Professional Action Plan

School district continues improvement plan

The improvement plan at Marshalltown High School is getting much of the focus from district administrators, but there are also plans in place to help boost student achievement at the rest of the district schools.

The strategic action plan is coming into shape after years of work in the district as result of community focus group meetings.

The plan has two primary goals for the future of the district - to increase student academic achievement and ensure that schools are safe.

Superintendent Marvin Wade said the plan is an ongoing plan but parts will be implemented this fall to staff either through professional development days or through teacher observations.

Wade said it's important to not just talk about the plan but see it actually working.

"We don't want it to be just a plan, we want it to be an action plan," he said.

The implementation of the plan will include strategies and ways to allow for best practices to be in place to achieve the two main goals.

"It's making sure that we've got a narrowing focus," Wade said.

Another key piece of the plan is to monitor indicators that show the results, such as graduation rates or success in college.

The plan is also a way to bring every school on board under the same umbrella.

"We are making sure plans for each building align with the district plan to make sure all the schools receive the same training," Wade said.

The plan was presented to the Marshalltown School Board last Thursday. Wade said the plan will continue to change and they plan on updating the board with those changes.

"As we move forward as a district it is important to periodically have discussions between the administration and the board to make sure the direction we are going and the actions we are taking as administrators remain consistent with the vision and expectations of the board," Wade said.

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