Berkeley County board previews draft five‑year strategic plan with targets for learning, staffing and safety

The Berkeley County Board of Education on June 15 reviewed an initial draft of a five‑year strategic plan that sets measurable goals for student achievement, staff recruitment and retention, family engagement, mental health supports and safety.

Consultants from Hanover outlined a process driven by district data and stakeholder input and presented draft core beliefs — “community, excellence, character, innovation and safety” — and a vision centered on “every student empowered to rise” as the plan’s foundation. “The initial draft is completed,” said Dr. Mary Mua, the senior managing director who co‑led the work, noting the plan’s focus on measurable aims and a KPI dashboard to track progress.

The plan includes example targets and aims tied to data: for student learning the draft cites a strategic metric that 58% of Berkeley schools will meet or exceed West Virginia proficiency standards by the end of the plan; for staffing it recommends specific, timebound goals, including a target to increase the share of filled special‑education positions by certified teachers. “We want to expand CTE, strengthen core instruction, and close achievement gaps,” said Dr. Matt Regone, senior content director for Hanover, describing sample aims and corresponding “SMART” goals.

Board members generally welcomed the community‑driven process and the emphasis on accountability. Several members said the draft is an important tool for budgeting and oversight; one board member cautioned that some targets, particularly the example goal to have 90% of special‑education positions filled by certified teachers in the near term, are “very optimistic” and urged realistic midcourse checkpoints and safety valves.

Superintendent Dr. Saxs said the draft is intended to be a living document that will be refined and monitored: “There is accountability to the five‑year plan that we are developing that keeps all stakeholders abreast of the progress that we are making,” he said, adding that the district will refine KPIs and build an action‑planning tracker for department‑level monitoring.

Next steps include finalizing the draft over the summer, developing departmental action plans and KPI dashboards, and presenting a refined version to the board and community. The board did not vote on the plan at the June 15 meeting; the presentation served as an update and an opportunity for board feedback.