SALEM CITY SCHOOLS
2014-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Children First in Salem,
Every Child, Every Day
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STRATEGIC PLAN EVALUATION
School Board……………………………………………………….
Strategic Plan Committee…………………………………………
Introduction…………………………………………………………
Standards of Quality Requirements …………………………….
Division Plan on a Page ………………………. ………………..
2
3
4
5
5-7
8-9
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. David Preston, Chairman
Dr. Michael Chiglinsky - Vice Chairman
Dr. Nancy Bradley
Mrs. Artice Ledbetter
Mr. Andy Raines
Dr. H. Alan Seibert, Superintendent
Salem City Schools does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, disability, gender, or age in employment or in its educational programs and
activities.
3
2014-2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE
Kirstine
Barber
Kim
Grosskopf
Mark
Teresa
Barker
DeWayne Harrell
Lynda
Krista
Blackeney
Margaret Humphrey
Sonnya
Nicole
Bocock
Forest
Jones
Archie
Tricia
Boothe
Kyna
Jones
Kelly
Robin
Buzzard
Kristie
Jordan
Robin
Debbie
Carroll
Amy
Journell
Andy
Cheryl
Carter
Sarah
Karpen
Susan
Carrie
Cochran
Dalaski
Kelly
Diane
Joe
Coleman
Jenny
King
Amanda
Beth
Cook
George
Koumaras
Victoria
Vicki
Coulling
Melissa
Land
Alice
Michelle
Cox
Deborah Lewis
Kristyn
David
Dallas
James
Martin
Mitzi
Angie
Davidson
Mary
McCurley
Adam
Derrick
Dewalt
Regina
Meredith
Karen
Michele
Dewalt
Cindy
Moran
Courtney
Leslie
Dishaw
Andrea
Morehead
Lisa
Anna
Dyer
Julie
Mowles
Kristi
Jennifer
Fox
Tomi
Nave
Suzanne
Jacqueline Frackelton
Alison
Netting
Deborah
Judy
Fisher
Judith
Painter
Robin
Jamie
Garst
Bob
Palleria
Michelle
Alice
Gordon
Mike
Parrish
Hilary
4
Peterson
Pinello
Preston
Pugh
Reese
Richardson
Riddile
Robertson
Rose
Rude
Salvat
Shaw
Shepherd
Simmons
Simpson
Stephenson
Stinnette
Sutherland
Vernon
Williams
Wright
Wright
Darby
Griffith
INTRODUCTION
The Standards of Quality for Public Schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia state that
“each local school board shall adopt a division-wide comprehensive, unified, long-range
plan based on data collection, an analysis of the data, and how the data will be utilized
to improve classroom instruction and student achievement. Each local board shall
review the plan biennially and adopt any necessary revisions.”
The 2014-2020 Comprehensive Planning process began in the fall of 2013 with
an evaluation of the 2012-2018 Comprehensive Plan, which was presented to the
School Board on October 8th. The planning process included several opportunities for
stakeholder input. On December 3, 2913 the Division hosted an open house event at
South Salem Elementary School. This event included a survey instrument asking
visitors to provide the Division with input regarding strengths and opportunities for
improvement. The feedback instrument also asked visitors to describe the critical
knowledge and skills that every Salem High School graduate should possess upon
graduation.
In January the Division conducted parent, student, and employee climate surveys to
measure stakeholder satisfaction. The parent and employee surveys included
opportunities for respondents to provide open-ended feedback regarding strengths and
opportunities for improvement. In addition, Division representatives participated in the
9th Grade Registration Fair at Salem High School and solicited feedback from the
9th grade class. The survey and feedback results were presented to the School Board
during School Board Work Sessions on January 31, 2014 and April 8, 2014.
Finally, the Division completed a document outlining potential goals and objectives for
the 2014-2020 Comprehensive Plan. This draft document was provided to a committee
of more than 80 parents, teachers, and community stakeholders. Using their feedback,
along with information collected throughout the process from more than 1200
stakeholders, the Division has completed the 2014-2020 Comprehensive Plan.
STANDARDS OF QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The body of law governing the operation of schools in the Commonwealth of
Virginia, known as the Standards of Quality (SOQ), sets forth the requirement that all
school divisions must develop a six-year planning document that is evaluated and
updated every two years. The SOQ requires that each plan address certain long-range
topics in addition to the most current objectives of the school division. The required
topics are an enrollment forecast, a plan for regional services, a technology plan, and a
needs assessment.
5
School Division Objectives
The objectives of the School Division are distributed annually by the
Superintendent. Those Division objectives become the basis for planning and action.
The objectives of the Division are diligently addressed and monitored. Outcomes are
analyzed and actions are carried forward into the future.
Enrollment Forecast
The Salem School Division subscribes to a service provided by Information
Management Systems of Rockford, Michigan to forecast enrollment trends. Enrollment
forecasts provided by the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center are also
reviewed each year for usefulness. Enrollment is expected to increase significantly over
the next five years (+200).
Enrollment Projection - Five Years
Grade
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
K-12 Total
2014-15
332
276
279
270
275
281
295
302
325
314
291
267
302
3809
2015-16
313
343
278
280
270
277
291
293
308
340
306
274
242
3815
2016-2017
332
323
345
279
280
272
287
289
298
322
331
288
248
3894
2017-18
344
343
325
347
279
282
281
285
294
311
313
311
261
3976
2018-19
355
355
345
327
347
281
292
279
290
307
303
294
282
4057
Regional Services
Cooperation between school divisions is an effective means to provide services
to small numbers of students which might otherwise be too expensive for a single
school division to offer. The Division currently participates in a variety of regional
programs including , but not limited to, The Roanoke Valley Governor’s School, The
Virginia Western Regional Career and Technical Education Academy, The Western
Virginia Public Education Consortium, The Roanoke Valley Education Consortium,
The Eastern States Consortium, the Roanoke Valley Regional Board of Low
Incidence Populations, the Roanoke Regional Alternative Education Program, etc.
The division will continue to pursue opportunities to enhance our programs in a cost
effective manor through regionalization when available.
6
Technology Plan
The Six-Year Technology Plan for Salem City Schools is a comprehensive
document with goals and objectives that have been included in the Six-Year
Comprehensive Plan. Due to the specific requirements for the Technology Plan and the
detail necessary to meet the requirements; it is not included in its entirety in this report.
Needs Assessment
Salem City Schools uses its annual Capital Improvement Plan process as a
mechanism for needs assessment. The 2014-2019 plan was completed and presented
to the School Board in November of 2013.
The annual operating budget also provides a forum for needs assessment in
which budget needs are identified at the school level during the budget development
process.
7
Salem City School 2014-2020 Comprehensive Plan
Mission
The mission of Salem City Schools is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where
ALL STUDENTS acquire the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become
successful and responsible citizens in the 21st century global community.
Approved 7/08/2014
Teaching and Learning
Children First, Every Child Every Day!
Instruction
“We believe that all students are important and can be successful.”




