the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz shared the district’s key goals for the 2024 school year. These objectives aim to drive a variety of improvements across the Ridgewood School District, including a focus on long-term planning, student support systems, academic growth, and the district’s finances and facilities.
Strategic Planning for the Future
A major initiative for this year will be the launch of a community-wide strategic planning process, resulting in a five-year vision plan for all Ridgewood schools. This collaborative effort will gather input from the community to guide the district’s future direction.
In the interim, the district will focus on enhancing data collection practices, academic programs, personnel support, professional development, and operational systems. Dr. Schwarz emphasized that the district’s first goal is to maintain engagement in the strategic planning process while incorporating new priorities. One of these priorities is updating the college admissions advisement process to recognize achievements beyond core subjects like math and English, including accomplishments in areas such as music, art, and extracurricular activities.
Empowering Students with Systems of Support
The second goal is to ensure that all students receive the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral support they need to succeed. Dr. Schwarz noted that a key part of this is addressing potential barriers to student success by analyzing diversity in course enrollments, discipline rates, and attendance.
“To achieve excellence, [we] must ensure that students receive appropriate academic, social-emotional, and behavioral support,” Dr. Schwarz said. The district will continue to assess and refine its support systems to meet the diverse needs of its students.
High Academic Growth for All Students
The district’s third goal focuses on achieving high academic growth for all students. Faculty will implement research-based practices tailored to student needs. One way the district plans to measure this growth is by developing and aligning common assessments across all grade levels and subjects, providing valuable data for progress monitoring and the opportunity to make adjustments where needed.
Financial and Facilities Evaluation
The fourth and final goal addresses the district’s finances and facilities. This will include establishing a budget projection for the 2024–2025 school year to ensure all planned expenditures, such as preventative maintenance of facilities, are fully funded. The district also plans to evaluate its athletic fields to ensure their responsible use and improve flood mitigation strategies. A comprehensive facilities needs assessment is also in the works, which will identify high-priority projects and guide future improvements.
Looking Ahead
Following his presentation, Dr. Schwarz invited the administration to review the draft goals and provide feedback. He remains optimistic that the Board of Education will approve the goals at their next meeting on October 14.
With a clear focus on strategic planning, student empowerment, academic growth, and financial responsibility, the Ridgewood School District is poised to continue improving and providing a strong educational experience for all students.
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