COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

2012-2018 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

NORTON ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

School Board Members: Mrs. Sherry Adams Chairperson Mr. Mark Leonard Vice Chairperson Mrs. Carol Caruso Member Mrs. April Flectcher Member Mr. Joseph Stallard Member Superintendent of Schools: Dr. Keith Perrigan

Comprehensive Plan Committee Members: Robbie Fultz, Teacher

Dr. Andy Cox, Higher Education (UVA Wise) Carol Caruso, School Board Member

Andrea Gonzalez-Prince, Parent Dr. Keith Perrigan, Superintendent

Aaron Williams, Administrator Anu Godsey, