Pasco School District holds study session to shape measurable benchmarks for "outrageous outcomes"

PASCO — The Pasco School District Board of Directors met in a study session to review a refresh of the district strategic improvement plan and to give staff feedback on which measures should inform interim benchmarks for the district—s "outrageous outcomes," Superintendent Whitney said.

Superintendent Whitney told directors the plan is built around ambitious, aspirational targets the district calls "outrageous outcomes," which focus on reading, math, ninth-grade on-track indicators, graduation and "meaningful connections and hope for the future." She said the board previously directed staff to refresh the district—s expiring strategic improvement plan and to identify measurable interim benchmarks that track progress from current performance toward the 100% targets.

"Our purpose this afternoon is to review the why behind each of the outrageous outcomes and then to highlight measures of progress for each outrageous outcome that we are already using to measure growth and achievement," Superintendent Whitney said. She added the session was designed to collect board feedback so staff can develop a recommendation the board can consider later.

Staff repeatedly clarified that the meeting was not intended to set numeric benchmarks or to add new assessments on the spot. "We are not identifying the measurable benchmark tonight," Superintendent Whitney said. She also told the board that adding assessments to the district—s assessment system would require bargaining with labor partners.

The session used an interactive, facilitator-led table rotation. Board members and the student board representative rotated among three tables; facilitators Carla, Mira and Sarah led discussions at the tables while staff members Joey and Raul helped implement the protocol. Directors spent about 10 to 12 minutes at each table and were asked to note any measures missing from staff—s lists and to describe the results they would expect to see from each measure.

A board member suggested in discussion that raising sixth-grade reading levels could serve as a leading indicator for improving ninth-grade on-track status and eventual graduation rates; staff said the district already monitors those relationships and would review them when selecting benchmark measures.

Superintendent Whitney thanked facilitators and staff for the protocol and engagement, and she said staff will use the feedback to determine the measures and benchmark goals that will be included in the refreshed strategic improvement plan. She told the board the district expects to return a recommendation for approval by June.

Board President Brown closed the session and thanked staff and directors for participating; no formal vote or numeric benchmarks were taken during the study session.