Superintendent presents data-driven draft strategic plan; board hears PSAT/SAT and dual-enrollment update

Superintendent David Daniel presented highlights of a draft, data-driven strategic plan during the board's Aug. 20 meeting and reviewed student assessment trends and dual-enrollment access.

Daniel said an external consultant, Dr. Deborah Walstrom, helped lead a multi-day planning process that prioritized academic achievement, climate and culture, teacher retention, and consolidation options. "Academic achievement is our number 1 priority," Daniel said. The draft will be posted for stakeholder comment before the board considers adoption.

On assessments, Daniel walked the board through PSAT and SAT numbers while cautioning that small sample sizes—about 38 students taking the PSAT in recent years—make year-to-year comparisons sensitive. He reported Matthews High School averaged above the Virginia and global PSAT averages in recent years but emphasized that the data represent a minority of students.

Board members asked about costs and access to dual-enrollment courses. Daniel noted a revised fee schedule later in the agenda: $15 per college credit hour, which typically makes a three-credit dual-enrollment course approximately $45 per semester, compared with several hundred dollars if taken through the community college.

The board signaled it will continue reviewing the draft strategic plan and incorporate public and staff feedback before finalizing action.