Winchester board adopts Elevate 2030 strategic plan

WINCHESTER, Va. — The Winchester School Board voted Tuesday to adopt Elevate 2030, the district’s five-year strategic plan, following a final presentation from staff on the plan’s priorities and key performance indicators.

Miss Buckley presented the plan and said the document builds on the district’s prior Empower 2025 work, emphasizing student voice, project-based learning and skills and dispositions the district hopes to develop over the coming five years. Superintendent Dr. Van Heuckelum (presenter name as stated at the meeting) said the strategy “doubles down” on student voice and agency.

The board approved the plan on a motion by Mr. Burchanoff and a second by Mr. Rothermel; the chair called for the ayes and declared the plan adopted. During the same meeting the board also approved the consent agenda — covering minutes, bills, the monthly finance report, facility usage and the CTE advisory committee — on a separate motion earlier in the agenda.

Why it matters: Elevate 2030 sets district priorities and KPIs for the next five years, and adoption signals the board’s formal endorsement of the direction and resource commitments reflected in the plan. Board members said they will review the plan’s KPIs in more detail at an October board retreat.

What the vote recorded: The board voted to adopt Elevate 2030 after motion and second; the chair announced the motion passed. The consent agenda was also approved earlier in the meeting. No roll-call vote totals were read into the record during the public meeting minutes provided.

What’s next: Staff said they will present a deeper dive into key performance indicators at the board’s October retreat and begin implementation actions aligned with the plan’s strategies.