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Marion begins work on 2026'2031 strategic plan; board debates wording for vision, mission and graduate portrait
Summary
District staff launched stakeholder surveys and a data review for a new five-year strategic plan. The board discussed core values (favoring a short, memorable set), whether the vision should read "helping every student succeed" or shift to "each student," and began defining a "portrait of a graduate" that could include giving/community service.
District staff said the district will assemble a new strategic plan to guide 2026'2031 work and described the timeline: steering-committee meetings have begun, stakeholder surveys were launched for employees and families, Hanover Research will analyze five years of district data, focus groups will run in the coming months, steering committee work is scheduled for March, a revised work session will be held April 2 and a finished draft targeted for May 7 with board approval targeted for the May 26 meeting.
Mr. Whitehouse told the board the current five-year plan that ends this year "is going to sunset at the end of this school year" and staff are working to align a vision, mission and a set of core values that are both meaningful and memorable. The steering committee suggested core values and an acronym to help make them sticky in schools, and the board debated whether the district's vision should remain the current short tagline "helping every student succeed" or be revised to emphasize individualized support by using "each" instead of "every." Doctor Campbell argued for retaining the existing wording because "helping every student succeed" can be broadly interpreted and functions as a unifying tagline across all district roles.
The board also began a longer conversation about a district "portrait of a graduate" ' a compact statement of the skills and attributes students should possess on leaving Marion schools. Topics raised included civic giving and community engagement; Board Member Campbell suggested the district should explicitly teach giving (time, talent, treasure) and that community-service and mentorship options be made visible across grade levels. Several board members urged keeping core language short and easily recalled by students and staff.
Next steps: staff will continue surveys and focus groups, bring data synthesis to the steering committee in March, return with a refined draft at the April 2 work session, and present a recommended plan to the board in May for potential approval on the May 26 meeting agenda.
