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Board adds Woodbury curriculum review and parent engagement to non‑capital goals
Summary
The board agreed to add a rigorous review of Woodbury School curriculum and a new parent‑engagement goal to its non‑capital goals. Members approved language to encourage student volunteering and clarified student conduct language to apply at all levels.
At its June 17 meeting the Salem School Board revised its non‑capital goals to add a targeted review of curriculum and student outcomes at Woodbury School and a separate goal on strengthening family engagement.
Board member Bernard Campbell proposed a new non‑capital goal directing a “rigorous and in‑depth analysis of the curriculum, instructional methods, student support services, and resulting student outcomes at Woodbury School” to identify strengths, weaknesses and actionable recommendations. Campbell said the building renovations are now complete and that long‑running gaps in state assessment results at the middle‑school level require renewed attention. The proposed language allows the district to consider retaining external consultants from regional universities or educational organizations for an objective third‑party analysis.
Members agreed to add the Woodbury review as non‑capital Goal 5 and to remove two other goals to keep the total at five. The board also accepted an edit to a guiding principle to “encourage student volunteers within the community,” and agreed to restore “all levels” language in the student conduct goal so it applies districtwide rather than singling out specific school levels.
Board member Kelly Moss proposed (and the board accepted) a new non‑capital Goal 6 aimed at strengthening trust and collaboration with families by directing administration to develop strategies for meaningful family engagement, seek regular parent feedback on programs and policies, and develop a parent‑education program to support student learning. Superintendent Mara Palmer said much of that work is already underway in the district’s strategic plan and that administration can support a board goal if the board chooses to adopt one.
The changes were made by consensus during goal discussion; no formal roll‑call vote was recorded in the minutes. The board directed staff to compile the revised goals into a single clean document for the July meeting and to return a final package for adoption.
