Signifcant Challenges

This fall, Stonington’s Board of Education experienced a series of presentations called “Stonington’s Significant Challenges”.   Through each presentation, district leadership identified the most challenging aspects of our work and our plans for meeting these challenges head-on.  Each presentation concluded with a statement about how the BOE could best support the work of the schools.

The purpose of this post is to summarize the “Significant Challenges” presented to the BOE.

Significant Challenges in Operations: Maintaining aging facilities and systems operating at or beyond life expectancy. Impacts on efficiencies, phones, air quality and aged carpeting, maxed-out electrical systems.  BOE Support Requested: Utilization of CIP to address needs as presented by administration.

Significant Challenges in Technology: Supporting an enterprise level environment without sufficient resources; Operating new technologies on outdated equipment; Reactive rather than proactive tech supports; Inability to support creativity and innovation.  BOE Support Requested: Increase CIP spending for technology, Increase technician time and training, Formalize acquisition/replacement cycle.

Significant Challenges in Special Services: Providing successful school experiences for all students; Addressing intense/severe emotional needs presented at all levels.  BOE Support Requested: Support for efforts to design and implement comprehensive wrap-around services with embedded community supports and involvement.

Significant Challenges at SHS: Engaging at-risk students (specifically grade 9) who are not meeting academic, social and behavioral expectations.  BOE Support Requested: Institution of Summer Academy with focus on academics, engagement in student life, and a sound, personalized transition into high school.

Significant Challenges at MMS & PMS:  Meeting the needs of all learners by individualizing learning and creating effective interventions to ensure pathways for success at all levels.  BOE Support Requested: Increasing resources for Response to Intervention, mathematics and mental health supports, as well as secondary school reform requirements.

Significant Challenges at WVWB & DMS: Developing expertise to meet the needs of all children.  BOE Support Requested for WVWB: Staff development resources to address students’ abilities to access higher-order thinking through visual, auditory and motor systems of the brain; Supports to assist children who struggle to attend to learning, display endurance, demonstrate independence and engage in learning. Support Requested for DMS:  Resources to provide for differentiated mathematics experiences, special education  and social skills instruction and desired mental health supports.  All supports requested to meet individualized student needs.

Next Steps:

With these presentations complete, my office begins work in earnest on the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget for 2012-2013.   This year, I will advocate for the needs of the district through direct reference to our Significant Challenges and the goals identified in our Strategic Plan document.   Years of severely restricted budgets have, in some cases, led to the challenges we face today; and while budget decisions faced by our Board will no doubt be difficult, I believe that having the details surrounding our challenges will help to inform the discussions to come.

If you have questions about the challenges presented, please communicate with me, our principals or directors.  Any of us would be happy to discuss them with you.  Copies of the handouts associated with each of these presentations can be accessed on our website under “District Info” by clicking on “Significant Challenges Fall 2011″

We are firm in our resolve to address the challenges we face.

My best,

Leanne

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