Issues
I firmly believe continued growth and dialogue on these issues help raise the quality of education for our kids, balanced with the importance of community input. These are not the only challenges facing our community, however. Please send me your feedback on these topics and others you believe should be addressed. electkelleyarnold@gmail.com
Accountability & Transparency
Our district has created numerous plans over the past few years to help guide its goals. While this a laudable endeavor, it is imperative we have quality metrics to evaluate and assess our progress in achieving the purpose behind each plan. The latest strategic planning process, Portrait of a Learner, sets a vision for our students, but additional details are still in planning. What metrics have been proposed to ensure high achievement in attaining these goals? What timelines are associated with each? How will this be aligned with our current Commitment Plan? A dashboard to define and measure our district’s successes has been posited in prior years. It is past time to implement a true “Quality Profile.”
While strides had been made in recent years with respect to Board transparency, there is significant room for improvements. The community should expect timely agendas and supporting documentation in order to understand the planned discussion items. Conversations and decision-making should be happening within the public eye.
FB Post (5/18/2021) on Transparency – Link
FB Post (2/25/2023) on Transparency – Link
Growth & Facilities
While the Hilliard School District does not control the development decisions of the eight jurisdictions that are a part of our boundaries, it is imperative we are having discussions with those entities to help shape that growth. Specifically, growth and planning policies of Columbus need to be examined in order to ensure our district’s student growth analysis via Cooperative Strategies can accurately be utilized in strategic planning.
As we look forward with aging buildings and growth, the community input via the most recent Master Facilities Plan Survey provided invaluable feedback on expectations. It will be important to continue dialogue with the community as we look at our expectations for our buildings and how they facilitate education goals.
FB Post (6/29/2021) on Growth – Link
FB Post (9/13/2021) on Facilities and DEI Committees – Link
FB Post (9/15/2023) on Master Facilities Planning – Link
Collaboration & Community
Board members serve as a connection between the community and the district administration, specifically the superintendent and treasurer. It is important for Board members to foster a collaborative atmosphere with the various stakeholders within our community: students, families, teachers, PTO/Booster groups, business partners, just to name a few. These are often overlapping and intersecting roles. We need to ensure as policy is developed and adopted, we are taking into account the impact on our community and ensure timely information as changes may occur.
FB Post (9/25/2023) on Representation – Link