JCSS 2024-2029 Strategic Plan

Jackson County School System 2024-2029

Strategic Plan Approved May 2024 Updated July 2025

Vision, Mission & Core Beliefs

Vision The Jackson County School System will excel nationally in academics, arts, and athletics, fostering the development of well-rounded individuals who contribute positively to society.

Mission The mission of the Jackson County School System is to strive for continuous improvement and excellence in achievement, performance, and life preparation for all students.

Core Beliefs All students can learn in a safe, engaging, challenging, and supportive learning environment School, family, and community collaboration are essential to continuous improvement An essential function of school is to prepare students to be independent and critical thinkers, problem solvers, and successful, lifelong learners.

Providing students with opportunities to learn, develop, and excel outside of core academic areas promotes connections that are critical to a positive learning environment.

It is the duty of the district to be responsible stewards of public funds and resources while putting the essential needs of students first.

The Retention and recruitment of a quality workforce is paramount to student success.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan 2024-2029 Goal Area I: Student Achievement & Readiness Goal Area II: Organizational & Operational Effectiveness

Goal Area III: Quality Workforce & Professional Growth

Goal Area IV: Family & Community Engagement Goal Area V: Positive Culture & Climate

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan 2024-2029 Goal Area I: Student Achievement & Readiness Performance Object A: Increase mastery of standards in all content areas through high quality curriculum, instruction and assessment INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Develop coherent and aligned curriculum and assessments Establish a shared vision for Teaching and Learning moving forward.

Continue district design teams comprised of individual school PLC leads for each content area and grade band and build capacity in team leads.

Establish an ongoing process to review and evaluate the curriculum, assessments, and resources for alignment, engagement, and effectiveness (high quality, authentic, purposeful, aligned to frameworks).

Continue assessment audit with collaboration among district and school leaders quarterly and use results to streamline and reduce assessments where possible.

Embed best literacy practices in all content areas and grade levels.

Continue grade band grading committee to ensure learning progress is reliably assessed and consistently communicated.

Implement ongoing professional learning to build capacity in teams to develop and support curriculum, assessment, and instructional resources, including supports for special populations.

Refine and utilize the balanced scorecard with collaboration among district and school leaders yearly as part of a continuous data cycle.

Support teacher collaboration in effective professional learning communities to impact student learning.

Evaluate and refine vision and expectation for PLCs (supporting templates, look-fors, protocol).

Continue district design teams comprised of individual school PLC leads for each content area and grade band.

Implement ongoing professional learning to build capacity in PLC leads to facilitate collaboration that impacts student learning.

Develop a plan to monitor ongoing effectiveness of PLC practices.

Establish and maintain a comprehensive data system for monitoring student progress (PreK12) and making decisions to improve educational practice.

Establish a process for identifying and facilitating professional learning based on student and teacher needs.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan 2024-2029 Goal Area I: Student Achievement & Readiness Performance Object B: Increase student engagement INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Engage students in an active learning environment incorporating problem-solving discourse, collaboration, and flexibility to meet students’ needs.

Provide professional learning for teachers in effective instructional strategies that foster student collaboration, critical and creative thinking, problem solving, real-world application, and student efficacy and ownership.

Strengthen common instructional expectations that support engagement to establish models of instructional practice.

Conduct peer observations and feedback in each school, involving all teachers.

Provide professional learning for instructional coaching, mentoring, peer observation, and debriefing to support instructional growth.

Establish a learning culture for student success Assess current practice and strengths in facilitating student goal setting and growth mindset; establish structures, tools, and expectations for student goal setting and monitoring their own progress towards goals.

Provide professional learning for effective integration of digital resources and digital creativity tools into teaching and learning to improve professional practice and student performance.

Support personalized learning that incorporates student choice and voice in the learning path and products to demonstrate mastery of standards.

Provide professional learning on inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments .

Support Integrated instructional approaches and digital resources to place students in the roles of knowledge constructor, innovative designer, and problem solver.

Establish a culture of high expectations that supports the development of learners attitudes, beliefs, and skills for success.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Student Achievement & Readiness Performance Objective C: Increase college, career and life readiness INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Improve student readiness to learn and achieve at every level Improve kindergarten readiness through caregivers' workshops.

