North Allegheny seeking feedback on strategic and comprehensive plan
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The North Allegheny School District Strategic and Comprehensive Plan for 2022-2029 will be on display throughout September with a chance for approval by the school board at the end of the month.
“The focus of the plan is on the direction for the future,” said Dr. Melissa Friez, superintendent of schools for North Allegheny.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires districts to submit a comprehensive plan every six years. This plan will be in place until 2029, if approved, Friez said. The district has been working on this since November 2021.
The plan was developed with the help of community members, staff, students, key stakeholders and focus groups.
Friez said more than 3,000 people completed surveys of their opinion of what should be in the district and hosted 30 focus groups.
“Our goal is to encompass all the different people and perspectives that are here, which makes North Allegheny a very special district,” she said.
The plan is represented by a compass — “N” stands for the North Allegheny experience, “E” stands for Engagement, “S” for Support services, and W for a Welcoming environment.
“These will be our four key principles. Our hope is by following the direction of the compass our staff, students and community will remember our guiding principles,” Friez said.
Specifically, the North Allegheny Experience principle seeks to expose all students to a comprehensive education that includes modernized instruction models and post-secondary opportunities, and encourages all students to take advantage of extracurricular opportunities.
Engagement seeks to increase opportunities for collaboration between key stakeholders to solve problems and improve the NA experience.
Friez said support services are meant to foster an environment for teaching and learning that provides support services for students, staff and community while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
A welcoming environment ensures all students, staff, community members and families feel safe and welcomed.
Specific details on how these principles will be implemented are found within the strategic and comprehensive plan. Friez said families and communities are welcome to view the plan, located within the board reports on the school district website. If someone would like a copy of the plan, there is a QR code within the plan that is posted on the district website, under Board Reports, she said.
Families and staff received a copy of the plan in a recent email.
“Not everyone will love everything that is in here, and not everything we want is going to be accomplished,” said board director Kevin Mahler. “NA is a big ship to turn. And things always take a while. And you can’t always get what you want. It’s important to head in the right direction, have a vision and measurable ways to see where you’re going.”
The plan is available until Sept. 18 for feedback. A final version will be presented to the board on Sept. 21 for possible approval.
School director Paige Hardy commended the administration on the transparent process, community involvement, and opportunities to weigh in on the plan.
Fellow director Leslie Britton Dozier agreed.
“Every item I raised was addressed, I didn’t always get my way, but I know it was read,” she said.
Finding out what was important to community members was important to school director Elizabeth Warner.
“This is reflective of the enthusiastic administration that Dr. Friez has put together,” said school board president Rick McClure.