Click here for a printable copy of Creating a Strategic Plan for the Boonton Township School District Meeting #1 or simply scroll to read the report.

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Creating a Strategic Plan for the Boonton Township School District

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boonton Township School District is to provide a solid educational foundation for all students, while challenging them to fulfill their individual potential.

This potential is best achieved through a diversified curriculum designed to meet the needs and aspirations of all students, while fostering self-esteem, independent thinking, and respect for individual differences.

To accomplish this mission, instruction shall be presented in an exciting manner designed to challenge all levels of capability and encourage, on behalf of our children, a lifetime love and appreciation of learning. For this mission to succeed, all facets of the school and community must work together efficiently.

Session 1 of 3 - What are the Strengths and Challenges/ Opportunities of the Boonton Township School District?

On November 7, 2022 Boonton Township administrators, staff, Board members, parents, and community members came together to initiate strategic planning. The first evening's topic focused on the strengths and challenges/opportunities of the Boonton Township School District to help inform the question of where the district is now.

The meeting began with welcoming remarks by Barry Brantner, President of the Board of Education. Dr. Christian Angelillo, Superintendent, provided an informative overview of the district. Charlene Peterson, from New Jersey School Boards Association, introduced the strategic planning process and assisted throughout the small and large group work.

The participants gathered into seven mixed stakeholder groups to brainstorm the strengths and challenges/opportunities of the Boonton Township School District. After discussion, each group came to a consensus on up to the top 10 strengths and top 10 challenges/opportunities and presented those to the full group of meeting participants.

The information that follows is a summary of the work of the small groups. All consensus points may be posted on the district’s website.

Work of the Small Groups:

Table 1
STRENGTHS	CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
Small district – opportunity for involvement	Academic equity
Great teachers	Socializing skills in a small school
Great student to teacher ratio	Long-term costs of building upgrades
Diversified curriculum	Budget and taxes
Facility is well maintained	Social-emotional support
Security upgrades, police officer present	Use of social media
Technology upgrades	Accommodate learning disability before discipline (have a heart for those kids!)

Table 2
STRENGTHS	CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
Stability of leadership. Low turnover for admin and faculty/staff	Kids at RVS too long?
Student involvement	Wish for more diversity
K-8 building (community)	Special education – wish for more inclusion
“Private school” due to size	Wish for climate survey
Feel safe	Wish for our kids performance information at high school level
New position to address SEL	Facilities
Relationship with town council	Virtual access for greater parent involvement
Teacher training	More transparency
Updated resources/curriculum	Budget/2% cap
BTEF and HSA involvement	Better alignment of curriculum with Mountain Lakes
	Wish for better contractual control at Mountain Lakes High School

Table 3
STRENGTHS	CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
Staff: student ratio – staff/student rapport	Scheduling – often causes issues such as “small school: or “limited staff.” Limits student access. · Only certain 8^th graders get math · Special education & electives, etc.
Focused perspective of administration and district	Special Education program – room for improvement. · Designated physical space. Middle school space separate from elementary space · Positive versus consequences · Inclusion and co-teaching, not just aides
Technology	Math Program Students’ achievement needs improvement Curriculum alignment with co-district Mountain Lakes
Sports/activities – so many quality options for all student interests	Library access – Books! · Too much tech · Pen-to-paper learning
School encourages self-advocacy of students at each developmentally appropriate stage. Example: elementary school versus middle school – prepared for high school.

Table 4
STRENGTHS	CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
Small/safe personal feel	Too small/struggle with real world resilience/learn to fail
Dedicated staff	Infrastructure
Great extracurricular activities – varied and wonderful	Better rapport with Mountain Lakes – better alignment of curriculum and programs
Sense of school identity and school spirit	Separate identity from Mountain Lakes High School community
SOAR program	Inclusion/co-teaching/in-class support
Community center	Schoolwide celebrations of diversity/celebration of heritage months (Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian/Pacific Heritage Month, etc.). Appeal to HSA/BTEF for funding or staff for POC author talks, POC community leaders, and educators
Parent groups very involved	Push academic clubs and sports (but clubs more)
SEPAG group = active	Make SOAR more visible
Beautiful, well-kept facility	Positive discipline model – get rid of TAR (teacher action reports)
Robust fundraising from BTEF & HSA	Accelerated math more visible
Use of social media to inform and use pictures to describe school activities	Can we integrate kids’ voices?

Table 5
STRENGTHS	CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
Transportation/bussing	Curriculum alignment with Mountain Lakes
Organizations: BTEF, HSA, SEPAG	Access for parents with young kids (virtual)
Positive lower class experience	Consideration to change class during the day (space limits)
School spirit	Communication/engagement
Staff/teachers	Stronger parent community and engagement
Action-oriented administration	Streamline to one technology platform for teachers to be uniform
Clean facilities, pride in building/maintenance	CLIMATE – understanding needs of staff and community
Good activities selection	Diversity and inclusion
7^th/8^th grade present as a team, team meetings – more unified approach	Syncing calendars with Mountain Lakes
Fledgling program	More education on roles of security in building
Wellness lab	Orientation/welcomeness to those new to the district
	Challenges and transitioning to Mountain Lakes High School

Table 6
STRENGTHS	CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
School spirit	K-8 – very familiar. Small group
K-8 district · personal relationship with faculty · age-appropriate “bubble” · fledglings and falcons · typically small classes	7^th grade math · Algebra - Geometry
Strong lesson planning · consistent · vertical/horizontal · common planning · mentorship/team	Articulation (not coordination of curriculum – we have that) between subject areas – Boonton Township/Mountain Lakes
Maker Space · 5^th grade – stand alone · 6^th – 8^th grades technical/STEM	More social groups K-4 · Not sports · Electives – grades 5-8 middle schools
Parents – BTEF/HSA. Tech support funded	Maker space starts younger · More experiential learning activities · Authentic experiences
Know all teachers and staff · Quick response · Strong staff

Table 7
STRENGTHS	CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
HSA/BTEF – sense of community and fundraising	Regionalization · Do we plan? How? · Who is advocating for RVS? – PTA, BOE, Admin, town · Start send-receive relationship earlier (7^th & 8^th)
Teachers and staff	Improve relationship with Mountain Lakes district
K-8 – small size	Transparency – improved but want more (i.e. ongoing communication, changes in policies, staffing, new additions – Maker Space, TARS
Parent involvement	Special Education · Inclusion with certified staff · Professional development for staff and families
Falcon of Month/Star Student	Climate and culture survey
Clubs	Move away from TARS and to positive discipline
Diversity Council – Kean University	Match staff diversity to student population
Police presence

The second strategic planning session is scheduled for: Tuesday, November 29 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. During the November 29th meeting, using a similar brainstorming process, we will identify our visions for the Boonton Township School District five years from now. The final meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 13 at 7:00 pm to write goal statements using the input from the two previous sessions.

Please join us. Everyone is welcome, even if you were not able to attend the first meeting. We look forward to seeing you!

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Input Sessions Nov-Dec 2022

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Rockaway Valley School
Excellence in Education