PLANNING
TASK FORCE
INTRODUCTION
Fremont
County School District #38, Arapahoe School and the Arapaho community
collaborate to provide an outstanding education program to serve its
K-8 students and families throughout the Wind River Indian Reservation.
To meet the challenges that collaboration provides, the FCSD #38 Board
of Trustees, in 2001, established a strategic planning task force
to accomplish the following goals:
- Study and revise
the district’s mission as needed
- Analyze external
and internal opportunities and threats
- Examine external
and internal strengths and weaknesses
The
members of the strategic planning task force, in representation of
all stakeholders, are deeply committed to the belief that students
who attend Arapahoe School deserve to learn about the rich cultural
traditions and values associated with the Northern Arapaho Tribe.
Ninety percent of our enrolled students represent the Arapaho culture.
With
support from the superintendent and a consultant/facilitator who is
an expert in the development of strategic plans, the strategic planning
task force met three times from January 2001 through September 2001
to develop this plan. The strategic plan was created by members of
the task force in representation of all stakeholders in the Arapahoe
School community. It was the desire of the planning team to have the
plan be one of continual improvement over time to protect the district
and its students.
Once
the plan is approved by the Board of Trustees at its regular November
2001 meeting, it will be disseminated to the stakeholders. Then, the
Board and district superintendent will have the responsibility to
shepherd the plan throughout time by the development of action plans
that hold people accountable for positive implementation of each goal
area. The priority areas identified by members of the strategic planning
team that will be the core of the strategic plan as follows:
MISSION
STATEMENT
Fremont
County School District #38, Arapahoe School, and the Arapahoe community
are committed to ensure educational excellence; value students in
a safe and healthy environment; and to provide opportunities for positive
academic, social, physical, spiritual, and cultural development. This
commitment will prepare each student to perform at their highest potential
to meet the challenges in a culturally diverse world.
BELIEFS
In
recognition of the unique character of Fremont County School District
#38, Arapahoe School and the Arapaho community, the Strategic Planning
Task Force, in representation of our stakeholders, have identified
and present the following core beliefs:
GOALS-ACADEMIC
EXCELLENCE
All
Fremont County School District 38 students will be afforded the opportunity
to meet or exceed local and state educational standards, as designed
by FCSD #38 and the Wyoming Department of Education, in order to prepare
them for responsible citizenship, lifelong learning, and productive
employment. In order to attain academic excellence, Arapahoe School
will:
- Integrate all
content areas into district curriculum
- Establish assessments
in all content areas
- Investigate
the North Central Accreditation process
- Provide remedial
and enrichment programs
- Provide an
alternative learning program
- Investigate
and pursue a vocational/technical charter school
- Provide after-school
programs
- Provide a summer
school program
GOALS-FINANCE
Fremont
County School District 38 will maximize its ability to access funding
sources to accomplish district goals and to address the needs of our
students. In order to maintain funding the district will:
- Insure continued
Impact Aid funding.
- Investigate
benefits package.
GOALS-TEAMWORK
Fremont
County School District 38 and Arapahoe School will use teamwork strategies
to create an atmosphere of cooperation and understanding between parents,
students, community, trustees, and staff to accomplish the goals and
action plans of this strategic plan. To ensure teamwork the district
and Arapahoe School will provide for:
- Individual
needs through resources available (child/parent)
- Formation and
ongoing support for Parent committee (s)
GOALS-TECHNOLOGY
The
district five-year technology plan will ensure that Fremont County
School District #38 has and utilizes current and emerging technologies
for education, school operation and community involvement. Fremont
County School District 38 will:
- Provide access
to technology resources to the community
-
Annually
review the district technology plan for state and national compliance,
to address the needs of students, staff, educational, vocational
and operational programs
- Secure funding
to ensure modern technology is in place
GOALS-SAFE
ENVIRONMENT
Fremont
County School District #38 and families will work together to secure
a safe, positive environment, and recognizes the importance of cross
training in all safety areas. In order to meet this goal, Arapahoe
School will provide:
-
A
safe, adequate facility – classroom, playground, cafeteria,
school grounds
-
A
positive atmosphere for all students and staff , i.e. student
artwork, class bulletins, friendly staff, positive role modeling
from all
- CPR training
for staff, students, and community
GOALS-CULTURAL
VALUES
Fremont
County School District will respect cultural diversity and values.
