VISION STATEMENT

The small communities of the Mill Creek Valley School District have changed considerably over the past twenty years. These past years suggest a transformation consistent with the larger societal change frequently described as the movement into the information age. The communities have gone from self-sufficient individual agricultural communities to those who also serve as labor pools for the surrounding cities. During this same period the quality of education in the schools of the district has continued to produce students who possess a high quality of achievement and who have gone on to make significant contributions as adults.

We believe it very important to continue to prepare a portion of our students for an industrial and agricultural world. However, at the same time, we realize our society has changed and that our schools must also change to recognize the new needs of society and the students we educate.

It is time for rethinking, reassessment and renewal. We believe that the major resource of the Mill Creek Valley School District is people. Empowering people of all ages to act in their own and community's best interest must be the major purpose and focus of our schools.

EXIT OUTCOMES

We have developed a list of certain skills we believe are important for every student to possess in order to make a positive and lasting contribution to society and themselves. The beginning of the learning process of these skills starts at various grade levels throughout the school years. Many start at the elementary level, while some start at the middle school and high school levels. However, the goal remains to have every graduating high school student attain these skills before graduation.

To this end we will develop students who:

1. Can demonstrate knowledge of basic skills in Reading, Writing, Math, and Technology.

2. Will be self-directed creative learners who will be able to apply problem solving and critical thinking skills in analyzing and solving problems.

3. Will be able to demonstrate oral and written communication skills through various media for a variety of purposes and audiences.

4. Demonstrate honesty and respect towards others, the community, the environment and property.

5. Recognize rights and responsibilities to use his/her time, energy, and talents to improve the quality of life for families, communities, the nation, and world.

6. Will engage in individual and group decision making, demonstrating collaboration, adaptability, and teamwork.

7. Will demonstrate leadership skills by becoming involved and using initiative, organizational skills, and resourcefulness to inspire positive movement towards goals.

8. Demonstrate principles of physical, emotional, and psychological wellness.

ROLE OF THE SCHOOL

We believe that:

- Education is the foundation of a democratic society.

- The quality of community life is based in large measure on the quality of its people. Schools are one of the major resources for people development.

- Today we must make sure our schools serve the needs of a changing society. In order for our schools to continue to serve the community well, they must continuously adapt to the changing needs of the districtÕs citizenry.

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

Through the use of various community and educational committees, ten strategic goals for the district have been developed. The main outcome desired is to implement as many of the strategic goals as possible in the next five years in order to help improve the opportunities of district students and members of the communities throughout the entire school district.

STRATEGIC GOALS AND STRATEGIES

1. Provide the skills necessary for higher education and/or the work force of the future.

a. Develop and implement various separate HS curriculum areas with better opportunities to prepare students in the college preparation and vocational fields.

b. All district course offerings will integrate problem solving and critical thinking skills.

2. Develop and implement programs that encourage lifelong learning.

a. Conduct a community survey as to what adult education course offerings would be most beneficial to the public.

b. Expand the adult education curriculum to enrich the lives of community members.

c. Integrate the importance of lifelong learning in selected HS course curriculums.

3. Actively create and maintain a quality learning climate in which staff, facilities, and technologies support the mission of the district.

a. Emphasize Effective School principles in all teaching and administration of district buildings.

b. Ensure that facilities and technologies support the mission of the school district.

4. Develop and expand performance based assessment methods to increase accountability of the mission of the district.

a. Develop an assessment matrix which will assess a student's abilities using a variety of accurate evaluation instruments and techniques.

5. Continually improve a blended curriculum and instructional program which can provide for the individual and diverse needs of students.

a. Review district course curriculums to determine where integrated learning can be enhanced.

b. Expand integrated learning opportunities to better meet the individual needs of students.

6. Provide an educational environment applying methods and management concepts which support optimal use of human, fiscal, and educational resources.

a. Analyze building conditions through an annual building audit performed by the superintendent, building principals, and all board members.

b. Use available statistical data to project enrollment numbers annually for at least five (5) years in advance, to anticipate individual building space/utilization.

c. Proactively anticipate, identify and provide curriculum support and resources required.

d. Encourage and recognize meaningful input to improve the overall learning environment.

e. Determine the measurements by which success will be defined in the optimization of human, fiscal, and educational resources.

7. Encourage parents to take an active and enlarged partnership in continuing and increasing learner development.

a. Identify and utilize parental resources to provide "personal experience" opportunities to specific learning situations.

b. Establish and maintain a district wide data base for personal experience resource utilization.

c. Strongly encourage teachers to involve parental participation in take-home homework activities.

d. Provide opportunities for parental guidance in study skills (parent university concept).

8. Expand the role of the community in school programs for quality learning.

a. Identify and utilize community/district wide resources to provide opportunities to contribute to specific learning situations.

b. Establish and maintain a data base for resource utilization.

c. Encourage hands-on learning within community resources through "shadow programs".

9. Increase cooperation with parents and the community to provide programs that support the physical, social and emotional needs of the individual student.

a. Encourage activities involving students, parents, and businesses to provide positive social activities for district students, i.e. "Teen Time".

b. Help provide awareness through support of programs such as S.A.D.D.

c. Provide local resources for discreet discussion of personal concerns.

10. Develop management policies and procedures to ensure a highly competent staff through recruiting, continuously improving professional development programs and monitoring of student outcomes.

a. Solicit and utilize feedback from former students on how educational outcomes met needs.

b. Encourage use of student outcomes through evaluation of standardized testing.

c. Develop a networking base for the recruitment of staff.

d. Review effectiveness of certified staff evaluation process, including new evaluation methods, i.e., student and parental input.

e. Establish survey methods to solicit customer feedback.