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Richland One adopts three district focus goals after debate over measurable targets
Summary
The board approved three district focus goals tied to the strategic plan — improving school performance, increasing staff recruitment and retention, and expanding student offerings — after commissioners pressed staff for SMART benchmarks; staff agreed to provide numeric targets by Friday.
The Richland County School District One board voted to approve three district focus goals presented by staff, but the decision followed extended debate about whether the goals were sufficiently measurable.
Superintendent Dr. Witherspoon asked the board to approve three high‑level goals derived from the district’s strategic plan: (1) take strategic action to improve overall school performance based on individual school needs; (2) take strategic action to increase staff recruitment and retention; and (3) take strategic action to provide additional student offerings that respond to individual interests and needs. Several commissioners said those statements read as strategies rather than measurable goals.
Commissioner Barbara Weston asked for SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time‑bound) targets and a baseline. Commissioner lanac and Commissioner lomac (speaking from the floor) pressed that the board needs numeric benchmarks to know whether the district is making year‑to‑year progress. Commissioner lomac said bluntly, "these aren't really goals ... none of these are measurable," and urged specifying measurable outcomes for the 2024‑25 year.
Supporters said the focus goals are intentionally high‑level and that school‑level goals will cascade up to district metrics. Board members who participated in the strategic planning process said the five‑year strategic plan includes annual targets and that staff would provide cascading school plans and suggested numbers. The superintendent agreed to return numeric benchmarks by Friday after staff validation with the strategic plan consultant.
A motion to postpone until measurable benchmarks were provided failed; the original motion to approve the three focus goals passed (board vote recorded 5‑2). The board recorded that staff will supply the numeric targets and a Friday update to clarify how the focus areas will be measured and how school‑level goals will roll up to district objectives.
The approval narrows the board’s stated priorities for 2024‑25 but leaves detailed performance targets to follow in the coming days, when the public release of state report cards (tentatively Oct. 10) will provide additional baseline data.