Arapahoe School will:
GOALS-HEALTH
The
Fremont County School District #38 community will be afforded opportunities
for social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical health.
Arapahoe School will:
- Increase physical
education and health instructional time
- Increase positive
community activities
- Promote healthy
lifestyles and physical fitness
- Provide diabetes
prevention education
- Respect individual
spirituality
GLOSSARY
OF TERMS
ACADEMIC
EXCELLENCE
Academic
Excellence: Meeting or exceeding the school’s expected
requirements. Reaching the highest level of learning for each child.
Afforded the Opportunity: The district and staff
will give or provide the opportunity for the students to learn and
succeed
WDE: Wyoming Department of Education
Standard: Educational guidelines or objectives that
the State Department of Education has set for students to achieve.
Integrate: To mesh or include in other subject areas,
e.g., science can be taught through reading class.
Core Area: The core areas are the main focus or center
of instruction. These subjects are usually Reading/Language Arts,
Math, Science, and Social Studies.
Assessments: Instruments used to measure student
gains or mastery.
WyCAS: State standardized tests taken by all 4th,
8th and 11th grades.
Terra Nova: Standardized tests adopted and given
to all FCSD #38 students.
School Improvement Plan: A systematic process covering
eight essential school areas: Core Knowledge, Assessments, At-Risk,
Parent Involvement, Budget and Facilities; areas are researched for
improvement using at least three forms of data ( not all qualitative,
must include student performance data from NRT); where goals are set
for improving student performance. Action plans are developed to include
budget, staff development, and capital outlay. The plan is submitted
to WDE (Wyoming Department of Education) for approval.
North Central Accreditation: An agency that assists
school districts with state accreditation. This agency is strongly
supported by WDE.
Remedial: Alternative teaching methods given to students
requiring additional help
Enrichment: When skills are mastered, additional
activities are offered to take the student even further in his understanding
of a concept.
Charter School: A public school created within a
school district via a contract between its Board of Directors and
the FCSD #38 District Board. The approved charter runs for five years
and can be extended another five upon approval of the District Board.
The school must operate by its approved charter and contract.
Alternative Learning Program: A program to which
students are assigned to acquire remediation on standards not passed.
Systemic Changes: Improvements made within the school
or system to assure that federal, state, district and local education
requirements are implemented and met by the staff and students enrolled
in Arapahoe School. These improvements must be based on national,
state or local research.
Alternative Funding: All other funding acquired outside
the “General Fund” supported by the State of Wyoming,
which is based upon Average Daily Attendance and Average Daily Membership.
These would include grant acquisition or E-rate.
FINANCES
Alternative
Resources: These resources could be human or other donation
types.
Sustainability: The ability to carry on a project
after its funding no longer exists.
Impact Aid: A federal program that provides assistance to school districts
that are impacted by federal activities such as, (1) federal ownership
of land, and (2) students entering a federal area that are classified
as non-local children [such as a military installation].
Recruitment and Retention Plan: A plan that is developed
and implemented to attract new yet maintain existing employees.
Performance Based Schedule: Method of compensating
any employee who meets and district, school and professional performance
goals. The performance can be verified through the district’s
annual evaluation process.
Quality Staff Improvement: A program established
in the district on an annual basis to assist any employee with new
learning in pre-identified areas that match the district, school or
individual professional improvement plan.
Benefit Package: Each employee who works 30 hours
or more per week in FCSD#38 receives a benefit package. Benefits in
this district include health, dental, vision, life and disability
insurance. The specifics of each benefit can be obtained in the business
office. In addition, employees may request electronic transfer of
payroll and payroll deductions for Tax Sheltered Annuities.
Capitol Construction: Any major facility modification
or new building construction requiring state financial assistance
and that fits the statutory requirements outlined in WS 21-15-107.
