Huron Valley District Approves 2011-2012 Goals

The following was submitted to White Lake Patch by the Huron Valley School District.

At the Sept. 15 Board of Education Meeting, in accordance with Board Policy 9260, Sect D-Goal Setting Function, the Board approved the district goals for the 2011-2012 school year. The Board spent the last two months, during Board and Committee meetings working with the Superintendent and her administrative team to establish district goals. The Board and Superintendent used the S.M.A.R.T. goal methodology of making sure goals and measurements of success were Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

Given the tough economic times and the state’s aggressive encroachment on local control it was more important than ever for the Board and Superintendent to ensure that we are aligned in purpose and direction. Alignment and clarity of goals up, down, and across the organization is critical in order for us to be successful in our efforts of obtaining our mission of “inspiring and building futures, one student at a time.”

As a Board and District we believe that the adoption of the goals are essential to understanding direction, evaluating progress, and facilitating effective decision-making. The adopted goals are not just the Superintendent’s focus, or just the Board’s focus, or just the staff’s focus, it is the District's focus as a whole. We are collectively accountable for providing a top-notch education for the students of Huron Valley.

The District Goals are stated below and Measurements of Success can be found on the Huron Valley School website under District.

• Enhance student success with a focus on increased achievement in reading, writing and math measured by multiple assessments
• Provide a safe learning environment while promoting healthy lifestyles and a healthy workplace for students and employees
• Implement strategies that enhance the integrity and efficiency of resources through revenue maximization, cost containment, facilities management and employee relations

Please contact Board President Sean Carlson at carlsons@huronvalley.k12.mi.us or Superintendent Jackie Johnston at johnstonj@huronvalley.k12.mi.us if you have any questions or feedback concerning this communication.

HVS SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM AT LAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL ON MONDAY

Reminder to District parents, residents and voters: the Huron Valley Schools will be hosting a Candidates Forum moderated by the League of Women Voters at Lakeland High School on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

All nine candidates have been invited and may be in attendance. The candidates running for school board are the following:

• Robert Artinian of White Lake
• Xuan Avallone of Milford
• Bonnie Brown of Milford
• Kim Galbraith of Milford
• Joe Ghislain of Milford
• Russ Krawczyk of Commerce
• Kevin Lawrence of Milford
• Jeffrey Long of White Lake
• Karen Wallis of Highland

Election Cycle Change

I also want to remind our community the Board of Education approved a resolution to revise the election cycle for Huron Valley Schools from odd years to even years to align with state and national election cycles. Elections held in odd years cost the District, and in turn taxpayers, approximately $40,000 to$60,000 per election, while elections held in even years are held at no cost to the District.

To transition to the even year cycle, on December 16, 2010, (in a 5 to 1 vote) the Board voiced their intent to support a resolution where Board members elected in the November 2011 and 2013 elections will have their terms extended by one year to align with the even year cycle.

Although the November 2011 ballot will state the Board member is elected for a four-year term, following the election, the Board will support the community's decision and will act to extend the new members' terms by one additional year to effectuate the policy change approved last December.