Sarah Baker

The strategic plan focuses on meeting students’ individual needs by maximizing teaching and learning. It aims to expand student support services to address academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs, while prioritizing physical and emotional safety. Additional goals include aligning and updating district systems, structures, and operations, as well as strengthening family engagement and connections.

The strategic plan of Indianola CSD focuses on preparing students for global success through rigorous and collaborative learning, nurturing social and emotional well-being, and maintaining values of innovation, fiscal responsibility, and safety. Key priorities include meeting students' individual learning needs, expanding student support services, aligning district systems, strengthening family engagement, and prioritizing physical, social, and emotional safety. The plan sets long-range goals such as achieving 85% proficiency in literacy by the end of third grade and ensuring 100% of graduates have a post-secondary plan.

The goals and objectives of the Indianola Community School District's education program are designed to align with the district's mission, vision, core values, and strategic direction. An advisory committee provides recommendations, and short-term and long-term objectives are established annually, reflecting needs assessments, committee recommendations, superintendent input, and legal changes. Annual progress reports are provided to the committee.

This long-range needs assessment enables the school district to analyze assessment data, get feedback from the community, and determine how well students are meeting learning goals. The assessment involves gathering information from various stakeholders (business, labor, industry, higher education, and community members) regarding their expectations for student preparation. A committee will be appointed to review state, local, and national achievement data, as well as locally established student learning goals, to determine and prioritize district needs. The superintendent will report annually to the board on the means used to keep the community informed of student progress. The board will use this information to determine major educational needs, develop long-range goals and plans, implement short-range and intermediate-range plans, evaluate progress, and report annually to the committee, community, and Iowa Department of Education.

The Indianola Community School District's Strategic Plan centers around the vision of "Proud Traditions...Unlimited Possibilities." It focuses on five key goals: continuous school improvement for learner benefit (mastering essential skills); effective communication and school district promotion (building community awareness and engagement); effective technology growth and integration (fostering innovation in education); meeting student needs (addressing social, emotional, academic, and physical needs); and fostering district and community pride and identity (cultivating a culture of success). The plan emphasizes a culture of high expectations, utilizing best practices in teaching and learning, and strategically allocating resources to achieve these goals. Specific initiatives include improving student proficiency in reading, math, and science, and developing online learning programs to enhance educational opportunities.