New Huber Heights leader sets goals for schools, himself

I’m excited to be the new superintendent of Huber Heights City Schools, and I believe we have a great future ahead of us.

I’m going to use my first superintendent column to outline some goals I have set for myself and the district during the 2019-20 school year.

My first goal involves observing, listening and learning about the culture in Huber Heights City Schools. This includes getting to know students, parents, teachers, staff and the entire Huber Heights community including business and community leaders.

My next goal is increasing my visibility within the schools and community. I want to make sure I’m in the schools

Mario Basoro, Huber Heights City Schools superintendent as much as possible and aim to visit the schools two or three days a week. I also want to get into the Huber Heights community by visiting sporting events and concerts as well as patronizing at local businesses. In addition, being more visible includes building partnerships with community organizations by taking actions such as attending PTO meetings and city council meetings.

Improving learning outcomes will be another area of focus this school year. After we collect data, teachers and staff will work together to develop an attendance intervention plan with strategies to improve attendance. We will also engage in professional development with teachers and staff, train them on positive climate and cultural practices and develop an intervention plan with at-risk students.

Another academic goal that’s front of mind is increasing our performance index across the district. Accomplishing this includes analyzing district data and developing a plan for each building to improve achievement results that relates to students’ performance levels and academic needs.

Improving district communication is another goal that will let students, parents, teachers, staff and community members know what’s happening in our schools. So far this school year we have created the new Warrior Weekly news publication, created the weekly Mario Minute, developed a more dynamic presence on social media and signed up nearly 100 community members to receive information from the district.

Aside from the new communication initiatives, the district is working to increase transparency and quickness when communicating with the public and staff. Communication is a two-way street, and that’s why we’re taking the extra step of creating a key communicator and superintendent counsel group as well.

My last goals include expanding universal hiring and personnel practices throughout the district. This encompasses establishing a set of hiring practices, creating guidelines for working through personnel concerns and implementing dates to proactively make staffing decisions every winter and spring.

I have my work set out for me, but I’m more than ready to take on the task. I believe the district can accomplish these goals and more once we get students, parents, teachers, staff and community members involved and taking action.