Goals
By 2015, 95% of students will graduate
with a board-approved diploma or its
equivalent within four years of entering
the 9th grade.
By 2016, 90% of students will report
that their grade is an accurate indication
of their knowledge of subject matter.
By 2014, 80% of seniors will be
enrolled in math at the level of Algebra
II or higher during their senior year.
The division will annually promote the
opportunity for students to earn an
Associate’s Degree from Virginia
Western Community College upon
graduation.
Actions
 School counselors will identify students
with credit deficits and develop
individualized plans to promote on-time
graduation in grades 6-12.
 The division will develop a
transportation plan that provides
additional learning opportunities after
regular school hours.
 The division will provide professional
development opportunities in mastery
grading practices.
 The division will pilot the use of
Standards Based Grading software at
each school.
 The division will convene a committee
of administrators and teachers to
examine math enrollment trends and
make recommendations for curriculum
changes to address areas of concern.
 The division will annually record and
report the number of students taking
advanced math and develop strategies to
increase participation and success.
 The division will update and publish a
program of studies that will allow
students to earn an Associate’s Degree
upon graduation.
Assessment
“We are committed to excellence in all that we do.”

Goals
By 2015, 85% of students in grades 3-5
will meet or exceed growth targets in
math and 70% of students will meet or
exceed growth targets in English.

By 2015, 90% of students in grades K-2
will meet or exceed PALS benchmarks.

