A CONTINUING AGENDA for EXCELLENCE

By Teresa Hampson

A focus for ongoing improvement in instruction, staffing, facilities and finance

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.
• Listen well; act to solve problems promptly.
• Involve stakeholder groups in all key decision making.
• Oversee and safeguard a culture of integrity, respect and fair play.
• Encourage innovation, reward excellence, celebrate success.

• In times of lessened resources and heightened anxieties, ensure that whatever support can be offered IS offered - with training, through increased volunteerism and by other creative and collaborative means.
• Continue support of collaborative planning time and professional learning communities.
• Evaluate performance often through formal and informal assessments.

• Welcome and involve parents as educational partners.
• Communicate clearly and often.
• Team up with government and business on projects that advance school/district goals.
• Improve outreach to ethnic minority and limited English speaking communities.
• Welcome the community to witness bond accomplishments.

• Maintain a balanced budget.
• Protect adequate reserves to ensure financial stability.
• Wherever possible, tie expenditures to educational goals.
• Continue legislative advocacy efforts.

• Plan and build needed new classrooms/schools on a timetable ahead of development. (First on the list: the new Olinda Elementary, now set to open Fall 2011.)
• Maximize local bond money through state matching funds and enhanced developer fees.
• Plan and build efficiently to minimize changes and maximize resources.
• Maintain facilities in a manor that lengthens their lifespan.

• Ensure that continuing academic improvement remains an overarching goal.
• 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.
• Protect arts instruction, too often the first casualty of tight times.
• Support enhanced uses of technology for academic enrichment.

• Provide instruction that appropriately prepares students for course progress and standardized testing (High School Exit Exam, SAT and AP), college and career success.
• Continue to emphasize character development through adopted, districtwide program.
• Consider modigying high school requirements to add service learning (structured community service, including learning and reflection).
• Welcome all to participate in diverse extracurricular opportunities.
• Continue to research and enhance practices that help serve students at risk.

• 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 reaffirm Brea Olinda's role as one of California's finest school districts.