The superintendent of Smith-Green Community Schools in Whitley County says a new strategic plan will help bolster student success, even as the district faces financial challenges.

The five-year plan, approved unanimously by the school board this summer, broadens the district’s goals and outlines specific ways to meet them, Superintendent Steve Darnell said.

Though certain elements of the plan could be costly, Darnell said the district plans to pay for extra costs by increasing student enrollment and introducing an energy savings plan. The district serves 1,250 students.

“We’re trying to do things to improve the quality of education but with less resources, and that’s a challenge,” Darnell said.

The idea for a new plan was born in 2009, when school board members determined the district’s goals were too narrow. The board convened a committee of students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members to set targets for the district and determine ways to measure progress.

The final plan calls for superior education, a safe environment, fiscal responsibility, community support and service excellence.

The first phase of the plan begins this year and requires all teachers in the district to use a common lesson plan. Eventually, the district hopes to improve test scores by 2 percent, implement a character education program, adjust its curriculum to meet all standards, revise its hiring process and add more courses.

The plan also involves evaluating the district’s business practices, looking into wind turbine technology and other ways to become energy efficient, and increasing professional development.

School board member Nick Uecker, an electrician, said he was particularly pleased to see the plan offered more vocational options for students and called for improving communication with parents and others in the community.

“I think it’s important to get parents involved,” he said. “If the parents are involved, kids are going to stay on the straight and narrow.”

Darnell and Uecker admitted the plan was ambitious and said it’s possible that funding concerns could put some goals on hold.

The district recently launched a marketing campaign that drew 37 transfer students – and additional money – to the district. But Darnell said the money won’t prevent additional budget cuts this year.

The district’s state funding dropped $450,000 last year, and Darnell expects that cut to be permanent.

The strategic plan prioritizes recruiting new teachers. But at this point, Darnell said, he’s just hoping to keep the teachers he has.

dhaynie@jg.net