Todd Schechter

The board meeting included a formal roll call and the adoption of the agenda. The Superintendent provided remarks recognizing a long-serving district employee for his career contributions. The student board member reported on graduations, recognized retirees, and expressed appreciation for the retention of a school principal. Additionally, the student representative raised concerns regarding the inconsistent enforcement of the high school dress code and uniform policy. The assistant superintendent presented a comprehensive student safety data system report detailing incidents of violence, vandalism, and substance-related issues, noting a reduction in violent acts and discussing the prevalence of student vaping and the implementation of cell phone storage pouches as a strategy to improve school climate.

This Strategic Plan outlines key areas of focus for the Trenton Public School District. The plan emphasizes five core pillars: Student Achievement, Community Engagement/Partnerships, Developing the Whole Child, Staff Development and Well-Being, and Facilities/Infrastructure (Resources, Safety). These areas collectively aim to enhance the educational environment and outcomes for students and the community.

The board retreat focused on several administrative and personnel matters. The board members held a roll call and proceeded to adopt the agenda. The meeting transitioned into an executive session to address specific items, including a negotiation update, a confidential superintendent update, and a summary compilation regarding the CSA evaluation.

This document is a transcript of the first strategic planning meeting for the Trenton Public Schools, held on April 21st, 2026, to gather stakeholder input for the district's next three-to-five-year strategic plan, following the completion of the previous 2021-2026 plan. The core mission emphasizes ensuring all students graduate with a vision for their future, motivated to learn continually, and prepared for college or career. Key strengths identified include strong community engagement, dedicated staff, technology investments, robust extracurricular programs, a focus on restorative practices and social-emotional learning, continuous staff development, effective HR outreach, consistent leadership, and steady academic growth. Challenges highlighted include student and staff absenteeism, transportation issues, ensuring equitable resources across schools, climate control in aging buildings, managing learning loss, supporting a transient student population, and addressing external pressures like poverty and crime. The meeting underscored the importance of collaborative stakeholder input in shaping the district's future direction.

This document details the initial phase of strategic planning for Trenton Public Schools, focusing on identifying organizational strengths and challenges. It begins with the mission to prepare all students for future success in college or career. The first planning session, held on April 21, 2026, gathered stakeholders to brainstorm and identify common themes for strengths, such as community engagement and consistent leadership, and challenges, including student/staff attendance, parent engagement, and literacy rates. These outcomes form the foundation for developing future strategic essentials and goal areas.