Superintendent unveils strategic plan focusing on safety, social-emotional supports and pay incentives

Superintendent Francis Touchette presented the district's 2026 strategic plan at the board training, saying the document reflects input from students, families, teachers and local businesses and will be publicly posted on the district website. He said safety and social-emotional supports are top priorities and described new monitoring and response steps for students who are struggling.

Touchette said the district has social workers in every school and highlighted regular reporting through QR-code feedback for parents and monthly updates to the board. “When we lose one kid, that's too many kids,” he said, urging more proactive social-emotional supports and increased research and tiered interventions for schools with higher needs.

On compensation, Touchette described an incentive-pay approach that he said has already lifted starting pay and produced salary increases across the district. He told the board that some teachers now earn $60,000–$80,000 depending on experience and credentials and cited principals whose salaries are near $115,000 to illustrate the district’s competitiveness. He also said the draft budget includes a $3,500,000 incentive pool for teachers to earn additional pay based on a matrix the district will publish.

Touchette outlined retention strategies including a residency placement program for new teachers that requires two years of service to the district, and a leadership institute aimed at developing assistant principals and principals from within the district. He asked board members to push the central office where needed and promised a follow-up packet showing principal and teacher pay changes by school.

The superintendent framed the plan as a multi-year effort tied to accountability metrics and growth reporting, and invited board feedback before implementing final changes.