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District steering committee recommends five core values; school committee approves new wording
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Summary
A steering committee made up of staff, a student and a school committee member developed five district core values — equity, dignity, excellence, community and integrity — and the school committee approved their adoption and directed implementation steps such as website updates and a communications rollout.
The Dennis‑Yarmouth steering committee on core values presented a recommended set of five district values to the school committee — equity, dignity, excellence, community and integrity — and the committee approved the wording and next steps.
Superintendent Marilyn (facilitator of the steering committee) described a multi‑week process that began with staff and community surveys, a word cloud analysis and iterative drafting by a volunteer committee that met weekly from May through June. The committee included school staff, parents, a student and School Committee member Miss Bemis.
The steering committee worked from exemplars and district documents, consolidated common ideas from survey responses and then drafted definitions for each value so they are clear in the Dennis‑Yarmouth context. For example, the recommended equity statement begins “We provide fair access to education, allowing everyone to reach their full potential,” while excellence was defined to emphasize rigorous engagement and mastery fostered in the district’s scholars.
The committee recommended implementation steps if the school committee approved the values: website updates, a branding and communications campaign to familiarize the community with the language, and integration of the values into district publications and practices. The school committee unanimously adopted the proposed core values and asked the administration to begin the recommended rollout.
Why it matters: Clearly stated district values can guide decision‑making, communications and school culture. The steering committee aimed to create language that staff, students and families can interpret consistently.
What’s next: The administration will update the district website, produce communications materials, and begin integrating the values into district documents and outreach.
