Carol Bartlik

This document provides an update on a school district's five-year strategic plan, currently in its third year, encompassing five major priorities developed with community feedback. Key initiatives include enhancing elementary education through new literacy models, restorative practices, and sustainability programs; enriching the middle school experience with expanded clubs, therapeutic support, and schedule adjustments; and evolving the high school program via advisory systems, academic teams, and college readiness support. District-level efforts cover safety, cultural inclusion, mental health partnerships, fiscal management, and digital wellness. Future work focuses on elementary science curriculum, student well-being, middle school world language program refinement, and family engagement webinars.

This document outlines the Chapel School District's 'Tech for Good' vision, which aims to maximize technology's positive impact on learning, the school community, and the wider world. The vision prioritizes the quality and purpose of screen time, advocating for active, productive, and collaborative use. It details a comprehensive approach to online safety, combining smart technology, clear policies, and education for all stakeholders. Across elementary, middle, and high school levels, technology is integrated to foster digital citizenship, critical thinking, computational skills, AI literacy, and real-world project-based learning, ensuring students are responsible and effective digital citizens.

The Board of Education meeting covered several administrative and operational updates. Key discussions included the coordination of safety measures during recent congressional depositions held within district facilities, an extensive review of the decision-making process regarding inclement weather policies and remote instruction, and a report on upcoming district events. Additionally, the Board reviewed a grant to support the school's robotics program and discussed a resolution regarding an auditing and asset management contract.

This strategic budget presentation outlines the school district's financial plan for the 2025-2026 academic year, aligning it with ongoing strategic priorities. Key focus areas include providing a fiscally responsible budget that supports robust social-emotional, extracurricular, and academic programs, fostering a progressive learning environment, and developing the whole child. Specific initiatives include enhancing middle school programs, introducing an elementary world language program, improving security, expanding academic and elective offerings, and supporting student wellness. The plan also addresses curriculum innovation, special education services, technology upgrades, and infrastructure maintenance, all while ensuring financial sustainability and community engagement.

The meeting included a review of district response to recent severe weather, including appreciation for maintenance staff efforts. The board discussed administrative clarifications regarding district size and acreage. Updates were provided on the schedule for upcoming principal coffees and student government activities across elementary, middle, and high school levels, including spirit weeks, Holocaust Remembrance Day events, and the launch of student-led school newspapers. Strategic plan updates were presented, covering the hiring of a fundraising consultant for a school economic lab, the annual independent hardship waiver for teacher evaluations, and updates to the district audit policy.