The Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board on Dec. 16 approved a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to the district's five-year strategic plan, but Board member Kelly Zimmerman cast the lone dissenting vote and asked staff to return with tighter, measurable targets.

The presentation: Policy lead Susanna Castellanos summarized the strategic-planning process and described the KPIs the administration developed to measure progress on board-approved priorities including instructional services, employee excellence, operational systems, family and community engagement, and communications.

Contested points raised by Trustee Zimmerman

- Growth targets in student proficiency: Zimmerman said targets calling for percentage-point increases of 8'to 10 percentage points annually were unrealistic over five years and risked demoralizing staff. She proposed a more modest 5% annual increase after an initial two-year push.

- Gifted identification: Zimmerman questioned a KPI that proposed increasing gifted-program identification by 3% annually, saying national averages place gifted identification near 6% and that the district should not "over-identify" students solely to meet a numerical target. She and Dr. Sloat discussed whether the KPI should instead focus on expanded screening coverage and equity of identification across campuses.

- Special education outcomes: Zimmerman criticized a KPI that aims for 75% of students enrolled a full academic year to meet at least 75% of IEP goals, arguing the district should set high expectations and ensure goals are measurable and appropriate.

- Employee excellence and retention: Zimmerman noted the goal language focused on survey-based perceptions of climate rather than direct measures of hiring and retention, and urged inclusion of retention and certification metrics.

Board action and vote

- Motion: Approve the strategic plan KPIs for the five-year plan.
- Mover: Chris Kenyon; second: (on the record) a board member.
- Vote: Aye (2) — Chris Kenyon and Board President Brian Parks; Nay (1) — Kelly Zimmerman. The motion passed 2-0 (two affirmative votes recorded with Zimmerman's recorded dissent and one board member absent or recused for the roll call at that moment).

What's next: Staff said KPIs are a working document and will be refined as baseline data are gathered; the administration will report progress to the board and may recommend adjustments after the first year of measurement.

Ending note: Trustee Zimmerman asked for a follow-up process to ensure KPIs are specific, measurable and aligned with the goals; administration said it would continue to refine baselines and metrics with cabinet members and return updates to the board.