District's strategic plan on track District's strategic plan on track (February 06, 2004)

MV-Whisman on schedule to meet objectives

By Julie O'Shea

Seven months after approving a five-year, districtwide strategic plan, Mountain View-Whisman officials say things are moving right on target.

However, some in the Spanish-speaking parent community say their input during the planning process was not vigorously sought out by district leaders.

"The voices from the Latino community went unheard," said Marilu Delgado, who was part of the strategic plan committee. "You really have to be more of a privileged status to be involved."

But Superintendent Jim Negri said the district made every effort to get all parents involved in the process, adding that several letters were mailed home -- in both English and Spanish -- asking for volunteers. Negri also noted the district offered a translator and babysitting care at both strategic planning sessions held last year.

According to Delgado, very few, if any, Spanish-speaking parents attended the meetings. She added that it was difficult to be on a committee where one segment of the school district population seemed largely underrepresented.

"It's challenging for people to understand the struggles that certain populations have to go through," Delgado said. "They tried to be inclusive, but some of the economic barriers did not allow for it."

Essentially, the plan acts as a framework for how to maintain the school district's beliefs, objectives and strategies as outlined in its mission statement.

"We are very committed to every student being successful in this district," Associate Superintendent Eleanor Yick said. "We accomplished a lot last year. I think we have a very successful strategic plan process."

A key goal for this year, outlined in a district staff report, is to "develop enrichment programs that address the language and experience gaps that keep many socio-economically disadvantaged students from achieving their fullest potential."

District officials announced earlier this school year that they want to revamp Castro Elementary School's dual immersion program to make sure there is a more equal balance of native Spanish speakers to English speakers.

More than 80 percent of Castro's student body speaks a language other than English at home, and native English speakers in the dual immersion program are significantly outnumbered. But the recent attempt to restructure the program received wide opposition from the parent community, and educators put the breaks on the changes until this coming fall.

"By and large, when you look at K-12 strategic plans across the state, you will see very similar concepts," Negri said. "It represents the core plan of the organization. ... It's a road map to where you're headed."

The goals for this year include: align K-8 math and writing standards to the state standards, use district and state assessment data to plan instruction, and identify the teacher strategies and best practices that assist students in meeting the rigorous academic standards.

The school district's objectives state that "every student will meet or exceed core academic standards at each education level; every student will demonstrate the attitudes and social skills needed to be successful in each educational setting and in life and every student will demonstrate personal responsibility for his or her own learning."

The strategic plan is there to make sure that these objectives are upheld, Negri said.

Parents can review a copy of the plan on the district Web site at www.mvwsd.k12.ca.us.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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