education funding).
Facilities:
- Plan and build needed new classrooms/schools on a timetable ahead of development.
- Work well with neighbors in this process.
- Maximize local bond money through state matching fund applications.
- Plan and build efficiently to minimize changes and maximize money.
- Maintain facilities in a manor that lengthens their lifespan.
Curriculum & Instruction:
- Emphasize ongoing academic improvement.
- Stay current with research on teaching and learning.
- Regularly analyze programs and test data to refine/realign curriculum and instruction.
- Visit other high-performing schools/districts and bring back ideas for improvement.
- Broaden and strengthen the curriculum to provide appropriate challenge for all.
- Develop clear plans for GATE K-8 and BOHS AP improvement.
- Enhance instruction in the arts.
- Expand use of technology for academic enrichment.
Student, School, Community & Career Success:
- Appropriately prepare students for success on the High School Exit Exam.*
- Continue improvements in BOHS counseling to better address student needs.
- Emphasize character development through the new "Asset Building" program.
- Consider modifying high school requirements to add service learning.
- Welcome all to participate in diverse extracurricular opportunities.
(*HSEE Note: Brea's students fared far better than the state average in the first year of this exam, with 72% of freshmen from the class of 2004 passing both portions---math and language arts. Of those who did not pass, half passed the following year. Remediation efforts, both in class and out, currently are in effect for those who have yet to pass this exam. Recent news reports on the poor performance of students statewide on the High School exit Exam indicate it may be impossible to require passage of this exam as the basis for diplomas starting with the class of 2004, as was originally planned by the state.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -FOCAL POINTS FOR THE FUTURE:- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- Academic Achievement: High standards for success must be upheld. In today's complex world, our students need to know more.
- Personnel: We must attract and retain quality teachers, administrators and support staff, and provide frequent opportunities for professional growth.
- Curriculum: We must provide a course of study that is well-balanced, up-to-date and challenging to all students at all grade levels.
- Opportunity: We must dedicate ourselves to providing strengthened support for students at risk.
- Teamwork: We must support, at every grade level, the vital involvement of parents, and foster strong, cooperative relationships between school and home.
- Learning Environment: We must ensure adequate space for all students in schools that are safe, clean, orderly and inviting places to learn.
- Financial Security: Balanced budgets and prudent reserves are essential to the long-term stability of our schools.
- Outreach: We must expand our knowledge and enhance our opportunities through partnerships with government, business and industry.
- Ethics: We must live by our commitment to cultural values and personal integrity. To work well, we must model honor and inspire trust.
- Respect: We must reach out to realize and reaffirm Brea Olinda's role as one of California's finest school districts.
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