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School Board Adopts Amended 2026–27 Strategic Goals, Focuses on Student-Survey Items
Summary
After debate over SMART goals versus broader objectives, the New Berlin School District board voted 5–1 to adopt an amendment that directs attention to two low-scoring student-survey items about classroom behavior and peer treatment; the board discussed using survey results to shape goals for students and staff.
The School District of New Berlin board reviewed proposed 2026–27 strategic goals covering student achievement, staff retention and support, fiscal priorities and community communication. A member proposed adding a student-survey focus (grades 7–8) to address peer behavior and classroom environment after reviewing last year’s survey results.
A board member argued the survey showed troubling results: "And 2 of the top 5 scores that were not favorable were students in my class behave so that teachers can teach and students can learn," a member said, noting roughly a 51% sample and that about a quarter of respondents disagreed with that statement. Members debated whether the board should set a SMART goal (actionable superintendent goal) or a broader board-level objective. The board voted to adopt the amendment (the broader, survey-focused option) and the amendment passed on a 5–1 vote.
The chair explained that the board-level goals tend to be general while the superintendent's goals are the SMART, actionable items the administration will carry out; if the amendment had failed, the board would have returned to vote on the original set of goals. The amended goals, as approved, will guide board oversight and support of administration efforts; the board did not specify additional deadlines beyond its usual planning cycle.
