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Superintendent previews five-year strategic plan focusing on equity, access and staff retention
Summary
Superintendent Sappol outlined a draft five-year plan emphasizing high expectations with supports for students (including multilingual learners and students with disabilities), fair access to opportunity, stronger family partnerships, educator recruitment/retention and financial sustainability; specific metrics will be set after spring 2026 assessments.
Superintendent Sappol presented a draft five-year strategic plan to the Malden School Committee on May 4 that centers on five priorities: (1) high expectations with supports for all students, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities; (2) fair access to opportunity (expanded world-language, performing-arts and sports offerings); (3) deeper family and preschool partnerships; (4) recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse educator workforce; and (5) financial and operational sustainability.
Sappol said the district will use multiple metrics rather than a single number: MCAS (ELA, math, science), DIBELS literacy checks, ACCESS results for English learners, graduation-outcomes (GPA and matriculation rates) and benchmark grades (grades 5, 8 and 10). He noted that spring 2026 results are needed to set concrete targets and that the district will set year-one activities tied to the priorities. Examples included protecting PD and planning time so co-teachers can coordinate, strengthening MTSS intervention strategies in math and literacy, reviewing course and honors participation for equity, and expanding preschool access through partnerships such as the Commonwealth preschool initiative.
Committee members asked for details on co-teacher scheduling and intervention models; the superintendent said some scheduling innovations at the high school already provide shared duty time and that the district will expand facilitation and coaching. Members also asked that metrics report subgroup results (race/ethnicity, English-language proficiency, disability status), and Sappol agreed. The superintendent announced a community engagement event on May 19 to gather broader input before the committee considers the final draft in June.
Why it matters: The draft plan will shape curricular priorities, professional development and budget alignment over the next five years; it explicitly highlights equity, measures for student growth, and steps to address declining postsecondary matriculation rates.
Next steps: Targets will be finalized after spring assessment results; the plan will be refined with community input at a May 19 gathering and returned to the committee for action in June.
