Warden School District unveils updated strategic plan

WARDEN — The Back-to-School open house for Warden School District students included a look at the district’s updated strategic plan. 

Warden Superintendent Scott West said the plan’s goal is to ensure Warden students can do what they want when they leave school. 

“We want students not only to be successful when they’re a student here,” West told a crowd of parents and students. “We want them to graduate from Warden and to be ready and prepared for life outside of high school.” 

West said that while the committee working on the plan has identified WSD priorities and set some expectations for the district and for students, parts of the plan are still a work in progress.  

“Some of the areas of the plan that are not quite complete are the goals and indicators of success,” West said.  

There are benchmarks that will help determine whether the plan is doing what its authors want it to do, he said. 

“One, of course, is academics, and school districts are measured by the state in core subject areas,” West said.  

The second is ensuring children have the security and confidence they need to focus on achievement. Benchmarks should be ready before the end of the 2024-25 school year, West said.  

“I would think probably within six months we can have our leadership teams and our school improvement teams meet and discuss and identify some goals that are not only measurable, but attainable,” he said. 

A list of possible benchmarks was included in a flier given to parents during the open house. Discipline referrals and goal setting by students are among the indicators for responsibility and self-discipline; measuring student academic growth will be part of ensuring students are receiving an effective education regardless of their circumstances. 

If the plan meets the goals of its authors, Warden students will be proficient in core academic subjects like reading, math and science. Warden students will meet or exceed grade-level standards by the end of third grade. 

The plan establishes a list of priorities for the district, which include a rigorous academic program that fits the community and establishing a good relationship with district patrons and families. The priority list also includes responsible management of district resources and hiring effective teachers and staff. 

To complete those priorities, district officials want to create a secure learning environment and work cooperatively with the community to establish academic excellence. That includes working to provide all students with a curriculum that works for them and encouraging them to have confidence they can succeed. 

West said Warden had a strategic plan, but that its last update was about 14 years ago. 

“We as a district and a school board understood the need to revisit it,” he said. “We were ready.” 

The plan includes a list of what Warden graduates should be able to do when they finish school. They should be ready for a career, whether that means college, work or trade school. They should be responsible individuals and effective communicators. They should know how to think critically and solve problems, and they should be tolerant of others. 

West said district officials want to ensure families know what’s in the plan, and want to know what they think of it. 

“We shared it not only with the (Warden School Board) and then our leadership team — which involves principals and directors — and then we shared it with our staff in the last several days. The next step is opening it up for opportunities for families to learn about the strategic plan,” West said.