Strategic Plan Survey

We are in the process of creating a new strategic plan that will guide the work of our school district for the next three years. Our Strategic Planning Committee is requesting your input on a very brief survey - it includes only five questions and should take no more than three minutes to complete. Click here to access the survey.

We greatly appreciate your input...and your continued support.

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Table Top Conversations

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools operates under the direction of a strategic plan. The existing five-year plan is now in its final year. As we work hard to finish strong, we are concurrently in the process of creating a new plan. This new plan will govern our work for the next three years. We hope to have it ready by June.

In order to create a plan that points us in the best direction for serving students and their families, we need input from everyone. To that end, we have set up a series of 20 table top conversations that will take place throughout our community in the coming weeks. You are encouraged to find one that fits your schedule and come on out. The entire event should not last longer than 90 minutes. We will also be sending out a survey that attempts to capture feedback to the same questions discussed at the table top conversations.

Many thanks to our School Improvement Teams for organizing and hosting these events. Below are the dates and times. No reservations are needed, just show up and share your thoughts.

Morris Grove Elementary --- Monday, October 23  (6 p.m.)
Chapel Hill High --- Monday, October 23  (6 p.m.)
FPG Elementary --- Thursday, October 26  (6 p.m. Spanish and 7 p.m. English)
Northside Elementary --- Friday, October 27  (6 p.m.)
Culbreth Middle --- Wednesday, November 1  (9:30 a.m.)
East Chapel Hill High --- Wednesday, November 1  (6 p.m.)
Glenwood Elementary --- Wednesday, November 1  (6 p.m.)
Estes Hills Elementary --- Monday, November 6 (6 p.m.)
McDougle Elementary --- Monday, November 6  (6 p.m.)
Phillips Middle --- Monday, November 6 (6 p.m.)
Scroggs Elementary --- Monday, November 6 (6 p.m.)
Culbreth Middle --- Tuesday, November 7 (6 p.m.)
McDougle Middle --- Tuesday, November 7  (6 p.m.)
Lincoln Center --- Thursday, November 9  (6:30 p.m.)
Rashkis Elementary --- Monday, November 13  (6 p.m.)
Carrboro High --- Tuesday, November 14 (5:30 p.m.)
Ephesus Elementary --- Tuesday, November 14 (5:30 p.m.)
Seawell Elementary --- Tuesday, November 14  (5:30 p.m.)
Smith Middle --- Tuesday, November 14 (6 p.m.)
Carrboro Elementary --- Tuesday, November 14  (6:15 p.m.)

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District Hosts Focused Dialogue Night on 12/2

Focused parent dialogue is meant to invite a more representative parent voice in the decision-making process and not keep people out. Because of its importance, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) administration is hosting a Focused Dialogue Night on Monday, December 2 at 6 p.m. in the East Chapel Hill High Commons, where select representatives from each school's School Improvement Teams (SIT), PTA and the school community will have focused dialogues on the pilot topic, "Enrollment Levels at Glenwood Elementary School."  These parent dialogues add another layer to the conversation and a way to improve communications with parents and the community.  

This particular topic generated significant input from parents at the November 7, 2013 Board of Education meeting and is not slated to come back to the Board until January. The December 2 focused dialogues should provide sufficient time for the administration to combine the input from this session with other available information in order to make a recommendation to the Board of Education. 

In order to keep the dialogue focused, the PTA Council suggested to keep the number of representatives selected from each school small, with at least one representative from the SIT and one from the PTA. Depending on the issue, a faculty representative may also be included, with other parent representatives selected from the general school community. All parents and community members are welcome to observe and there will be an opportunity for those who are not at the discussion tables to share their input electronically. 

The goals, vision and strategies of the new CHCCS Long Range Plan are rooted in a set of guiding principles which were crafted after significant input from staff, parents, the community and students. One of those principles reads, “We believe in a culture that promotes collaboration, civility, mutual trust and community partnerships.” 

Focused dialogues are in support of that belief and help to engage parents in meaningful conversations on important issues that impact CHCCS schools. The district's intent is to provide parent representatives with accurate information about current initiatives. 

“The focused dialogue model has been used in other school districts with tremendous success,” said Superintendent Tom Forcella. “Parents and community members have an opportunity to discuss issues in greater depth and collaborate on recommendations.”

After this first CHCCS focused dialogue, the district plans to hold more throughout the Long Range Plan that runs through 2018. Parents can still utilize all the existing communication avenues such as email and public comment to voice their opinion. 

Back to CHCCS website

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District Hosts Focus Groups for Upcoming Long-Range Plan

CHCCS is planning several focus groups to provide parents and community members an opportunity to provide feedback regarding the “Shared Beliefs” generated by the 250 participants at the Greenhouse Project last spring.

The belief statements will serve as the foundation of the district's new long-range plan.  Input from staff and parents is critical during the early steps of the long-range planning initiative.  Last year, Superintendent Tom Forcella visited faculty meetings to receive input with regard to the school district's strengths, weaknesses and critical issues.  The information generated by staff members and other community groups and organizations served as important information in generating the shared beliefs.

A number of focus group meetings have been scheduled for anyone in the community who would like additional information about the long-range planning initiative or would like to offer feedback with regard to the district's shared beliefs.  Focus groups for school staff have also been scheduled.

Below are the focus group meetings and the current draft of the belief statements.

• Parent/Community Focus Group:   September 18, 2012 from  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  in the Carrboro HS Commons
• EC Focus Group:  September 27, 2012 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  in the Carrboro HS Commons

Shared Beliefs

(April 2012 Draft)

The items listed are the areas cited most often by the participants at the 2012 Green House Project.  The exact belief  statements will be crafted as part of the next phase of long-range planning.  These statements are to be considered a “work in progress."

• Belief in a “Growth Mindset” in a 21st Century Learning Environment. The fact that all students can increase their intelligence given the appropriate instruction, effort and time is critical for increased student learning and the reduction of the achievement gap.
• Belief in the importance of an equity focus in all schools and programs. In all cases an emphasis on the “whole child” should be evident; social, emotional and academic well being.
• Belief that professional development and training should be valued and embedded into the culture of the organization. New and innovative models should be examined and implemented.
• Belief that a culture of collaboration and mutual trust as well as the existence of a collective commitment to do  whatever it takes to improve the learning environment is critical to our success. Communication that is open and honest is critical to improvement and supports positive change in our schools.
• Belief that accountability and more importantly responsibility for implementation at multiple levels is critical to our success as a school system. Principals acting as instructional leaders are key to the improvement of instruction and student achievement.

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