Byram Township Schools Strategic Plan Action Plan
2014-2018
The following slides have been shared at the 2-24-2016
Board meeting and are presented here to the
community to share what has been accomplished to
date regarding the strategic plan action plan and
reaching its goals. The strategic plan was developed by
the collaborative efforts of school, parents, students,
and community members. It represents a five year
plan toward a vision of what the collective group
determined to be where they believed the district
should work towards and look like in five years. The
plan is a living document and is an ongoing effort to
develop and achieve was set forth by the committee.
Byram Township Schools
Strategic Plan
Action Plan Goals and Objectives
2014-2018
Update
2-24-2016
Four Main Goals
 Goal #1: Student Achievement
 Goal Statement: Empower students to be
passionate life-long learners who will achieve
their highest potential, through rigorous and
relevant learning experiences.
 Goal #2: Finance and Facilities
 Goal Statement: Develop a finance and facilities
plan that promotes student achievement
Four Main Goals
 Goal #3: Culture and Climate
 Goal Statement: Enhance our district’s positive
learning environment to enrich and empower
students as to meet the needs of the whole child.
 Goal #4: Communications and Community
Partnerships
 Goal Statement: To provide greater opportunities
for more communication and collaboration
amongst stakeholders.
Goal Statement: Empower students to be passionate lifelong learners who will achieve their highest potential,
through rigorous and relevant learning experiences.
Objective: Maximize instructional time
Objective: Integrate technology to support student
achievement
Objective: Increase professional development for staff to
keep them current on best practices
Objective: Timely assessments to determine progress
Objective: Identify student motivators
Objective: Maximize instructional time
 Schedules were looked at to maximize instructional
time, less ‘down time’
 Classroom were moved to improve proximity for grade
levels (5th/8th Science)(Moving rooms at BLES)
 Analyzed and evaluated programs for effectiveness
 Differentiation of instruction is being encouraged
through professional development
Objective: Integrate technology to
support student achievement
 BIS is 1:1 with Chromebooks
 SMARTboards in all instructional classrooms. All
regular use, full classrooms have SMARTboards. The
spaces without are some of the SGI rooms and speech.
 Old SMARTboards possibly being replaced with
interactive TVs
 STEM lab up and running
 All teachers provided with laptops
Objective: Integrate technology to
support student achievement
 Increased mobile technology – more iPads, 5-8 1:1, 3rd and
4th have Chromebooks, Google Apps for
Education. Provides our email, calendar, file sharing
(google drive), etc. The student Chromebooks could not
function if the students did not GAFE.
 Mass Media Class up and running, students creating video
announcements
 Digital Library-the devices (Kindles) have been configured
and loaded with some books. The devices will be rolling
out within the next few weeks now that our new library
software is functioning. Until recently there was no way to
track the devices.
Objective: Increase professional development
for staff to keep them current on best practices
 Teachscape training for teacher evaluations
 Math PD for Envision series
 School Climate – Olweus at BIS and monthly student
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recognition programs at each school
PD for New LA program at BLES
Tech Training from outside vendor
Other opportunities identified by staff
Evidence Based multi sensory reading instruction –
Wilson Language Program
Objective: Identify student motivators
 Allow student time to engage in in-depth real world
issues – Interdisciplinary class
 Provide students with interest survey for possibility of
future program/club offerings
Objective: Timely assessments to
determine progress
 STAR Reading program at BIS
 DRA at BLES
 Benchmark assessments – Language arts programs
 Envision Math
 BIS Interdisciplinary Period – teachers to use
benchmark assessments to design real world problem
solving activities/assignments for students
Goal #2: Finance and Facilities
Goal Statement: Develop a finance and facilities plan
that promotes student achievement
Objective: Find alternative location to open space
Objective: Provide a full day kindergarten program
Objective: Improve district technology
Objective: Continue to re-evaluate school safety and
security program
Objective: Find alternative location to
open space
 Classes relocated to reduce/eliminate the use of open
space
 Schedule created with shared classrooms where/when
possible
 Possible reconfiguration of schools – not necessary at
this time
 Art room moved to industrial arts room which created
an available room in the new fifth grade wing. 8th
grade science room and 5th grade science classes
moved to be closer to other grade level classrooms
Objective: Improve district technology
 Identified tech needs of district based on curriculum and
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instruction
Investigated technology pricing and quality of
merchandise for value and long term use
Identified and discarded obsolete technology – open space
graveyard – Govdeals.com
Always exploring new trends, not fads in technology –
NJSBA, NJASA, Techspo
Investigated audio needs in all classrooms
Install audio enhancement system in classrooms – not yet
we would like to pilot in a few classrooms first
Objective: Continue to re-evaluate school
safety and security program
 Reconfigured main entrances in both buildings
 Installed/Updated new public address system in booth
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schools
Investigated need for additional security cameras – in front
of both schools showing parking lot, hallways in both
buildings
New door hardware in both buildings
New school visitor id system in both buildings – Raptor
Meet with Byram Police Department
Always looking to improve areas of safety and security –,
safety film for windows, new security technology
Objective: Provide a full day
kindergarten program
 Rationale provided to BOE
 Cohort survival report from township used to predict
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future enrollment numbers
Evaluated furniture and resources needed
Kindergarten staff visited other full day programs and
reported back
Presentation given to BOE on full day program
Full day kindergarten program on BOE agenda
Implementation of full day kindergarten program
Full day kindergarten is currently in place
Goal #3: Culture and Climate
Goal Statement: Enhance our district’s positive learning
environment to enrich and empower students as to meet
the needs of the whole child.
