By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Dr. Joseph Sawyer, superintendent of Shrewsbury Schools, presented the “Five-Year Strategic Priorities and Goals” report for 2018 to 2022 to the School Committee for review and discussion at their Dec. 6 meeting.
After conducting an online survey and holding public forums that involved community members, parents, faculty and students, information was collected on which to base these strategic priorities and goals.
“How do we take what we want for our kids and how do we take the portrait of a graduate and turn it into real action?” questioned Sawyer, who then shared four strategic priorities: space and resources to support effective learning; learning environments where everyone’s success matters; enhanced well-being of all; and connected learning for a complex world that will result with the end goal of empowering learners.
By using these strategies, the goals to be achieved by 2022 will successfully address the stressed enrollment capacity and physical space issues; secure the necessary resources, e.g. staffing, technology and professional learning opportunities for faculty; inclusivity and utilization of data and professional development and to develop a full understanding of emotional learning.
Last, this plan connects what the students are learning to the real world by way of integrating project based learning experiences with emphasis on critical thinking, communication and collaboration and to build community partnerships with businesses and institutions.
“I was really excited to read this document and I thought you did a really great job distilling all the information from all the different forums where we gathered the information and I think you captured the highlights of all the important aspects…These are ambitious but attainable priorities,” shared School Committee member Erin Canzano.
The School Committee will take a formal vote to adopt these strategies and goals at their meeting Wednesday, Dec. 20