Gresham‑Barlow board embraces shared‑goals approach in strategic planning session

GRESHAM, Ore. — The Gresham‑Barlow School District Board spent its Aug. 21 strategic planning work session regrouping around a new shared‑goals model that will link board priorities, superintendent actions and regular progress reviews. Board members and district leaders said the change is intended to reduce overlap, clarify responsibilities and make superintendent evaluation and board oversight more transparent. The board discussed four long‑term “conditions” — safety, belonging, opportunity and achievement — and proposed that both superintendent and board identify concrete actions each year that support those conditions. The approach narrows the board’s focus to a few high‑priority goals and asks the superintendent and cabinet to identify measurable action steps and evidence of progress. “If we only have four things we’re focused on, we can align resources and have clearer midcourse corrections,” the facilitator said during the session. Board members said they want the system to produce regular, documented updates so the board and public can see progress and course corrections. The board’s next steps include drafting those board actions that will sit alongside the superintendent’s actions and designing the monitoring cadence for quarterly executive‑session reviews and a March final evaluation. The session began with a procedural vote to approve the meeting agenda; the motion passed by voice vote. No formal policy changes were adopted at the session; board leadership said the shared‑goals model and associated implementation details will return to the board for approval once staff and board leadership draft specific action statements. Officials said the model is intended to be iterative: the board will pilot the shared‑goals alignment for the coming year, use the March evaluation cycle to adjust, and then refine the process for future full‑year cycles. Looking ahead, the board directed staff to draft the board’s action steps that will pair with the superintendent’s actions and to return a monitoring template and calendar for quarterly updates.