Bill Bensinger

The Kirkwood School District's Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for the organization to guide decision-making and achieve its mission of equipping students with essential skills and knowledge. The plan focuses on four priority goal areas: ensuring relevant and rigorous curriculum, instruction, and programs; fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion; prioritizing student and staff social, mental, and emotional health; and enhancing communication and engagement. The overarching vision is for every student to be engaged, empowered, and ready for success.

The key discussion topics for the Communications Committee meeting involved general updates and coming soon items, with a significant focus on social media strategy. Discussions included current channels and processes, a review of analytics for the District Facebook and Instagram accounts, and evaluation criteria for appropriate social media content. Furthermore, the committee explored opportunities for more innovative social media utilization, such as student takeovers, live streams, and storytelling projects.

The key discussion topics included a review and follow-up from previous meetings, specifically focusing on administered surveys and next steps. The committee also discussed ongoing digital accessibility efforts, noting an April 2027 deadline for meeting updated federal standards. Furthermore, an exercise centered around strategic plan visioning was completed.

The committee meeting focused on the administration's Budget Planning Process for the year. Key agenda items included a review of each of the district's non-operating (restricted) funds, such as Maintenance, Technology, Construction, Prop i, Activities, and Debt Service. Additionally, the committee reviewed the distinction between utilizing a market analyst versus an underwriter for financial advisory services, and an overview of three property tax bills impacting school district financing currently under legislative discussion was provided.

The committee discussed several safety enhancements. Key topics included the impending rollout of blue lockdown buttons across campus buildings for emergency door securing. Development of a Safety Ambassadors program involving high school students was outlined to promote safety accountability. Updates were provided regarding new access badges issued to the Glendale Police Department, and the ongoing exploration of a new alert system. Open discussion addressed pedestrian access issues due to snow piling near a sidewalk crossing and speeding traffic, with recommendations made for city intervention including snow clearance and implementing double-striping. There was an extensive review of Robinson crosswalk safety initiatives, including alarming reports from a Vision Zero professional regarding vehicles traveling at extreme speeds (55-90 mph) in front of the school and a strong recommendation for a crosswalk combined with vertical deflection measures like speed humps.