Mokena School District 159

Board Goals

Financial: Keep the district financially sound.

• Maintain quality of education while being fiscally responsible
• Review and revise the district’s long term financial plan

Technology: Integrate technology into the curriculum at all grade levels to prepare students for a technological society.

• Become one of the “Top 100 Wired Schools” in the US
• Continue to develop staff technologically by providing staff development
• Explore the feasibility to additional computer labs at each building.

District Culture: Foster an atmosphere of greater teacher satisfaction and involvement.

• Improve options for professional development
• Provide opportunities to increase parental involvement

• Increase community awareness of curriculum

• Creation of a program that offers incentives for the teachers to take additional classes and training to improve their skills

• Improve the transition of 8^th grade students going into high school

Curriculum/program enhancement: Continually research methodologies that provide the best educational opportunities for the students. Implement innovative and effective methodologies to enhance the curriculum and learning process:

• Research increasing the length of classroom learning time beyond the minimum required by the state
• Implement programs to enhance the learning of the average student who has the potential to perform at a higher level

• Increase the extra-curricular options available for students

• Explore providing extra-curricular transportation
• Explore the availability of grants for “below-grade-level achievers
• Provide staff development on reading strategies for “below-grade-level” readers
• Research ability grouping versus heterogeneous grouping
• Implement inquiry and problem based learning.

Community and government relations: Improve the district’s relationship with community and government entities.

· Work closely with the village regarding economic development to enhance our tax base

· Establish a reliable contact with the local media-newspaper

· Enhance our reputation in the immediate community as well as the surrounding southwest suburban area

Facilities: Provide facilities that enable us to be competitive in our changing world.

· Watch district enrollment in relation to sized of facility

· Determine facility needs based on curricular changes

· Maximize opportunities to acquire land via village or developer donations