District consultant lays out five-year strategic plan; board to review before public release

Paul Pendleton (consultant with the ESC) presented a draft long-range strategic plan to the Garfield Heights City Schools board on Sept. 15, saying the plan seeks community ownership, measurable goals, and active implementation over five years. Pendleton described a multi-stage planning process: a lead team and larger stakeholder meetings, focus groups, a one-day planning retreat, and action teams that drafted specific strategies and action plans. He said the process produced core values, a mission and a vision that emphasize personalized pathways, innovation and community partnership. The plan lays out five broad goals, Pendleton said: strengthen fiscal responsibility and pass renewal levies to sustain operations; raise academic success so all students demonstrate increased annual growth (the presentation cited a target of "one-and-a-half years" growth for some students); increase parent engagement significantly by 2030; develop a district-wide communications plan; and ensure student discipline is applied consistently according to the code of conduct. Pendleton said implementation has already begun in some areas and that action teams will produce periodic evaluations. He said the board has not yet given final approval; he asked that the board review the packet provided to members and that the administration produce a community-facing brochure after board approval. Superintendent Dr. Reynolds said the packet will become a working document, and that staff will begin printing a brochure and scheduling public engagement once the board acts. No formal board vote on the strategic plan occurred at the Sept. 15 meeting. Board members thanked the consultants and staff for their work and asked for public access to the materials; Dr. Reynolds said the district will make the summary available after the board's review and approval process and will revisit progress every six months.