Boyertown Area SD board adopts 2025–2030 strategic plan emphasizing MTSS, links to comprehensive plan

The Boyertown Area School District Board of Directors approved a final draft of the district's 2025–2030 strategic plan after a presentation by Superintendent David Heiser and a brief public comment period.

The plan lays out 30 broad district goals across five focus areas ' curriculum/instruction and professional development; finance and facilities; student services; technology and human resources; and school and community relations ' and will be linked to the district's state-mandated comprehensive plan, Heiser said.

Heiser said the district convened five planning meetings from February through June and invited nearly 120 stakeholders including students, teachers, administrators, support staff, parents and community members to help craft the document. "What is a strategic plan? It's really a framework. It's creating a vision for the school district," Heiser told the board. He described the plan as a top-level "malleable working document" that will be supported by a more detailed measurable-goals matrix starting in the coming school year.

The nut of the plan centers on implementing a districtwide multi-tiered system of supports, or MTSS, Heiser said, calling it "one goal that's really woven between all five of the focus areas." He explained MTSS as tiers of support meant to address universal instructional practices for about 80% of students (Tier 1) and more targeted interventions for smaller groups (Tier 2), and said professional development will follow a "less is more" approach across five years to build teacher capacity.

Public commenter Ruth Baker praised the process but urged stronger, measurable academic goals, saying the strategic plan's curriculum goals lacked numerical targets and urging the board to ensure the plan "has some teeth so that we can actually improve our academics." Heiser and board members responded that the comprehensive plan, which is required under Pennsylvania school code, includes measurable achievement targets and that the two documents will be linked; Heiser said the district will present a measurable-goals template and report to the board at midyear and year-end.

Board members asked how the plan will be monitored and whether the board can prioritize certain goals. Heiser said the SMART-model goals were set to be achievable and that the board will receive brief reports at work sessions tied to specific measurable goals and achievement data. He also said safety and security and achievement remain high priorities within the plan's focus areas.

The board voted to approve the strategic plan as presented, with an added link to the comprehensive plan. Motion language on the record ties the approved document to the comprehensive plan and indicates the board will receive ongoing reports and a measurable-goals matrix to accompany the strategic framework.

The superintendent said action planning sessions are already under way this summer, and the district will start communicating MTSS details to staff and the public before the school year begins.