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Superintendent unveils district improvement plan focused on belonging, curriculum and facilities
Summary
The school committee approved a district improvement plan that emphasizes school culture, a multi-year curriculum review (supported by a DESE Prism grant), staff recruitment and facilities projects. The plan includes an AI task force and continued DESE coordination.
The Barnstable School Committee unanimously approved the superintendent’s district improvement plan, which sets four strategic objectives for 2025–26: a culture of belonging, curriculum and instruction, staff recruitment and retention, and school facilities.
Superintendent Sarah outlined the plan at the meeting and said it builds on last year’s goals. "Our first goal is related to a culture of belonging, a safe and inclusive climate, and a shared vision of student success," she said. The plan calls for continued use of YouthTruth survey data, expanded community mentor programs, joint labor‑management teams to discuss career ladders and student dysregulation and a restorative practices professional development series.
Curriculum work will continue on early literacy (year three of implementation), new district‑wide materials for health and secondary math and an initiated review of K–5 math. The district received a multi‑year Prism grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that the superintendent said allows additional curriculum review work that otherwise would have been postponed for budget reasons.
The plan adds an AI task force to identify opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence for instruction, assessment and student guidance. It also calls for a review of alternative learning programs (Project EXCEL and ACE) and continued support for MTSS implementation.
On staffing the plan includes stay interviews to improve retention, local recruitment fairs and development of career ladders and apprenticeship programs. For facilities the plan lists a prioritized five‑year capital program, continued indoor‑air quality work and pursuit of state and town funding sources. The superintendent said the district is working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority on accelerated repair and core program surveys.
Committee members praised the plan’s clarity and scope and voted to approve it unanimously. Several members singled out the stay‑interview work and the AI task force as important next steps.
