Consultants present SOAR findings and draft goals for Jericho strategic plan

Superintendent Dr. Robert Kravitz introduced consultants from the TLD group, who presented the strategic planning process and the results of a community SOAR analysis (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results). The consultants said 351 distinct ideas were submitted and more than 700 people rated and reviewed the ideas; top priorities that emerged across stakeholder groups included recruiting and retaining high‑quality teachers, boosting student engagement and hands‑on learning, and clarifying classroom technology use and policy.

The consultants recommended turning priorities into measurable goals and annual action steps. Two draft objectives highlighted in the presentation were: researching and implementing districtwide mental‑health initiatives by the 2027–28 school year, and ensuring 100% of staff receive mental‑health awareness and support training. The presenters emphasized accountability through visible milestones and regular progress reports to the community. "We will use visible milestones and wellness assessments to track reduction in anxiety and to monitor staff morale," one presenter said during the discussion.

Board members asked about the respondent composition (parents, staff, students); presenters said the exchange was anonymous and the project team did not break down respondent roles in the dataset posted online but believed both parents and staff participated. Trustees also pressed how classroom engagement and other goals would be measured; consultants said action steps would be written as SMART objectives and that district leadership would select measurement instruments during the summer planning phase. The board directed staff and consultants to finalize action steps for year one and recommended continued community transparency via the project web page.