10/3/2023
Lawson Cardinals Community,
Lawson R-XIV's primary objective is to provide the highest quality education to every child in our care. To achieve this, we recognize the need for clear and strategic goals that guide our efforts and ensure that we are constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of our students.
Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, we sought input from various stakeholders. We also conducted data analysis of existing programs and processes while carefully considering the educational landscape and our role and responsibilities as a school system. All of this went into developing our District's 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. The plan consists of 9 goals, each of which aligns with our vision for making Lawson R-XIV a place "Where proud traditions meet today's challenges to provide endless possibilities" that shape the educational experience of our students.
Our commitment to developing our plan was grounded in 4 fundamental principles:
Student-Centered Approach: Our top priority is the well-being and success of our students. We believe that by setting clear goals, we can better tailor our educational programs and support services to meet the unique needs of each child.
Continuous Improvement: We are dedicated to a process of continuous improvement. Our priority goals are not static; they evolve over time as we gather feedback, assess our performance, and adapt to new challenges and opportunities.
Transparency and Accountability: We value transparency in our actions and decisions. We will clearly communicate our priority goals to parents, teachers, and the community and hold ourselves accountable for progress toward these goals.
Collaboration: Developing and achieving priority goals is a collaborative effort. We will actively seek input from parents, teachers, students, and community members to ensure our plans reflect our school community's diverse perspectives and needs.
As we enter the first full year of the plan, the Board of Education has pinpointed 5 of the listed goals as priority goals for the 2023-2024 school year.
2023-2024 Priority Goals
The school board will develop a long-range fiscal plan to address employee compensation and facility needs.
Prepare for the long-range facility needs of the District.
Establish a plan to update curriculum offerings to engage students in career exploration.
Establish a plan to update curriculum, assessment, instructional practices, and resources to engage students and increase academic achievement.
Explore expanding Early Childhood Learning Opportunities for preschool-aged students.
These goals will guide the District's work for continuous improvement within our schools, preparing our students for future endeavors. With validity, our District's commitment to excellence remains steadfast. We are confident that, together with our dedicated educators, supportive parents, and engaged community members, we can achieve our goals and provide our students with the best possible educational experience.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working collaboratively with you to fulfill our mission of "Preparing students for lifelong learning, achievement, and citizenship."
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Stephenson
Superintendent of Schools
Lawson R-XIV