2009-2010 Board of Education Goals

In the area of Academic Achievement
- Augmented benchmark testing data in grades 3-8 will improve.
- Sub-population categories -- Free/Reduced Lunch, Special Education and Limited English Proficiency -- testing data will improve.
- The three major measures of Advanced Placement -- the number of students taking the exam, the number of exams taken, and the passing scores of 3, 4, or 5 -- will all increase.
- ACT testing data -- both general population and "core completer" -- will improve.
- The end-of-course (EOC) testing data in Algebra I, Geometry and 11th grade Literacy will improve.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) will continue to grow as participation levels will increase from one year to the next.

In the area of Staff development and Training
- The District will develop a longitudinal plan that encompasses a common platform of understanding and basic core competencies.
  - Building principals will lead in the development of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at each campus with full implementation by 2009-2010.
  - PLC leadership training will continue this year and next. Additional trainings will be provided as needed. All certified staff will attend the National PLC Conference to be held in Bentonville in August, 2010.
  - PLC components will become imbedded in each school.

In the area of Fiscal Responsibility
- In this era of great economic uncertainty, the District will seek to reduce costs and search for efficiencies. Specifically:
  - 1) Reduce transportations costs through better routing, student pick up and drop off points, expanded walking zones (where safety allows), field trips, extra-curricular trips, the scheduling of events, fuel options, and new technologies such as Zonar.
  - 2) The District energy "cost avoidance" will increase by 2% or more, from $1.1M to approximately $1.3M.

In the area of School Facilities
- The District must continue to prepare for the future by having adequate facilities to meet the needs of our students and the community we serve. Currently, the District has 30 portable buildings. The population of BHS will exceed 4,000 soon as we continue to graduate smaller classes (700 - 800) that will be followed by classes in excess of 1,000 each. The planning process must begin anew for the next Bentonville School District building program.
In the area of Staff Diversity
- The District will actively recruit teachers and administrators from minority groups to a percentage at least equal to, but not limited to, the percentage of minorities in the general student population.

Stimulus Plan Expenditures
- Based on the Arkansas Department of Education approval of the ARRA plan submitted by District officials on June 19, 2009, the Bentonville School District will successfully implement:
  - 1) The 21st Century Classroom technology model prior to March 1st, 2010
  - 2) The District Technology Instructional Leaders will provide ongoing job-embedded professional development to staff so they can utilize the new equipment as an instructional tool.
  - 3) All the separate and unique programs purchased for special education staff and students. Staff development will be provided in the areas of literacy and math and program evaluation will be based on progress in standardized assessments.