Objective: Implement programs that help to connect all
students and staff from grades Pre-K-8
Objective: Develop programs, clubs, and activities for
students after school that promotes physical, academic and
emotional growth
Objective: Increase cultural literacy and social responsibility
through service learning projects
Objective: Increase parent input and involvement at school
sponsored events
Objective: Implement programs that help
to connect all students and staff from
grades Pre-K-8
 Olweus School Culture/Climate program
 Morning announcements being made by students, Mass
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Media studio, Facebook, Twitter, district webpage, email
Student recognition programs in both buildings
Connected Calendars – Staff has shared calendars available
to make them aware of activities
Cross age experiences – students working with
younger/older students from other building
Staff team building activities – staff working together to
accomplish tasks – Columbus PD day
Objective: Develop programs, clubs, and
activities for students after school that promotes
physical, academic and emotional growth
 Student Government – Student Council re-established
 Provide students with interest survey to develop
desired programs – after school & possibly during day
 Discussions about club interests
 Before/after school activities – Fit Club at BLES,
Environmental Club at BLES, Minecraft Club at BIS
introduced since plan implemented
 Programming Club being considered at BIS
Objective: Increase cultural literacy and
social responsibility through service
learning projects
 Recycling Program - continuing
 PEER Leadership Program - continuing
 Student Council – re-established
Objective: Increase parent input and
involvement at school sponsored events
 Parent Programs: Technology Committee may be a
part of Board Committees. New Technology Ad-Hoc
Committee (may include students), to look closer at
technology needsInternet Safety, School Climate
Team, etc.
 Chrome Camp for Parents – meetings held for parents
 SCIP (School Improvement) Team – established in
each school
 Student Projects/activities presented at BOE meetings
by students
Goal #4: Communications and
Community Partnerships
Goal Statement: To provide greater opportunities for more
communication and collaboration amongst stakeholders.
Objective: To develop multiple means of communication
and increase use of social media
Objective: To develop a common electronic calendar
including school, civic, and non-profit groups
Objective: To develop and implement a survey to determine
the needs and values of community members
Objective: To create programs to benefit the school and
community using results of the survey
Objective: To develop a common electronic
calendar including school, civic, and nonprofit groups
 Google Calendar Setup on website
Objective: To develop multiple means of
communication and increase use of social
media
 Introduction of Google Drive, email, websites, and
Honeywell to keep parents informed of activities and
events
 Increased use of Facebook and Twitter to
communicate and share happenings in the district
 School Way App implemented
Objective: To develop and implement a survey
to determine the needs and values of
community members
 Parent Survey on School Climate - One was done last
year and another is going out soon
 Community Survey on preferred educational
workshops/training topics – Special Education
Department held a couple of evening events utilizing
outside vendors
Objective: To create programs to benefit
the school and community using results of
the survey
 Develop survey and analyze results for possible new
programs based on student interest – To be done this
spring for possible next school year implementation
 Create a regional parent/community group – LAKES
(Leading All Kinds of Exceptional Students) – outside
groups/agencies to provide workshops for community
members – Special Education Department was in the
process of laying the groundwork for this group. We
will need to re-visit
Thank You
To be continued…