The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Represents the voices of the community’
Schools chief outlines 3-year strategic plan focused on equity, accessibility
MIDDLETOWN — Improvements to equity, communication, school meals, and special education are just some of the focuses outlined in the strategic operating plan for Middletown schools presented to Board of Education members on Tuesday.
Superintendent Michael Conner and his staff shared their strategy for the district through 2024, a continuation of what was set forth in the 2018-21 strategic plan that wrapped up in June, according to the meeting video. Conner said the aim is to
improve on the structures already set in place.
“Now is the time to be very, very bold in how we can be intentionally transformative,” Conner said at the meeting. With the help of his staff, the superintendent outlined specific measures he hopes to accomplish through this plan.
The overall goal, he said, is to establish instruction and other related support structures that are accessible, transformative, personalized, and evidence-based to ensure no learner is marginalized.
One step toward achieving this mission, Conner said, is to make sure curricula is conscious of all cultures. As a part of this effort, and to comply with state initiatives, the district will be introducing a new course in Black, Latinx and Puerto Rican studies at the high school.
The district also plans to continue to expand and strengthen early childhood learning programs, as well as its aerospace and technology offerings.
Another step Conner identified is to improve operations to create an efficient and equitable learning environment. This means improving communication within the district, upgrading special education resources, and improving meal service, he said.
These improvements are all based on input from Middletown residents, something Conner said was an important part of the process. “This strategic plan represents the voices of the community.”
Nurturing the individualized growth of students is another step laid out in the plan. The belief is that more personalized and extended learning will help shrink the achievement gap, the superintendent said. This includes the creation of more summer and after-school programs.
The final step Conner outlined is creating a safe working environment. Additional security personnel are set to be hired, as well as more socialemotional learning staff to provide mental health services. A new position, the director of equity and inclusion, is also in the process of being filled.
“[We’re] looking at equity to ensure we are deconstructing systems that have historically left students behind, and reconstructing the systems so that all students are celebrating achievement at high levels,” Conner said.
After the presentation concluded, board members expressed their support for the plan. “It’s invigorating, it’s exciting,” DeLita Rose-Daniels said. “I love what we’re trying to do.”
Chairwoman Deborah Cain agreed. “I really think this is good guideline to help us reach our goals.”
The presentation was the most recent step in a process that began last September, and has involved crowd sourcing for community input, informational workshops and more. “This has been a long time coming,” Conner said.
Students, parents, staff and others now have an opportunity to present their comments or questions to the board and/or superintendent. At the Sept. 15 meeting, they will discuss the plan further and could potentially adopt and implement it.