Any district can fund its own capital construction via a bond program
providing the proper laws are followed. All plans for construction
must be approved by the state authorities and must meet all local,
state and federal codes where they are applicable.
TEAMWORK
Resources
Available: Human and/or material resources available to the
students and staff for educational purposes such as guest speakers,
the computer lab, media center and gymnasium.
Curriculum: The actual course content taught to our
students. This content is aligned from level to level within the school
system. The content or subject matter is also aligned to state and
district standards.
TECHNOLOGY
Emerging:
New technology items created to more efficiently meet the education,
instructional and business needs of the district.
Equal Access: All students have equal access to facilities,
educational programs and technology within the district.
Compliance: Students, employees and the Board of
Trustees of FCSD#38 must follow all district policies and regulations.
Where applicable, district personnel, students, and the Board must
comply with federal, state and district laws, policies and regulations.
Needs of the students and staff: To be determined
a “need” no less than three data forms, such as a survey,
tests, observations, and anecdotal records must be used.
Operational Programs: Programs and processes that
are part of every day operation, such as taking attendance, grading,
evaluating curriculum, maintenance of systems, along with procedures
in conducting school activities.
SAVE ENVIRONMENT
Cross
Training: To ensure protection and sustainability of school
assets and programs, skills and duties of certain school and district
positions are learned by a variety of staff members..
Adequate facility: An adequate facility means to
have all of the necessary equipment and resources to promote healthy
bodies, minds, and spirits.
Positive Role Modeling: Demonstrating positive, cheerful
attitudes, good manners, equal treatment and high expectations of
all students.
Stakeholder groups: Someone elected or appointed
to represent each of the following stakeholder groups: Administration,
School Board, Certified Teachers, Classified Staff, Parents, Students,
Community members.
Dynamic Education: An education filled with multiple
opportunities to excel, that is flexible, growing, with the ability
to change as needs change.
District and School Mission: The mission statement
within the document states the purpose of the school and district.
The mission is stated on Page 7 of this document.
District Beliefs: The beliefs of the district stated
on Page 7 of this document clearly outline or belief system based
on research and needs of the district. This belief system will drive
our goal accomplishment over the next five years.
CULTURAL
VALUES
Adequate
facility: An adequate facility means to have all of the necessary
equipment and resources to promote healthy bodies, minds, and spirits.
Cultural Diversity: The existence of different beliefs
and traditions and races within the school, community, state and nation.
Our role in school is to establish this fact and to model and teach
our students to respect this diversity in cultures.
Cultural Traditions and Values: Every culture in
the world has its own set of traditions and values that must be taught
and carried from generation to generation. In our setting we teach
the culture and values of the Northern Arapaho Tribe along with respect
for all other cultures.
Arapaho Tribal Elders: Adult members of the Northern
Arapaho Tribe who have been selected and honored with the position
to perpetuate tribal culture, values, spirituality and history.
21st Century Community Learning Center: Arapahoe
School serves as the 21st Century Community Learning Center to provide
after-school and enrichment programs for our students. It is a school-based
learning center that is safe and drug-free for students, families,
and the community.
Title VII: Federal bilingual grant program awarded
to our district to promote the Northern Arapaho language and culture.
Spirituality: The Board of Trustees and district
strategic planning has sanctioned the right of the educators within
the district to afford opportunities for our students to learn about
the spirituality of the Northern Arapaho culture within the school
district’s educational program.
Generational Poverty: Being in poverty for two generations
or longer.
Student Education Plans: All the critical documentation
amassed for each student in regular education, a 504 Accommodation
situation, the Building Intervention Team process and special education
program [IEP]. Some of the documentation includes standardized test
results [WyCAS, Terra Nova], interventions, professional evaluations,
professional observations, classroom grades for all subjects, CRT
results, discipline-health-attendance records and any other items
that provide consistent information about the student.
Strategic Planning Task Force: A team of individuals
including a facilitator, administration, board members, certified
staff, classified staff, parents, present students, past students,
and community members. These people devised a five-year plan for Fremont
County School District #38.
