District to update strategic plan after staff culture, infrastructure briefing

District Administrator Laura Lundy presented an update on the Medford Area Public School District’s strategic goals at the Feb. 23 board meeting, emphasizing staff culture and infrastructure priorities.

Lundy recounted progress on staffing and professional development since October, including hiring an elementary special education teacher for the second semester, a substitute recruitment effort that increased the pool of available substitutes, staff participation in Love and Logic and other behavior-focused professional development, and alignment of behavior systems between the middle and high school. She said the administrative team has completed more than 350 staff observations since January 2026 and noted that all buildings now have full-time principals; administrators have requested adding an assistant principal position at MAES.

On infrastructure, Lundy reviewed the 2016–2017 facilities plan and said most projects on that plan are complete, with the notable exceptions of a gym expansion and construction of a red/white theater. The administration presented a proposal to update the district strategic plan without hiring an outside consultant: two community meetings (one to review the current plan and survey data, and one to review and revise the draft). The board expressed that it should move forward with the update and asked administration to return with recommendations in March.

Lundy also noted that the district is developing a compensation plan that would include salary schedule increases and benefit adjustments aligned with changes in the consumer price index. No formal vote was recorded on the strategic-plan process itself; the board indicated support to proceed.