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Fog/Mist East Rock schools to make five-year plan
Strategic Planning Committee completes survey of parents, teachers, taxpayers
After spending most of the year collecting data, the strategic planning committee in the East Rockaway School District has completed its survey and is now working to form the basis of its strategic plan that will guide the school over the next five years.
The process began in mid-2014, when school officials first met to discuss the formation of the plan, which would outline the district’s goals, and its methods of reaching them, including areas where the district’s three schools most need to be improved. In January of this year, district administration and the school board held a public forum outlining the strategic planning process, and asking for residents’ help in gathering information about the district.
A call was put out to parents, teachers, administrators, taxpayers and other stakeholders in the school community to join the strategic planning committee, which would guide the district’s planning process. Superintendent Lisa Ruiz said the goal was to assemble a diverse group that would mirror the community it hoped to serve.
“We’re looking for voice from all over and across East Rockaway,” Ruiz said at the meeting. “We’re…looking for as many resident voice and perspectives that we can get.”
The committee, which consisted of 43 different community members, met for the first time in March. The group broke into smaller subgroups and looked at data about the district’s enrollment, demographics, achievements, finances and other facets before constructing and distributing a survey to all district residents, asking for their input on the health of the school.
The survey included questions regarding the district’s communication with parents and other community members, overarching goals and instruction and evaluation methods. It also asked residents what changes or additions they would like to see at their schools.
Kristin Ochtera, president of the school board and a member of the strategic planning committee, said the group was a diverse, knowledgeable and enthusiastic group that took their responsibilities to heart.
