SCHOOL STRATEGIC
IMPROVEMENT PLAN
JOHN
MULLAN ELEMENTARY
(Revised
10/2004)
John Mullan Elementary is a small K-6 elementary
school of sixty-five students located in Mullan Idaho, a community of
approximately eight hundred residents.
The community is very dedicated to their school and have a great deal of
pride in the school system. The
community has a history of outstanding community support. It has the highest supplemental levy in the
state.
Mullan is located on I-90 halfway between Spokane, Washington and Missoula, Montana. The community’s primary industry is mining. Most students have parents or some relation that is in someway related to the mining industry. Because Mullan is a rural community, the students enjoy frequent field trips to Spokane to visit fairs, libraries, industries, science exhibits, and fine arts programs, all of which are limited in Shoshone County.
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MISSION, VISION AND BELIEFS
The vision of the Mullan School system is that all learners develop their maximum individual potential and acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to contribute to a healthy society, a prosperous, and sustainable economy and to lead satisfying, fulfilling lives.
Mullan
School District is committed to providing a safe, inspiring, enriching and
rewarding educational environment for the purpose of helping students live
satisfying and fulfilling lives while attaining and maintaining their maximum
potential as successful productive citizens.
To develop the characteristics of an Educated Citizen, Mullan School District is focused on three goals in co-operation with learners’ families and with the community.
* Intellectual Development (primary goal)- To develop the ability of students to analyze critically, reason and think independently, and acquire basic and advanced learning skills and bodies of knowledge including technology; to develop in students a lifelong appreciation of learning, a curiosity about the world around them and the capacity for creative thought and expression.
* Human and Social Development- To develop in
students socially accepted basic values and a sense of self-worth and personal
initiative; to develop an appreciation for the fine arts and an understanding
of cultural heritage; to develop and understand the importance of physical
health and well being; to develop a sense of social responsibility, and a
tolerance and respect for the ideas and beliefs of others. As a part of human and social development,
extra curricular activities may be included in a support role to the primary
goals of education
* Career Development- To prepare students to
attain their career and occupational objectives: to assist in the development
of effective work skills and habits and the flexibility to deal with change in
the work place.
* Using various methods of instruction and testing, the district will
focus on the intellectual development of all students. Reading continues to be the foundation of
all learning. John Mullan Elementary’s
primary target for intellectual development will continue to be in developing
early reading skills. The elementary teachers will continue to teach reading
through a strong phonics foundation. In
addition to the kindergarten/sixth grade basal reader, all elementary students
will supplement the basal reader with the Accelerated Reader Program.
*While the primary focus
will continue to be on reading skills, math will continue to be a secondary
focus as well as a the newly implemented science curriculum.
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SCHOOL SAFETY
While “Intellectual Development” is the primary goal of the strategic plan, no goals can be achieved without the proper learning environment. With this in mind, the foundation of the strategic plan is based in providing a safe learning environment. The buildings will be inspected annually by both the Division of Building Safety, as well as school district employees. All safety issues will be corrected as soon as possible. At no time will the students’ safety be jeopardized.
To
provide a safe environment, the district will also exercise appropriate measure
to protect the students from violence at school. All visitors are required to report to the office prior to
visiting the classrooms. Appropriate
classroom notices, directing visitors to the office, will be posted on all
classroom and outside doors.
All
employees of the district are instructed in how to deal with intruders as well
as other foreseeable catastrophic events.
Crisis intervention manuals are placed in each building for quick
reference.
The
district will aggressively investigate and address any inappropriate behavior
by students or visitors at school, including but not limited to assault, both
verbal and physical, as well as any harassment. Law enforcement will be notified of any illegal or serious
threats to student or school district safety.
Students are instructed and informed of appropriate school behavior and
advised of consequences if violations should occur.
To
facilitate communications during any crises and to provide a safer environment,
a phone system has been installed and teachers appropriately trained.
ANALYSIS
OF CURRENT PRACTICES
Testing and test assessment will
continue to be the primary method of measuring instructional
effectiveness. Kindergarten, First
grade, Second grade and Third grade will all be tested with the Idaho Reading
Inventory Assessment. ISAT and other
state recommended tests will be administered at the appropriate and recommended
grade levels. Math and writing
assessments will also be given as directed by the state. The education staff will use test data to
plan the appropriate items of instruction for individual students and classes.
All building tests scores are
reviewed by building administrators and the teaching staff in order to use the
test scores for the benefit of improving student performance. If any test scores indicate there are areas
of concern, further review of scores and curriculum is done by the staff and
administration to verify if curriculum modification is warranted. Any recommended significant change in the
curriculum would require community and board approval.
Analysis
of Current Practices continued:
The administration and counseling
staff will work with teachers to further assess individual student needs as
related to test scores and educational deficiencies. Social, economic, medical,
psychological, and academic factors will all be considered when reviewing
individual student outcomes. Because
the “Vision” of the Mullan School District is “ …that all learners develop
their maximum individual potential…” it is necessary to review individual
scores to determine if each student is functioning at capacity. In addition, each class will be reviewed to
determine if the class as a whole is achieving maximum potential
development. Our goal is to have all
students and classes functioning at their maximum potential. Fortunately, our size allows us to
carefully review each individual test score and each class within the district.
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
For the past few years, the primary
effort of the district’s professional development program has been directed
toward assisting the teaching staff with the implementation of the new “State
Standards”, interpreting data and implanting appropriate curriculum
changes.
An important focus of professional
development for the ensuing year will be preparation for the ISIMS. Because our district will be in phase II
scheduled for the spring of 2005, it will be necessary to focus a great deal of
attention on preparing staff for the implementation of the ISIMS.
Additional areas of attention will
be to continue to refresh our staff on the improving reading and science and
math teaching skills.
SCHOOL
IMPOVEMENT GOALS FOR 2004/2005
A)
Elementary
teaching staff will continue to become proficient in using ISAT to improve
student performance.
B)
Elementary
students will continue to meet state goals on ISAT and all other state and
local sponsored testing.
C)
Individual,
classroom, and building aggregated math test scores will show improvement at a
minimum of the statewide average.
D)
Individual,
classroom, and building aggregated reading scores will show improvement at a
minimum of the statewide average.
E) State Standards will be reviewed and staff will continue the
process in implementing the new standards into the curriculum.
F) Elementary teachers will continue professional development
on the ISIMS implementation.
DEVELOPING
THE ACTION PLAN
Because the building consists of
only seven certified teaching staff, more formal meetings are not usually
necessary or as effective. Most
teachers meet for lunch almost every day.
Communication is very simple within the building. Again, because of the size of the staff, it
is easy for the counselor to meet with individual teachers on a regular bases
to discuss testing and student achievement issues. Because our student/teacher ratio is so low (an average of less than ten students per
teacher) it is relatively easy to provide considerable attention to the
individual needs of each student.
Major issues are usually discussed at teachers’ meetings with
recommendations quick to follow.
Implementation is usually just about as fast, with follow-up and
assessments monitored, as the year progresses and as the test scores are reviewed.