Ross Local School District launches strategic planning initiative, invites community input

Ross Local School District said it will launch a strategic planning initiative "beginning in August," the district's presenter said, inviting students, staff and community members to help shape instruction and long-term classroom planning.

The presenter said the process will organize groups of stakeholders across the community "to focus on what we want the Ross Local School District to be" and that the district will "build everything in the schools based on what those stakeholders have...shared with us." The presenter described the work as a multi-stakeholder design effort rather than a staff-only planning exercise.

On staff participation, the presenter emphasized inclusion: "Staff are gonna be at the table, and that's all staff. That's not just teaching staff, but that's all of our support staff as well." The presenter specifically named bus drivers, custodians and food service as examples of support staff the district expects to involve.

Framing the effort, the presenter called Ross Local "a high performing district" and "a small community, but a mighty community with lots of traditions," saying the planning will seek to preserve valued traditions while identifying improvements. The presenter summarized the initiative's objective as "designing instruction, designing the classroom of tomorrow for the next decade for our students."

The presenter closed by inviting community participation next school year: "I invite you, come to the table, share your experiences, share those traditions that you're most proud of, but also let's be reflective and talk about where we can be better and what we can do for our students as we move into the future." The district did not provide specific dates, locations or a detailed schedule in the remarks; those details were described as forthcoming.