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District links strategic plan to curriculum: personalized learning, CS mandate, AI in professional learning
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Dutton and Laurel Chiesa presented how the district is aligning classroom instruction with the strategic plan, emphasizing personalized learning, a new computer-science/digital fluency rollout, AI-aware professional learning and continued DEI and literacy work.
Assistant Superintendent Dutton and Laurel Chiesa summarized April parent-council and staff work showing how the district’s strategic plan connects to classroom instruction, professional learning and student voice.
The presenters said the district is emphasizing three strategic priorities: teaching and learning (personalized learning and a cross-disciplinary sixth-grade podcasting project), computer science and digital fluency (a multi-year rollout tied to a state mandate and Chromebook use), and professional learning that includes ethical, classroom-focused uses of artificial intelligence. They described benchmarks at fourth, eighth and twelfth grade and expanded workshops for students. Presenters said teachers held a full professional day in fall 2023 to study AI; that work continued into an instructional fair where teachers led sessions on ethical and pedagogical uses of AI.
Dutton and Chiesa also briefed the board on DEI work and a curricular review led by a consultant (Dr. Meredith Madden) that includes more than 45 K–12 teachers. They described a district literacy pilot that incorporated student surveys and feedback, and said the district is near the end of that pilot. The Tri State consortium review returned a set of recommendations and the presenters said the district followed a multi-step process to respond; Tri State described the district’s approach as exemplary.
On service learning and community partnerships, presenters highlighted clubs and student-run initiatives (for example, a Chromebook repair club and coding clubs), development of dual-enrollment opportunities with Onondaga Community College and visits to local industry partners. They said new high school STEAM teams were being formed to encourage cross-department collaboration, and that the district planned to adopt a new K–12 literacy core and develop a local “portrait of a learner” in line with state guidance.
Board members thanked the presenters and asked for follow-up on the literacy curriculum selection; presenters said they expect to return with selection information by the end of the month.
No formal board action was taken; the presentation was informational.
