Alva community,

It is an exciting time for Alva Public Schools. Over the course of this past year, the board of education, staff, students, and community members have engaged in a strategic planning process to direct our district over the next five years. The four goal areas for the strategic plan are: Curriculum and Instruction, Culture and Community, Personnel, Resources.

I encourage you to take a moment to visit our website (www.alvaschools.com) and go to the tab titled "Strategic Plan" to look at the completed plan and review the objectives and initiatives to each goal area. The completed plan also has a timeline for the completion of action steps and the performance measures that will be used to see if the action steps are successful.

Superintendent Tim Argo

The strategic plan is ambitious and thorough, but the hard work lies before us as we implement its components in a methodical way. That being said, implementation will only be as successful as the accountability measures. Built into the plan is a timeline for each goal area to make sure that our district completes the smaller bite sized initiatives that make up the larger plan. Members of the committees that created the plan will also be a part of the accountability measures. They will be checking in the principals to see where we are in our implementation and reporting to the school board monthly. Will Rogers once said "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Just as we teach our students each day that learning never stops, as a community we must continue to push the envelope as we look for ways to improve student outcomes.

Over the course of this year, we will host forums for parents and community members to attend for updates on the strategic plan at various school sites. It will also be a fantastic opportunity to learn about what is going on at each building in our district. Staff, students and administrators will also be on FM 105.7 each Monday morning at 7:45 beginning Aug. 12 to share about events and programs throughout the district. I am excited about the finished product, but even more proud of the process in which it was completed.

Sincerely,

Tim Argo, Superintendent