Hillsboro board approves strategic plan after rejecting last-minute mission wording change

The Hillsboro Township Board of Education approved its district strategic plan on May 13 after voting down a proposed change to the mission statement.

At issue was a motion to change the mission line from “empowering all students to excel” to “empowering all students to thrive while finding purpose, meaning and joy throughout their educational journey.” Supporters, including teacher and public commenter Amy Salinger and several board members, argued “thrive” and “meaning” are less pressure-oriented than “excel.” Opponents said the final wording had been the product of multiple committee sessions and that broader stakeholder input should be solicited before altering the agreed text.

The board first voted on the language change; the motion to revise the mission failed on a roll call (votes recorded as: Mr Davis no; Miss Jackson yes; Miss Craig yes; Miss Lanning Beer no; Mr Lee yes; Miss Nurse no; Miss Stats no; Mr Tro yes; Mr Marini no). After brief discussion about seeking wider input, the board then voted to approve the strategic plan as presented (roll call in favor recorded and the motion passed).

Board members emphasized the vote does not lock the district into the language permanently. Several members said committees and the wider stakeholder group could revisit mission wording in coming weeks if the board or community proposes refinements.

The board also noted the plan includes strategic priorities for facilities, resource management and instructional goals and that a single word change had been removed from one facilities line (the word “advocacy” was removed from a facilities objective during committee edits).