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Parkland School Board outlines 2024'25 priority goals, emphasizing security, mental health and literacy
Summary
Superintendent-level leaders presented consolidated district priorities for 2024'25 focusing on campus security and cybersecurity, a long-term budget and Vision 2030 plan, expanded mental-health supports and evidence-based literacy, and set next steps for implementation and staff training.
Parkland School District leaders on Aug. 20 presented a consolidated set of priority goals for the 2024'25 school year that emphasize strengthening physical security and cybersecurity, long-term budgeting tied to Vision 2030, expanded student mental-health supports, and a districtwide literacy initiative based on the science of reading.
The board heard the presentation from Dr. Minotti and Mr. Crones, who said the administrative team used a summer "gallery walk" of department goals and stakeholder survey feedback to choose a set of districtwide priority goals. "What you're going to hear tonight are our priority goals that we believe are really impactful," Mr. Crones said, describing a process designed to align department and building objectives with the district's vision and a forthcoming comprehensive plan.
The presentation described a set of operational projects that will begin this year: pilot installations of visitor-management systems, upgraded interior door locks and video intercoms, encrypted staff ID badges, and an updated incident-response plan for cyber events. District staff said they have applied for grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to support those upgrades. "The safety and security and school services, facilities and technology departments will work collaboratively on these grants," Mr. Crones said.
On the academic front, the district prioritized mental-health and behavioral supports, citing a shift in progress-monitoring tools (moving from STAR to FastBridge), implementation of the MTSS framework and new suicide-risk screening guidelines. Dr. Minotti highlighted staffing and training investments, including an autism behavioral intervention specialist and expanded MTSS behavior training at the elementary level.
Literacy work will follow the science of reading: administrators said the district will continue enhanced core reading instruction in kindergarten and pre-implement the Wit & Wisdom ELA curriculum in selected K'5 classrooms to refine materials and training. "We're moving away from Wonders and now implementing really great reading systems in K'2," the presentation said.
Leaders framed the goals within a multi'year Vision 2030 and a Capital Action Plan tied to enrollment growth projections. Mr. Crones told the board that long-term budget strategy and coordination with townships, construction managers and architects will shape project sequencing and funding. Officials said they expect some planning outcomes to inform decisions through 2027.
Board members who spoke during the meeting praised the breadth of the plan and thanked staff for implementation work; administrators offered to meet individually with board members to review details. The district will continue department-level meetings and report back to the board as projects and grant applications progress.
