The Strategic Planning Process began in Spring 2021. A group of stakeholders consisting of parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and members of the Board of Education met as a steering committee on April 12, 2021. At this meeting the steering committee heard presentations about the state of the District from the Administration. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) exercise helped identify potential areas of study. A similar exercise was undertaken by the Board of Education at their regular Board meeting on April 26, 2021.
In May of 2021, a community wide survey was conducted. This survey asked for community feedback on facilities, curriculum, communication, finance, technology, student growth and achievement, and student well being. Open-ended questions were a part of the survey as well, asking the respondents the following questions:
What are the greatest strengths of the Mokena School District 159?
What are the greatest opportunities and/or improvements needed for Mokena School District 159?
What are the greatest challenges for Mokena School District 159?
What steps should Mokena School District 159 take in the next 3-5 years to improve?
292 individuals responded to the survey. 243 were parents of students in the District, 68 identified themselves as community members, and 43 respondents were District staff. On June 9th, 2021 the strategic planning steering committee met with the full Board of Education to review the results of the community survey. The steering committee and Board of Education distilled the survey feedback into 5 distinct areas of study. They were:
Curriculum - What students know and are able to do. Programs of study including special services, interventions, enrichment, and electives
Instruction - How to maximize learning. Involves technology, professional learning, knowledge of students, monitoring student growth
Finance - Topics include budgeting, facilities, capital planning, infrastructure, and technology
Human Resources - Staffing, onboarding, growth and development, retention, culture, and diversity
Communication - To both internal and external stakeholders. (website, email, social media, etc.)
Community members were invited to a community stakeholder engagement meeting on October 6, 2021 to engage in discussion around these five areas of study. Approximately 50 parents, community members, administrators, and Mokena 159 staff participated in crafting goals and objectives within each strategic area.
The Strategic Plan for Mokena School District 159 published here is reflective of the entirety of the feedback from the steering committee, community survey, community stakeholder engagement meeting, and the Board of Education. A draft of this plan was then presented to this same group of community stakeholders on February 7th, 2022 for revision and feedback. The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education approved the plan on April 20, 2022.
Mokena School District 159 Strategic Plan (2022-2027)
Strategic Plan (2022-2027) Summary
Strategic Plan Update - June 2022