Board adopts Year‑2 strategic plan with 19 projects; trustees press for clearer metrics and timelines

Rochester Community Schools’ leadership presented Year‑2 of the district’s five‑year strategic plan and the Board voted to adopt the plan after discussion and questions from trustees.

Mr. Russo and Dr. DeLuca introduced a steering committee that will advise cabinet and embed the strategic plan into district operations. The steering committee includes assistant superintendents and principals who will serve as plan owners and meet regularly with Team Rochester cohorts.

Highlights trustees discussed in detail:

• Plan 1 (K‑5 literacy): Presenters said some curricula that emphasize systematic phonics are already in pilot classrooms. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is expected to release updated lists of approved materials in January 2026; the plan sets a milestone of having materials for review by Jan. 15 and a recommendation for adoption by May 30, 2026. Administrators estimated $630,000 as an umbrella figure to purchase K‑5 materials across 13 schools; they said that amount is an estimate and not fully grant funded, and they did not provide a detailed grant/general‑fund breakdown that evening.

• Plan 2 (work‑based learning): The district will expand work‑based learning opportunities for grades 9–12 and build activity logs and an activity library to help new teachers find past projects and partnerships.

• Plan 6 (artificial intelligence): An AI steering committee will continue teacher training and classroom guidance; district tools (including Gemini and school‑level AI tools) and professional development were described as ongoing resources.

• Plan 9 (safety/visitor management): The district reported visitor‑management kiosks installed across all buildings; further integration with student management and visitor tracking remains to be completed before the New Year.

• Plan 10 (K‑5 STEAM): The pilot accounts for about 14 classrooms across 13 schools with an intent to expand, and was tied to career‑readiness grant funding where allowable.

Trustee Blake pressed for faster implementation and asked for clearer, measurable success criteria and earlier timelines where appropriate; other trustees urged balancing speed with due diligence, especially for large structural changes such as school start times. Trustees also urged parent, student and community involvement in plan committees; presenters said owner teams will include students, parents, industry partners and teachers when appropriate.

At the close of discussion the board voted to approve the Year‑2 strategic plan as presented. The motion passed 5‑1. Presenters said the plan remains a living document and that more detailed implementation schedules and measurable success criteria will be developed by plan owners and the steering committee.