Patricia Dorsey

The Azusa Unified School District's strategic framework outlines key goals and principles designed to guide its operations. It focuses on six main strategic pillars: Student Learning, Human Resources, Budget and Finance, Community Engagement, Facilities, and Safety and Wellness. The overarching vision is for students and staff to achieve their full potential, contributing positively to the community through advocacy, critical thinking, effective communication, and compassion. The mission emphasizes creating a safe, caring environment that educates, empowers, and advocates for all students, nurturing diverse learning styles, and providing varied college and career opportunities.

This January update details the Azusa Unified School District's progress and metric updates for its strategic plan during the 2025-2026 school year. The plan is structured around six main goals: ensuring student growth and achievement on California State Standards, meeting the diverse needs of English learner students, preparing students for college or post-secondary opportunities, improving engagement through family and community partnerships, ensuring safe and restorative school climates, and specific academic and behavioral improvements for Sierra High School by June 2027. The plan aims to move the district towards these goals through collaborative efforts with educational partners and strategic use of funding.

The January update of the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) for the Azusa Unified School District (AUSD) details progress and updates for the 2025-2026 school year. This document serves as the second year of a triennial plan, developed collaboratively with parents, students, staff, and Board members. The plan is structured around six core goals: ensuring academic progress for all students, addressing the diverse needs of English learners, preparing students for college or post-secondary opportunities, enhancing family engagement, fostering safe and restorative school environments, and specifically improving outcomes at Sierra High School by June 2027. It aims to enhance academic performance, language proficiency, college/career readiness, family engagement, and school safety across the district.

The Azusa Unified School District's strategic direction is centered on a mission to create a safe, caring environment that educates, empowers, and advocates for all students, nurturing diverse learning styles and providing college and career opportunities. The vision is for students and staff to reach their full potential and contribute positively to the community through critical thinking, effective communication, and compassion. This is achieved through six core goals: ensuring comprehensive student learning, recruiting and retaining highly qualified human resources, responsible fiscal management, fostering strong community engagement, maintaining safe and technologically equipped facilities, and prioritizing the safety and wellness of all individuals.

The meeting marked the first session of the Safety Committee, established after collaboration with Union partners to determine its structure and frequency, with five virtual meetings planned annually. The session focused on establishing meeting norms, emphasizing respectful participation, staying muted unless speaking, and submitting questions via chat for presenters. Key discussion points included the committee's objectives, such as reducing employee injuries and creating a safe learning environment across the entire district, rather than focusing only on site-specific complaints. Members reviewed examples of safety concerns, such as improper chemical storage and fire hazards in closets, to illustrate the committee's focus. The process for submitting and prioritizing topics for future agendas, driven by member input, was outlined, along with potential partnerships with entities like Azusa PD and Fire Department regarding safety drills.