School committee adopts "Thrive" mission and core beliefs, aligning strategy to equity audit

The South Kingstown School Committee voted to adopt a short mission statement and a core-belief framework designed to guide the district’s strategic planning and align actions with recommendations from an equity audit.

Superintendent James Pedraza presented the proposed language and the strategic-planning subcommittee’s recommendation to remove the word “draft” and formally adopt the mission: “In partnership with the community, our students will thrive.” He also recommended adoption of the Thrive core-belief framework: trust, high expectations, respect, inclusion, voice and equity. Pedraza said the framework synthesizes stakeholder input, research and the equity-audit findings.

The superintendent described next steps that would follow adoption: the strategic-planning subcommittee would craft a vision of a graduate, develop measurable key performance indicators for each Thrive pillar, and curate research and resources to support implementation. “This is not just a slogan on a wall,” Pedraza said, describing plans to link each Thrive pillar to research and performance indicators.

Committee members from across the table praised the short mission statement and the explicit ties to the equity audit. One member asked about alignment with an existing high-school “vision of a graduate”; Pedraza said the mission and core beliefs are intended to undergird K–12 work and that the committee would ensure alignment. A committee member asked about participation in the strategic-planning survey; the superintendent reported the survey included caregiver responses with representation across schools and noted the survey included families of students with IEPs and 504 plans.

The motion to adopt the mission statement and Thrive core beliefs passed by voice vote. Committee members said the subcommittee would continue drafting performance metrics and an implementation plan and would provide further community-facing materials that link each Thrive pillar to research.

What’s next: The strategic-planning subcommittee will develop a vision statement, measurable goals and an implementation plan that the committee plans to monitor in coming months.