The Franklin Special School District Board of Education unanimously approved the district's five-year strategic plan during Monday's regular meeting.
The plan, called “Aspire 2029,” outlines goals and steps schools in all eight districts will take to achieve them in three categories: academics, belonging/well-being, and community presence/communication. ing.
Goals to be achieved by 2029 include improving reading, writing and math proficiency by 10% and increasing student growth at all grade levels. Implement behavior and wellbeing plans for students, staff and families. and expand the district's community presence and family engagement to better communicate school offerings and expectations.
According to the strategic plan, steps to achieve the goals include establishing district-wide writing expectations, providing a communication platform for teachers and parents, and providing guidance to counselors, social workers, and other community health activists regarding student welfare. This includes seeking opinions from
Mary Decker, vice president of the School of Teaching and Learning, presented the plan to the board. He said the plan was “the most clearly brought to life” and was the result of months of focus group sessions and surveys of employees, parents and students.
The “brand promise” attached to the plan is “students first, always excellence, no exceptions,” Decker said.
Board members also unanimously approved a new marketing campaign under the Franklin Special School District name to highlight the school's commitment to quality education.
School Superintendent David Snowden said the idea for the campaign was a way to “reduce some of the confusion associated with the district's name, especially the 'special' part.” He said he came up with the idea during his annual training camp.
Charles Cagle, the district's general counsel, said the board cannot officially change the district's name, but it can publish advertising and marketing materials to “strengthen the brand.” Snowden said.
Snowden said the board will hold focus groups with parents, district staff and community members and work with Franklin marketing agency BrandMETTLE to begin in August for the start of the 2024-25 school year. He said he has created a marketing campaign that includes a new logo.
“The recommendation was to focus on the word 'special,' define it, own it, and elevate the Franklin Special,” he said. “This campaign demonstrates how we are putting our students first, preparing and launching them into their brightest potential futures.”
Mr. Snowden thanked Franklin Vice Mayor Matt Brown, co-founder of BrandMETTLE, who supported the marketing campaign and organized the Aspire 2029 focus group.