Create a clear transition process between elementary and middle school.

Create a clear transition process for students between middle and high school.

Increase enrollment in and support for accelerated enrollment options (AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment) and work-based learning through promotion campaigns for students and professional learning for teacher and counselors.

Increase enrollment in and completion of career pathways (including advanced academics, CTAE, fine arts, and world languages) and post-secondary credentials through a robust advisement and registration process to inform students and families and professional learning to inform teachers and counselors.

Improve college and career guidance and support across grades K-12.

Assess current practices for college and career guidance and alignment to desired student outcomes.

Implement a district wide plan to expose students to a variety of career opportunities, beginning in elementary school.

Refine and continue parent engagement nights to promote awareness of college and career options with a focus on all populations.

Establish and implement a K-12 plan for college and career planning.

Refine plans and implement districtwide college and career readiness assessment and preparation day.

Collaborate to train and support teachers and counselors regarding college and career readiness and advisement.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area II: Organizational & Operational Effectiveness Performance Object A: Implement effective and efficient operational processes INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Maintain a comprehensive plan to support district facility and operational needs Evaluate facility needs continually.

Prioritize facility investments to address student needs.

Maintain annual reviews and updates of the district 5-Year Facility Plan.

Implement preventative maintenance protocols to reduce the amount of equipment and vehicle down time.

Monitor district enrollment and impact on school facilities and operations Analyze enrollment numbers to identify growth trends.

Collaborate with local government leaders to stay informed of county and municipal development.

Maximize state, federal, and local funds to build and renovate facilities.

Performance Object B: Maintain fiscal responsibility and accountability INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Equip school and district leaders to meet fiscal responsibilities and expectations Maintain 100% participation of school and district leaders in annual review of the Financial Handbook.

Identify leaders who need budget training.

Create a fiscal responsibilities training process for school and district leaders.

Annually evaluate internal control processes.

Participate in annual financial audit.

Continue transparent budgeting process Frequently review budget with school and department leaders.

Review process to ensure input from all schools, departments, and organizations.

Collaborate with the Board of Education throughout the budgeting process.

Communicate budget information with all stakeholders.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area II: Organizational & Operational Effectiveness Performance Object C: Allocate resources to maintain a safe and secure environment for students and staff INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Strengthen safety protocols, resources, and processes Create a taskforce to audit safety to identify protocols, resources, and processes by department.

Examine safety protocols, resources and processes best practices (nationwide and statewide).

Identify and prioritize department needs for safety improvement.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area III: Quality Workforce & Professional Growth Performance Object A: Recruit highly effective staff for all positions INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Strengthen and increase partnerships with colleges, universities, and technical programs Analyze data to target partnerships with programs that produce quality graduates.

Implement partnerships with JCSS Teaching as a Profession program.

Monitor compensation to ensure continuing competitiveness Evaluate the salary schedules of surrounding districts annually.

Evaluate fair market value of classified and trade positions annually.

Collaborate with finance department to ensure that personnel priorities are included in budget planning.

Implement a robust recruitment campaign Attend and host career fairs annually.

Maintain and improve web-based recruitment.

Implement job preview processes for potential new hires.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area III: Quality Workforce & Professional Growth Performance Object B: Retain dedicated, high performing professionals INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Improve and Expand Induction Programs Develop and implement an induction programs for classified positions.

Analyze data to continually improve district teacher induction program.

Support and train school level leaders to support induction programs.

Promote a positive working environment Increase opportunities for staff to provide feedback on work environment.

Analyze data from staff surveys to determine areas of improvement.

Implement plans to address areas of improvement as identified by data analysis.

Increase Employee Recognition Maintain and expand school level employee recognition programs.

Implement employee Extra Mile Award at the district level.

Implement service awards for employees dedication to JCSS.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area III: Quality Workforce & Professional Growth Performance Object C: Increase focus on developing and supporting staff in all positions INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Provide and expand opportunities for professional growth Analyze data to determine targeted areas of need.