ACTION
PLANS-INTERVENTIONS
ACADEMIC
EXCELLENCE
Intervention:
Integrate all core areas into the district curriculum
1.
Implement a thematic approach in the 6-8 middle school program.
2. Periodically review, implement and evaluate a
common and consistent curriculum and student assessment program through
all levels within the school district.
3. Utilize the IM Series to track, document and maintain
the district curriculum and student assessment system.
4. Use the IM Series to monitor and assess teacher
integration of content standards and related student assessments.
5. Utilize current brain research and learning styles
concepts to develop, enhance, implement, and adjust teaching strategies
within the classrooms.
6. Assure that the levels of cognitive complexity
align specifically to the district’s performance standards.
Intervention:
Establish assessments in all content areas.
1.
Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate district CRT’s at all
levels in the system.
2. Use formal, informal and alternative testing means
to establish a higher level of student, group and school performance.
3. Use testing results to modify curriculum, assessments
and teaching strategies.
Intervention:
Meet AYP on state required testing.
1.
Analyze the prior year’s testing data to target areas of need
and refer to the school improvement plan.
2. Monitor student and group progress on a quarterly
basis in each content area and adjust the teaching of enrichment and
remediation activities to increase student achievement and to meet
AYP requirements.
3. Restructure the daily, weekly and monthly school
schedules and annual calendar to better meet student needs due to
state requirements, No Child Left Behind, and school and district
improvement plans.
4. Provide after-school and summer school programs.
5. Make systemic changes to increase instructional
time.
Intervention:
Provide an alternative learning program.
Intervention:
Implement a vocational/technical/career based charter high school.
FINANCE
Intervention:
Explore, identify and pursue grants and alternative resources that
meet the goals of Fremont County School District 38.
Intervention:
Insure continued Impact Aid funding.
Intervention:
Continue to collaborate and inform parents, community leaders and
county/state/nationally elected leaders of district accomplishments
and needs inclusive of adequate program funding and capital construction.
Intervention:
Develop and implement a recruitment and retention plan for Fremont
County School District 38 that involves colleges/universities and
meets PTSB requirements.
Intervention:
Study and then act to improve the district salary schedule and benefit
package.
Intervention:
Study the use of performance-based evaluation as a means of increasing
employee compensation.
Intervention:
Assure professional development funds are budgeted and expended.
TEAMWORK
Intervention:
Provide for the individual needs of each student and their parents
through district, school and community resources.
1.
Conduct informational meetings for parents, staff, and students.
2. Adopt a ‘one family at a time’ approach toward providing
critical information in a low key nonthreatening way.
Intervention:
Publish and continue to update a Parents’ and Students’
rights
and responsibilities document.
Intervention:
Form a PIO/PTA organization.
Intervention:
Increase parental participation, responsibility and collaboration
in school and district.
TECHNOLOGY
Intervention:
Provide community access to technology resources.
1.
Review the district technology plan for state and national compliance
and to ensure the community has the appropriate resources to perform
at the state and national levels.
2. Assure the educational, vocational and operational needs of staff
and students.
Intervention:
Seek and secure funding to ensure the district has modern technology
in place.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Intervention:
Provide a safe, adequate facility inclusive of all grounds and buildings
and programs within the district.
Intervention:
Create a positive school and district climate for students, staff,
parents and community members.
Intervention:
Provide each student with an equal opportunity to learn.
Intervention:
Implement appropriate discipline policies and safety programs that
provide for the welfare of all while on district property.
Intervention:
Collaborate with other Fremont County state and federal agencies to
implement a crisis management plan that adequately provides for district
needs as well as others in need of our resources.
1.
Provide CPR and first aid training for all staff, students, and community
members where it is deemed appropriate.
CULTURAL
VALUES
HEALTH
Intervention:
Increase student instructional time for physical education and health.
1. Promote
and increase healthy lifestyles and fitness levels.
2. Offer diabetes prevention education.
Intervention:
Recognize the symptoms of intergenerational poverty and address related
health issues.
