West Carroll board holds strategic planning retreat to revise mission, set accountability cadence

The West Carroll Community Unit School District #314 Board of Education met for a strategic planning session on Jan. 10, 2026, convening in the West Carroll High School library at 8:02 a.m. President Fred Tipton called the meeting to order. Attending board members included Greg Stott, Zac Vandendooren, Jeff Woodside and, after later arrival, Dawn Rath; administration in attendance included Superintendent Dr. Heidi Deininger and Principal Rein.

The agenda identified five core planning tasks the board worked through: "Review/revise the District Mission Statement; Develop a District Vision Statement; Identify and articulate the District Core Values; Identify and develop specific action steps for the broad goal areas; Develop the Cadence of Accountability for the plan." The minutes record that the session ran through the morning and into early afternoon and concluded with adjournment at 1:01 p.m.

During the meeting the board approved the day's agenda — recorded in the minutes as "Motion to approve the January 10, 2026 agenda as presented." That motion was made by Greg Stott and seconded by Zac Vandendooren and was recorded as Passed. The minutes do not record separate formal votes on specific mission or vision language; those items are listed as planning tasks to be developed by the board and administration.

The session is recorded in the minutes as a planning retreat rather than a formal adoption meeting for specific policy language. Next steps identified in the minutes called for developing concrete action steps tied to the broad goals and establishing a cadence of accountability for monitoring implementation.

The meeting adjourned at 1:01 p.m.