Smith-Green Community Schools board adopts 2025 strategic plan and approves routine business

The Smith-Green Community Schools Board adopted a districtwide 2025 strategic plan at its regular meeting Sept. 17, 2025, approving goals across curriculum, culture, communication and campus/finance and directing committees to report progress to the board on a semester schedule.

A presenter for the plan summarized the document as "a long-term road map that outlines a district vision, goals, and priorities for improving student outcomes," and said the plan was developed after a 2025 climate audit and stakeholder workgroups that included students, staff, parents and community partners.

The plan organizes work around four pillars. Under curriculum and instruction, leaders said the district will seek a PK–12 aligned curriculum by the end of the school year, expand targeted professional development to support that alignment and research multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) to better meet diverse learners’ needs. "We envision a future where excellence is achieved by staying true to our core values and empowering students to store into a world of opportunity," the presenter said when reading the new vision statement.

The culture pillar includes goals to create a more supportive and transparent workplace, strengthen community engagement and establish consistent, positive approaches to student discipline and student-centered support systems. The communication and marketing pillar calls for a district communication plan to reduce redundant messaging and a marketing effort aimed at retaining and attracting students. The campus and finance pillar prioritizes capital and facility improvements that directly support student learning, strong financial stewardship and competitive compensation and technology investments to support staff retention.

Board members asked that committee leads present updates on a rotating semester schedule so trustees can track implementation and adjust timelines as objectives are met. The plan’s authors said committees will meet semi-regularly and report on short- and long-term objectives and performance metrics.

The board moved several routine items during the meeting. Trustees approved the personnel agenda as presented and approved staff conflict-of-interest forms for the 2025–26 year; the board noted one member (identified in the minutes as Mr. Hart) was absent and could not vote on his form. The transcript records voice votes and motions but does not list detailed recorded tallies; minutes record the motions as carried.

Administrators announced two items of financial note: an anonymous $4,000 donation to the student lunch fund and a separate donation listed as $3,463 to a junior-class-related fund (the transcript wording about the second donation was ambiguous). District staff also reported recent community partnerships and activities, including a hazardous-materials simulation with local first responders, completion of auditorium lighting and audio upgrades, and a Park Sports Medicine partnership that produced a short promotional video featuring students.

Board members said they held a public hearing on collective bargaining earlier that day and expect formal negotiations to begin after Oct. 1 (the district’s official count day). The board scheduled a special public hearing on the 2026 budget for Oct. 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

The board closed the meeting after remarks praising staff and student achievements and confirming the Oct. 6 special meeting; the regular meeting was adjourned at about 7:20 p.m.