Hillsborough board unveils five‑year strategic plan; formal vote scheduled for May 13

The Hillsborough Township Board of Education previewed a five‑year strategic plan at its April 29 meeting and said it will formally move to adopt the plan at the board’s May 13 meeting.

Board President Marini presented the plan’s framework, including a "Portrait of the Hillsborough learner" and a proposed mission statement: "empowering all students to excel while finding purpose and joy in every aspect of their educational journey." Core values listed in the presentation include acting in students' best interests, ensuring safe and secure learning environments, fostering continual growth and championing diverse perspectives.

The board identified three strategic buckets to guide five years of work: Student Success (objectives include promoting proficiency in essential skills and strengthening stakeholder communication), Culture for Learning (including PK–12 mental health supports, consideration of full‑day kindergarten, and recruiting/retaining educators), and Facilities & Resource Management (advocacy, alternative funding models, and long‑term facility/transportation planning including a feasibility study for a new high school).

Board members and public participants offered feedback on wording in the "Portrait" and mission statement during the meeting, suggesting the plan consider adding the word "kind" to the learner attributes and debating whether to use "joy" versus "meaning" in the mission. The administration said committee meetings and community input will continue before the May 13 vote.

If adopted, administration and staff will develop implementation action plans and timelines to operationalize objectives over the five‑year horizon.