Develop professional learning programs for classified staff.

Implement district wide professional learning opportunities based on data.

Expand and improve new leader professional learning.

Promote a positive working environment Identify a committee of leaders to support career advancement.

Analyze data to determine targeted areas of need.

Develop professional learning programs with a focus on career advancement.

Implement district wide opportunities targeted on career advancement.

Improve and promote employee wellness and safety Identify a committee to develop plans to foster employee community, wellness, and safety.

Analyze benefit options available to employees and adjust based on feedback.

Increase awareness of employee assistance programs.

Implement district wellness initiatives to address needs of employees.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area IV: Family & Community Engagement Performance Object A: Increase effective family and community engagement INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Establish family and community engagement events for district and school levels Continue collaboration between school, district personnel and stakeholders on systematic and effective engagement opportunities.

Offer a variety of events to appeal to different interests and needs.

Evaluate engagement events and gather feedback for continuous improvement.

Creating a warm and welcoming environment for all families inside the school community Establish best practices for creating a warm, welcoming environment.

Train staff and implement best practice methods.

Create and utilize resources to properly communicate with families in home language.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area IV: Family & Community Engagement Performance Object B: Utilize varying methods to increase internal and external communications INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Assess and enhance the effectiveness of current communication methods Clearly define goals and best practices for communication methods.

Perform a regular audit of all communication channels and materials to assess consistency, relevance and alignment with goals.

Analyze data from communication audits to refine and adapt communication strategies to meet the evolving needs of our audience.

Increase internal and external stakeholder education and awareness for inclusive language tools.

Effectively promote school system through recognizing student and staff achievements Clearly define communication goals and tailor messages to suit unique characteristics of the intended audience.

Utilize owned media and media partnerships to effectively promote success of system.

Leverage district public relations personnel to maximize effective communication and engagement opportunities throughout school system.

Strengthen protocols for effective student and staff recognitions.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area IV: Family & Community Engagement Performance Object C: Build mutually beneficial relationships with all stakeholders and partners INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS:

Identify and map partners within the JCSS community Utilize information gathering techniques to better track stakeholders and partners throughout Jackson County.

Create and maintain a comprehensive list of business partners through collaboration with the Family Engagement Committee.

Partner with stakeholders on projects that benefit all members of the JCSS community Create and promote volunteer opportunities for parents, alumni and community members within JCSS schools.

Partner with community and regional businesses to provide support and growth opportunities for students and staff.

Regularly appreciate the contribution of stakeholders and business partners through multiple avenues, to include social media, school newsletters, websites and other marketing material.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area V: Positive Culture & Climate Performance Object A: Create and maintain a safe, welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for students, staff, parents, and community.

INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Audit current "whole child safety" initiatives Identify team members to conduct the review of the current "whole child" safety initiatives.

Identify and analyze current initiatives for implementation and effectiveness.

Identify potential initiatives to address in Year 2-action plans.

Implement initiatives and monitor progress and effectiveness.

Performance Object B: Promote social and emotional support for JCSS students and staff INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Promote Social and Emotional Supports for students and staff Create a multidisciplinary team to assess current social and emotional supports.

Identify and compare national recommendations of mental health providers to current student ratios and supports.

Determine the effectiveness of the social and emotional supports for students.

Create an action plan to address identified areas for growth.

Implement Pilot program to address identified needs.

Jackson County School System Strategic Plan Goal Area V: Positive Culture & Climate Performance Object C: Establish and maintain clear and high expectations of excellence for JCSS students and staff.

INITIATIVES & ACTION STEPS: Promote and support extracurricular opportunities for all students Create a diverse group of stake holders to assess current extra-curricular opportunities for students.

Work with stake holder group to gather data regarding student interests via surveys.

Create and maintain extra-curricular participation database annually.

Work with school leadership to increase extra-curricular participation.

Promote and support staff in efforts to provide extra-curricular opportunities for all students.

Review athletic and academic supplement schedules to determine if compensation for athletic, artistic, and club/activity sponsorship is competitive.

Meet annually with school leadership to review extra curricular opportunities.

Complete GHSA Title IX survey annually.