Randolph approves plan for school improvements

RANDOLPH – The school committee on Thursday unanimously approved a plan for improving the school system over the next five years. The overall goals are raising student achievement, increasing parental involvement and calling for investment in the system and its students.

Here are some of the objectives included “Strategic Direction 2008-2012” plan:

“The community will approve funding for annual school district budgets 2008-2012 through an open, participatory, collaborative and transparent process.

“We will reverse the current trend toward declining enrollments and begin to increase enrollments by 5 percent per year by improving achievement for all students and replacing lost services.”

Increasing parent-voter participation by 5 percent annually for the next five years.

Each school will develop and implement a plan to increase parent and community involvement.

Increasing by 10 percent per year the number of students scoring in the “proficient” range on the MCAS exam.

Reducing the dropout rate by 5 percent per year.

Increasing the number of minority staff members by 10 percent each year.

Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.