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Board frames 2021–22 goals around SEL, equity, curriculum and board training
Summary
At a goal-setting workshop-style session, the Montgomery Township board identified four primary 'buckets' for 2021–22 goals: social-emotional learning, equity/inclusion, assessment/curriculum review and board communication/training, while debating whether to start a full strategic plan now or collect data first.
The Montgomery Township Board of Education used its July meeting to begin drafting district and board goals for the 2021–22 school year, settling on a small set of broad focus areas to take to principals and school leadership teams for further work.
Board members and administrators agreed on a structure of "big buckets" to guide the year: social-emotional learning (SEL), diversity/equity/inclusion, assessment and curriculum review, and internal board training and communication. Several members emphasized the difficulty of measuring SEL and suggested the district collect baseline data this year before launching a full strategic planning effort. "Less goals is more," said Jim Dolan, president of the Montgomery Township Education Association, urging focus and buy-in across stakeholders.
Discussion ranged from revising the science curriculum and auditing instructional materials to reviewing mission and vision statements. A parent raised concerns about removing the "honors" label from upper middle school math and early tracking; board members debated tracking vs. inclusion and noted the need to balance curricular rigor with equity concerns. Members proposed recruiting feedback through school leadership teams and returning a drafted set of goals for approval at the August meeting.
Next steps: district staff will collect input from principals and leadership teams, refine the buckets into measurable goals, and return a draft for board consideration in August.
