'A Vision for Tomorrow'

The City School District of Albany's Strategic Plan

On Nov. 5, 2008, the City School District of Albany Board of Education unanimously approved a comprehensive strategic plan that will guide the district's growth and progress in the years ahead.

The board's approval capped a year-long process that involved more than 70 volunteers from the school district and community.

The strategic plan will guide the development of all aspects of district operations, including curriculum, academic programs, instruction, communication, hiring, facilities and extracurricular activities.

You can download a 24-page brochure -- "A Vision for Tomorrow" -- that summarizes the plan, including all seven strategies and related action steps. The full 129-page plan also is available for download.

At a three-day retreat in the fall of 2007, a 25-member Strategic Planning Team crafted a strategic vision that included a new mission statement for the district and seven primary areas of focus. Working from February through September, seven action teams developed action plans in each of these key areas (see below). The Strategic Planning Team accepted each of the action plans in September 2008 and sent them on to the Board of Education for final review.

Following presentations by the action team co-leaders and a discussion at its meeting Oct. 16, the board voted unanimously to approve the full plan Nov. 5.
 

We invite you to follow the links below for information on the district's strategic planning process.

Strategic Planning News and Updates

Follow these links for news and updates about the strategic planning process:

• Progress update December 2009

  • Restructuring Albany High School -- A short online survey has been created to gather feedback from parents, students, staff and members of the community. Please take a few minutes to provide us with your thoughts. This survey will be open until Dec.18.

  • Alternative Education Think Tank -- This new committee invites parents and community members to participate in meetings to evaluate the district's programs and develop recommendations to be submitted to the Board of Education. (MORE)

• Progress update -- A status report on projects started during the 2008-09 school year.

• "A Vision for Tomorrow" -- A 24-page brochure summarizing the highlights of the strategic plan, including all seven strategies and related action steps.

• Board of Education unanimously approves strategic plan (November 2008)

• Strategic planning action team leaders gain board approval (January 2008)

• Action team co-leaders -- a list of the co-leaders for each of the seven action teams

• Board of Education approves strategic direction (December 2007)

• Strategic Direction -- download the full document in .pdf format

• District launches strategic planning process (November 2007)

• Strategic Planning Team -- a list of the 25-member committee leading the process

Action Teams

Formed in February 2008, each of the seven teams worked into the fall developing complete action plans to address its respective strategy. Each team was comprised of 5-7 members from the school district and community. The Strategic Planning Team approved the plans in August and September. Co-leaders then presented their plans to the Board of Education on Oct. 16, and the board approved the full strategic plan Nov. 5.

• Strategy #1 -- We will design and implement a more effective way to engage parents and families in the education of their children at home and at school.

  • Action team members

  • Final action plan

• Strategy #2 -- We will ensure the emotional and physical safety and well-being of our students in collaboration with community and family partners.

  • Action team members

  • Final action plan

• Strategy #3 -- We will assess and redesign all aspects of the high school with the community to ensure academic rigor and high-level student performance.

  • Action team members

  • Final action plan

• Strategy #4 -- We will improve education in grades 6-8 in partnership with our community to address academic rigor and the disparity in academic achievement.

  • Action team members

  • Final action plan

• Strategy #5 -- We will develop and implement more effective communication, ensuring input from all district stakeholders about matters affecting the well-being of our students.

  • Action team members

  • Final action plan

• Strategy #6 -- We will use all assessment data to drive academically rigorous instruction, pre-K-12, to improve the performance of every learner.

  • Action team members

  • Final action plan

• Strategy #7 -- We will develop a variety of ways for ensuring every student's access to all school education and extracurricular activities.

  • Action team members

  • Final action plan