Strategic Plan Progress Report - Highlights from 2008-2009

Goal 1. Develop a 21st century learning community that supports continuous learning through relevant and aligned
curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development.

Progress areas:
During the 2008-09 school year, Walla Walla Public Schools offered more than 240 professional development opportunities, aligned to our district Professional Development Model, for teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, specialists and classified personnel. These represent more than 1,000 hours of training, with the goal of improved learning and achievement for all district students.

The primary focus this year was K-12 mathematics, secondary science instruction and Guided Language Acquisition Development (GLAD). Elementary teacher leaders met throughout the year to implement the new state mathematics standards and align district curriculum to meet state mathematics goals for various grade levels. Thanks to a special Math and Science grant, secondary teachers were able to spend the entire year in collaborative learning communities looking at state standards and making sure our curriculum teaches students what they need to know to be productive citizens and strong future employees for a variety of professions.

Thanks to the combination of several revenue sources, elementary and secondary teachers participated in initial and follow up GLAD instruction. Staff members Diana Erickson, coordinator of bilingual education, and Connie Taylor-Randall, principal on special assignment, continued their GLAD certification process and should be certified program trainers in the Fall of 2009.

Goal 2. Improve two-way communication with parents, schools, students and the community.
Progress areas:
- Administratrator's Summer 2009 book study: "Why School Communication Matters: Strategies from PR Professionals" by Kitty Porterfield and Meg Carnes. This book reinforces the importance of building relationship and having open and honest dialogue amongst stakeholders in order to be successful. The district will focus on strategies from this book during the 2009-10 school year.
- Organized Parent Networking meetings to help PTA members network, share ideas and learn from others.
- Created an online PTA Clearinghouse to post PTA materials and forms for use by all members.
- Redesigned and updated Garrison Middle School and Prospect Point websites. Berney and Edisons websites are scheduled for redesign this summer and will be ready to use this fall.

Goal 3. Plan and build state-of-the-art facilities with technology to enhance educational opportunities.
Progress areas:
- New Edison to feature state-of-the-art technology, to include: interactive electronic boards with projector, student response devices, presentation systems (Document Camera, Wireless slates, DVD, VCR, Bluray, Internal TV tuners, Soundfield systems to enhance hearing), wireless environment, modern telephone systems and other communication devices.
- Edison computers to include: teacher stations, presentation stations, student work stations, computer lab, library mini-lab and three wireless mini-labs to support instruction, teaching and learning. 
- Walla Walla High School Principal Darcy Weisner continued a study to seek answers to improving high school facilities.
- A construction bid was accepted this summer for the Southeast Washington Transportation Cooperative facility. This 20,000 square foot facility will house school bus maintenance and repair operations for Walla Walla Public Schools, Educational Service District 123, and Dixie and Prescott school districts. 
- The district received $100,000 from the state legislation for predesign services to develop a high school skills center. This program would be located at WWCC and become a branch campus of the Tri-Tech Skills Center (Kennewick).