Middle school launches district strategic plan video; MPMS reports reduced tardies and growth in student engagement

The board heard a presentation launching the Mount Pleasant City School District’s 2024–2029 strategic plan, led by middle-school staff who previewed a student-produced video and a one-page summary to be shared with the community. "This plan will guide our district from 2024 to 2029 focusing on five key areas of growth and success," the presenter said.

At Mount Pleasant Middle School (MPMS) a presenter described local implementation tied to the strategic plan, including the "Capturing Kids' Hearts" relationship work, restorative practices, PBIS, and a no-cell-phone policy. The presenter said tardy sweeps, a one-minute warning bell and expanded passing time reduced hallway disruptions and led to measurable declines in referrals: "you will see that this year in August we had five [referrals] ... that's a 97% decrease in August and an 88% decrease from last year," the presenter reported.

The presentation also highlighted student engagement initiatives: a Web Leader mentoring program that pairs eighth-grade mentors with sixth graders, Publications and student council work on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion projects, and the use of perception surveys to track progress. The presenter said the school served roughly 400 breakfasts daily via a 'second-chance' breakfast program and more than 500 lunches, noting increases over prior years.

Board members asked questions about phasing communications and how to credit student contributors; one member suggested segmenting releases to highlight students while another proposed giving students visible recognition. The presentation included data pages in the meeting packet; the presenter said pacing guides and links would be posted online to allow community review.

The presentation concluded with thanks to staff and a plan to continue sharing progress on the strategic plan over the coming year.