COLUMBIANA District sets goals for schools

Parents and staff at Crestview want pupils to be more involved in the community.
BY NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- Giving pupils more leadership responsibility and more opportunities for community involvement are two goals of the Crestview Schools strategic plan.
Dr. Autumn Tooms, professor of education at Kent State University's college of educational leadership, presented the plan to the board recently.
Superintendent John Dilling said Tooms directed a focus group of parents, teachers, school district staff and community volunteers in creating the plan.
The purpose of the strategic plan is to keep the district moving forward, Dilling said. Even in areas where district pupils and employees excel, there is always room for improvement, he said.
The plan has five main goals for the district, and suggests ways those goals might be accomplished, Dilling said.
The goals include: Continue to incorporate technology advances at all grade levels; continue academic excellence to enable pupils and staff to meet the changing needs of the community; continue to provide opportunities for pupils to reach their full potential academically and socially; give pupils more opportunities to be involved in the community; provide a clean, safe environment for pupils and staff.
Principals to address goals
Dilling said the elementary, middle school and high school principals will address many of those goals throughout the year.
Dilling said the focus group wants pupils to have more public service opportunities and more chances to work with area employers on the job.
He said some academic and technology improvements might include using Web-based computer service known as a virtual academy, and increasing pupil responsibility with the district's computer systems.
Dilling said the virtual academy will offer pupils both remedial and advanced courses not offered at Crestview.
He said pupils help computer science teachers and the district's technology coordinators by updating the district's Web page, assisting with routine maintenance of software such as checking computers regularly for viruses, and installing software.