By Andie Foley
andie.foley@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — In a continued effort to breathe life into countywide curriculum, instruction and operations policies, the Rowan-Salisbury Schools staff on Monday will unveil the system’s 2019-20 strategic plan.

According to a presentation prepared by Chief Strategy Officer Andrew Smith, the short-term plan was drafted to update the 2017-20 plan in light of the district’s renewal status.

Rowan’s renewal provisions, granted by the state last August, provide the district with additional flexibility that Smith said will be “leveraged to support students.” As such, the new goals are not bound by standardized, state-mandated practices or expectations.

New goals now include real-world immersion, interpersonal skills and a personalized educational experience for all students by 2023, reflecting objectives announced last fall.

Under each five-year goal in the plan are listed the 2019-20 steps necessary for its achievement: updated professional development for educators, new testing and benchmark standards, and new strategies, to name a few.

The school district staff crafted the plan using input from more than 75 people who attended a strategic planning session in March and more than 200 responses to online surveys.

The goals of the 2019-20 plan extend beyond those for students, including a coming together of operations teams and capacity building for human resources and student support personnel.

After the presentation of the strategic plan to the Board of Education on Monday, the board could vote to adopt it during its May 28 business meeting.

In other business on Monday’s agenda:

• The board will consider starting an upset bid process to sell the former maintenance office and warehouse off Clay Street.

• The board will consider declaring a 0.92-acre parcel across from Corriher-Lipe Middle School surplus property.

• The board will consider a request to rename the West Rowan Middle School football field after former employee Erich Epps.

• The board will hear the draft 2019-22 academically gifted plan. The plan will include a revised referral process and clarified screening processes.

• The board will receive updates on the systems budgeting process and capital funding.

Contact reporter Andie Foley at 704-797-4246.