SAD 63 wants public comment on five-year strategic plan

HOLDEN – School board members, teachers, school administration and some community members have been working on a five-year strategic plan for SAD 63.

Now the group working on the draft, called the core planning group, wants community members to take a look and add comments if they see a need, school board member Beth Murchie said.

“Every five years we develop a strategic plan,” she said. “It’s come to the point that we want community input.”

The plan determines areas essential for the success of the school district, which includes Clifton, Eddington and Holden.

“These are the identified areas of importance,” Murchie said. “And these areas determine our focus for the next five years.”

To get the word out, a public spaghetti dinner is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 20 at Holbrook Middle School in Holden.

“We’ve developed six areas of focus,” said Murchie. “We’re inviting community members to come and see what we’ve put together to far. We’ll give them an overview of the process. Then we’ll eat.”

Afterward, smaller round-table style discussions will take place between community leaders and residents. Each person will have time to look at two focus areas, discuss them and comment, Murchie said.

“This information will be brought back to the core planning group,” she said. “Our goal is to have the plan finished before the [spring] budget process. We’re hoping by the beginning of February to have this all completed.”

Anyone interested in attending the public supper is asked to call the superintendent’s office at 843-7851 and leave a message.