Wenatchee School Board Approves Five Year Strategic Plan

The Wenatchee School District has a new, five-year strategic plan in place after the school board voted to approve the document during its most recent meeting.

A Strategic Planning Committee made up of parents, staff, students and community members used the district's pre-existing core values of excellence in learning, equity and accountability to form the new plan.

Through those core values the 17-member committee identified three priorities:

• Maintain a thriving environment
• Create access to opportunities to students
• Build partnerships within the community

As part of the plan's framework, six future-ready outcomes for students have been identified in the plan. They are:

• Experience high-quality instruction
• Receive high levels of social and emotional support
• Read at grade level by 3rd grade
• Ready for algebra by 8th grade
• On track for graduation
• Involved in real-world, relevant learning

Before voting in favor of the plan, Board President Laura Jaecks echoed other members' sentiments that the board was not involved enough in the process, despite periodic updates. Board members appeared to warm to the plan once they confirmed the plan could be revised over time.

"Perhaps in the plan there (could be) some recognition that this is a dynamic, living, breathing document and that it will be revisited and updated," suggested Jaecks.

The five-year strategic plan will have a soft launch in January.

School improvement plans will next be developed in the early spring based on the district's strategic plan.