Mill A School District retreat zeroes in on mission, community surveys and student needs

Superintendent Kelly told the Mill A School District board that the district is using a plan→implement→evaluate→improve cycle to revise its mission and vision and to ground the school improvement plan in data and community input. “The information we’re using to inform our decision is… continuous improvement framework,” Kelly said, describing work led by the Building Leadership Team.

Board members reviewed a demographic snapshot showing student counts, gender and racial breakdowns, and indicators such as low‑income status, mobility and special program participation. Kelly noted the district currently has roughly 19 in‑district K–8 students, with many additional learners attending via choice/transfer programs — a mix the board said will shape long‑range planning and outreach.

The board spent time on stakeholder outreach strategy. Members agreed to widen input beyond parents and staff to include prospective families, voters and other community groups, and to select a validated survey instrument that can be repeated year‑to‑year for longitudinal tracking. Anita said the board must “ensure that we have thought of all the stakeholders” when designing surveys and engagement.

Why it matters: The board framed the work as foundational — a clear mission and reliable community data will guide priorities for curriculum, student supports and communications. The district will use survey results and BLT input to refine next year’s school improvement priorities and to inform the superintendent’s upcoming evaluation and goal setting.

What’s next: The superintendent will distribute a rollout plan for the validated community survey and return with midyear updates on BLT progress. The board asked for a concise one‑page summary of top district priorities so new board members and the public can quickly see the district’s focus areas.