District Goals

• Create a positive school environment where students are emotionally and physically safe and secure.
• Maintain the fiscal integrity of the District.
• Foster high levels of student achievement by a systematic review of curriculum areas.
• Attract and retain highly qualified staff
• Develop a long-range plan for project enrollment growth.
• Enhance communication among the various constituencies in the District and community.
  

District Objectives

GOAL: Create a positive school environment where students are emotionally and physically safe and secure.

Objectives:

• Implement NCLB requirements for drug, alcohol, tobacco, and violence prevention, education.
• Neil Cummins will implement two character development programs: the DESCA (Dignity, Energy, Self-management, Community and Awareness) program, which was instituted last year and will be further developed in each of the classrooms, and Second Step, which focuses on teaching empathy building, conflict resolution, and anger management. Hall staff will investigate the Second Step Program and other character development programs to be implemented as soon as possible.
• A school-wide plan for rules and basic procedures will be implemented at both schools.
• Counselors will provide individual and small group counseling to support student needs.
• Make optimum use of the reconfigured playgrounds to promote active and safe play by all children.
• Neil Cummins staff and students will be trained with Peaceful Playground game rules and behavioral expectations. The playground rules and behavioral expectations will be reinforced throughout the year. The Principal at Hall will periodically review appropriate rules and expectations for use of the new recreational facilities.
• During recess and lunch, the students will be supervised by classified staff, the counselor, and the Principal.
• Regularly scheduled fire, disaster drills, and emergency/crisis drills will be conducted at both schools, observed by the Twin Cities Police and Corte Madera and Larkspur Fire Departments.
• The Twin Cities Police will provide before and after school increased patrols.
• Schools will provide referrals for students and parents to appropriate community agencies

GOAL: Maintain the fiscal integrity of the district.

Objectives:

• Provide budget information in a comprehensible format to Trustees, staff, and community throughout the fiscal year.
• Provide realistic long-range forecasts of revenue and expenditures
• Evaluate procedures and controls for the efficient operation of the accounting functions of the District and work with auditors to ensure that appropriate internal controls are in place.
• Ensure fiscal compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Monitor state and local programs for categorical compliance.
• Actively participate in organizations that monitor state school funding (i.e., School Services, SF2, ACSA, CASBO, CSBA, and county-wide groups).
• Maximize sources of revenue.
• Consider a differentiated parcel tax.
• Examine sharing services with other districts as a cost-saving measure.
• Identify and evaluate strategies to reverse the district pattern of deficit budgeting.

GOAL: Foster high levels of student achievement by a systematic review of curriculum areas.

Objectives:

• Implement Jim Cox’s four step process for improving the quality of our instructional program and student achievement using the 2002-04 Star Test data:
1. establish the environment;
2. summarize the data;
3. establish cause;
4. develop and implement an improvement plan;
5. present the results of the inservice at the January 19, 2005 Board meeting.
• Implement Jim Cox’s four step process for improving the quality of our instructional program and student achievement using the Education Task Force performance-based assessment data:
1. establish the environment;
2. summarize the data;
3. establish cause;
4. develop and implement an improvement plan;
5. present the results of the inservice at the January 19, 2005 Board meeting.
• After having completed Jim Cox’s four step process, evaluate its effectiveness in assisting us to improve the quality of our instructional program. Modify the process as needed for use during the 2005-06 school year.

GOAL: Attract and retain highly qualified staff.

Objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive hiring process that will ensure we have a large pool of excellent candidates for each vacant position.
• Participate in teacher job fairs.
• Develop a brochure highlighting the qualities of the LSD.
• Continue to maintain a quality LSD website.
• Maintain low class size.
• Develop a new teacher orientation program to ensure a successful start to the school year.
• Provide mentoring to first and second year teachers through participation in the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program.
• Provide mentoring to teachers who are new to the District and have taught for two or more years.
• Provide assistance, as needed, to all teachers through the use of the Peer Existence and Review (PAR) program.
• Provide opportunities for all employees to participate in professional development activities that address school-wide or departmental goals.
• Improve the physical environment at Neil Cummins and Hall.
• Provide employees with current technology and training.
• Provide current textbooks and teaching materials.
• Provide job share opportunities.
• Inform employees about low cost housing options.
• Inform employees about affordable daycare options.

GOAL: Develop a long-range plan for projected enrollment growth.

Objectives:

• Review previous Board discussions, analysis, and minutes regarding past options for enrollment growth.
• Commission a demographic and a developer fee study.
• Be an active participant in the Town of Corte Madera’s and the City of Larkspur’s planning for future development and involve them in our planning process.
• Update master plan document. Analyze the costs required in upgrading one of the leased schools to DSA standards
• Examine current leases with Lycée Français and Marin Primary (notify Lycée Français with provisional note by August 15).
• Analyze facilities needs pursuant to projected enrollment growth, including the analysis of the necessity to reopen a campus, redistribute grade levels among campuses, or expand space on an existing campus.
• Study options for replacing lost lease revenue and financing increased campus operation costs.
• If a decision is made to open a campus, consider a supplemental bond issue.

GOAL: Enhance communication among the various constituencies in the district and the community.

Objectives:

• Take advantage of the Town of Corte Madera’s quarterly newsletter, the Twin Cities Times, the Marin Independent Journal’s Community News page, and Park and Recreation calendars to communicate school news to the larger community.
• Meet regularly with the Town Manager of Corte Madera and the City Manager of Larkspur to coordinate long range plans and share information that has potential ramifications for the three entities.
• Involve the Student Councils in decisions that affect their daily life at school and include Student Council news in the Neil Cummins Pink Sheet and the Hall Weekly Bulletin.
• Foster increased professional and social contact between Neil Cummins and Hall staffs.
• Inform the Corte Madera and Larkspur Fire Departments and the Twin Cities Police of any changes in school facilities that would affect the safety of children, including events that would block access to either school.
• Improve communication with the Arkites by informing them of proposed facility changes at Hall, meeting periodically with their homeowners’ association, posting messages on their community bulletin board, and emailing the Hall Bulletin.
• Facilitate the successful transition of students from fifth grade at Neil Cummins to sixth grade at Hall by providing time for fifth grade teachers to meet with their sixth grade teacher colleagues.
• Publicize email addresses of District staff.

Exit Outcomes

In order to be empowered for the choices and challenges of a diverse and rapidly changing society, our students will be:

• Individuals who value and care for themselves, others and the environment
• Quality producers who take pride in their work
• Collaborative, self-directed and reflective learners who enjoy and value learning
• Critical thinkers who are creative problem solvers
• Effective communicators
• Contributing community members
• Global citizens who respect diversity