Spring Lake Park presents district operational plan: counseling, personalized learning, AI and Lighthouse School review among priorities

Spring Lake Park Public Schools administrators on Tuesday presented an overview of the district operational plan for 2025–26, outlining projects intended to advance the district’s strategic vision of “creating a world-class learning community” that supports personalized learning for each student.

The plan is organized around three anchors: engaged and enthusiastic learners; effective operations; and communications and connections. Presenters described a mix of continuing work and new initiatives tied to each anchor.

Key projects highlighted. - Counseling and student supports: Administrators said the district is finalizing a counseling framework for grades 5–12. The district plans an enhanced counseling model for grades 5–7, a looping counselor model for grades 8–9, and an enhanced model for grades 10–12. The project will focus on implementation support and ongoing evaluation. - Deepening student engagement and personalized learning: The district continues year two of a project to support teachers in designing engaging student work, expanding teacher facilitator roles and aligning learning spaces and furniture to learning tasks. Administrators said the district will pilot a revised approach to learner profiles at the secondary level and continue targeted reading interventions that align to the Read Act. - Career and college pathways refresh: The district will review and refresh its three pathways — technology/engineering/design; health and human services; and business and entrepreneurship — to align courses and credentials with evolving workforce trends and to expand internships, apprenticeships and credentialing opportunities. - Advanced curriculum reviews: The district plans year-three work on multilingual learning and world languages, year two of social studies review, and an initial year of math review. - Lighthouse School review: The district announced a review of the Lighthouse School (a program for highly gifted students) to determine whether its current placement at the high school remains the best setting for learners across grade levels. - Use of artificial intelligence: Administrators said they will provide guidance and a framework for teachers on leveraging generative AI to support the design of student work, giving one example platform by name. Presenters emphasized that AI is intended to assist teacher planning and not to replace teacher expertise.

Why it matters: Presenters said these projects build on multi-year investments and aim to improve student engagement and system supports without replacing local instructional expertise. The plan will feed into the district’s comprehensive achievement and civic readiness reporting.

Board reaction. Trustees asked clarifying questions about the Read Act phase timeline and the scope of secondary learner‑profile pilots. Several trustees praised the district’s continuous improvement focus and the multi-year planning process.

Where to find more. Administrators said the district operational plan and project milestones are posted online for families and that the board has had multiple opportunities to provide input during the spring work sessions and summer briefings.