WORCESTER—The Worcester Public Schools’ Standing Committee on Governance and Employee Issues gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to a new strategic plan for the district at its meeting on Nov. 28, virtually assuring an equally warm reception when the full school committee looks at the document on Dec. 7.
“I’m thrilled with this strategic plan. I understand it, I get it,” Laura Clancey, who chaired the meeting, said at the conclusion of the presentation by Superintendent Rachel Monárrez, Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations Brian Allen, and several others involved in putting the blueprint together.
Dubbed “Our Promise to the Future” by the superintendent, the plan consists of goals associated with six priority areas, as follows:
1. Equitable Resources & Educational Programs
2. Family & Community Engagement
3. Culture & Climate
4. Acquiring & Retaining Talent
5. Modernized & Safe Facilities
6. Health & Wellness
“We received input from all kinds of stakeholders,” the superintendent said, speaking on behalf of her cabinet team and the Strategic Plan Task Force. The Hanover Group played an important role in seeing the work through to its tentative finish.
The system’s previous strategic plan “sunset” in June, Dr. Monárrez noted.
The objective is to see all of the recommendations implemented by the 2027-28 school year.
Deputy Supt. Allen emphasized that “we will also include annual goals” as part of the push forward.
Within each of the six goals outlined for Clancey’s subcommittee are specific targets to be addressed. Goal 1, for instance, includes mention of the need “to prepare scholars for lifelong success” with a focus on “underserved youth,” English Language learning and college and career readiness.
The aim of Goal 2, Family & Community Engagement, is to “strengthen our relationship with caregivers” and to “leverage community partnerships.”
Reducing chronic absenteeism and bullying are cornerstones of Goal 3, Culture & Climate, the intent of which is “to increase all school members’ sense of involvement and belonging.” Enhancing cultural awareness and restorative practices are crucial steps toward achieving this goal.
Attracting new staff, improving staff retention from the current number of 80 percent to 85 percent, developing “pathways to leadership” and “supporting our student body so they want to come back” are keys to realizing Goal 4.
With the average age of school buildings in Worcester at 75 years, Goal 5’s concentration is on increasing spending on facilities, creating a five-year capital plan, expediting the identification of buildings in need of renovation and involving stakeholders.
Equity, access and building a systemic approach with a focus on underserved students are essential elements in tackling Goal 6, Health & Wellness.
Pieces of the new strategic plan that “overlap” seem “intentional, which was on purpose,” the superintendent said, in summing up the presentation. “We really think we captured what the community wanted” in setting out to chart a course for the district for the next five years.
Commenting at the close of the meeting, Dr. Jennifer L. Carey of UMass Memorial Health and the Worcester Education Collaborative, who served as vice chair of the Strategic Plan Task Force, said “this plan is broad, deep, thorough, and it is internally aligned.”
Sections that “weave together” adhere to the goals and timeline involved, Dr. Carey said.
Subcommittee Chair Clancey and members Molly McCullough and Jermaine Johnson all voted “yes” in accepting the report and sending it on for consideration by the full School Committee.
Rod Lee is a career journalist, a veteran of the media scene in Central Massachusetts and the author of seven books including the recently published “Gil Cristopher,” a novel about the difficulties associated with aging. He can be contacted at rodlee1963@gmail.com