By 2016, all students will meet or
exceed state standards as assessed by
the Virginia SOL Assessment Program
and the percentage of students scoring
in the pass-advanced range for all math
and English SOL assessments will
increase by 2% annually with a goal of
50%



Salem students will exceed the state
and national average mean scores on
the SAT and ACT annually.

By 2015, the division will develop
alternative assessments designed to
meet the requirements of SOL reform.





Actions
The division will design and
implement the use of Data Teams at
each school to assist administrators
and teachers in the use of data to
inform instructional practice and
improve student achievement.
Staff will participate in a variety of
professional development activities
designed to increase student
engagement.
Staff will develop annual goals for the
use of formative assessment strategies
and descriptive feedback to increase
student learning.
Curriculum committees will develop
vertical alignment plans to address
knowledge and skills that are essential
for student success in grades K-12.
The division will collect and report
PALS data from grades K-2 as a
component of the Division Scorecard.
The division will offer SAT/ACT
preparation courses.
Staff development will be provided on
the use of authentic assessment and
performance tasks to measure
achievement.
Climate and Culture
“We recognize and respect differences among staff and students.”







Communication and Community Relations
“Student success is a shared responsibility among schools,
parents and community partners.”
Goals
Actions
Each school and the division will
 The division and each school will use
communicate school-related information
available technology such as the Parent
with parents, students, and the community
Portal, School Messenger, social
with a goal 90% overall satisfaction as
media, and school websites to
measured by survey every two years.
communicate with parents and the
community.
The division will maintain a 90% approval
 Staff will participate in a variety of
rating with parents, students, staff, and the
professional development activities
community as measured by survey every
related to the use of technology to
two years.
facilitate communication.
 The division will develop and
By 2016, 80% of parents will indicate their
communicate the location of a division
knowledge of, and ability to access, School
scorecard to report division and school
Division Achievement Data as measured
achievement data annually.
by survey every two years
 The division will communicate staff
and student achievements and
innovative programs.
Career Education
Goals
Actions
By 2017, 100% of students will earn an
 The Division will provide multiple
industry credential or certificate.
opportunities for students to earn an
industry credential and will report
By 2015, 100% of students in grades 8-12
results annually.
will have an Academic and Career Plan
 The division will develop and
specific to their individual interests and
implement a Career Education
aptitudes which outlines plans for pursuing
curriculum using Virginia Career View
careers of interest.
and the Virginia Wizard Program in
grades K-12.
The division will provide information and
 The division will work in conjunction
professional development in the use of the
Virginia Western Community College
16 career clusters with students in all
to identify and define careers
subjects.
associated with the Career Pathways
initiative.
The division will promote and support
 Salem High School will provide field
enrollment in VWCC CTE programs with
trips opportunities to VWCC for
a goal of 30 participants by fall 2016.
targeted students.
 The division will develop a
transportation plan to support off
campus learning opportunities.
9






Safety and Organization Management
“Students learn best in a safe and disciplined environment provided by
caring and respectful adults.”
Goals
Actions
The division will implement researchBy 2016, 80% of students will report
based programs to address bullying
that they are rarely or never bullied at
and promote respect for individual
school as measured by survey every
differences in all schools.
two years.
Collect and evaluate current research
By 2016, the division will conduct an
related to school schedules and
analysis of school schedules, the
calendars.
school calendar, and transportation
schedules and make recommendations  Collect and compare school schedules
that will maximize learning through
and calendars from regional school
the efficient use of division resources.
divisions.
By 2018, division salaries will rank
first when compared to regional school
division in each salary range and
employment category.

Investigate the opportunity to offer a
tiered insurance plan to employees in
order to reduce insurance premiums.
Technology
Goals
Actions
By 2016, 100% of secondary students
 Staff will be trained in the use of
will indicate that they have multiple
instructional technology to promote
meaningful opportunities to use
student engagement.
technology at school as defined and
assessed through the student survey to  Resources will be allocated for the
be administered every other year.
purchase and maintenance of
instructional technology and
By 2017, 100% of all graduates will
infrastructure to support its use.
have participated in an individualized
online learning experience.
 The division will support the
continued development and
By 2016, 100% of 6th graders will
availability of online courses and
participate in a formal program
programs.
designed to promote digital citizenship
and online safety.
 Pilot the use of the Everfi Ignition
Program in the 6th grade exploratory
classes at ALMS.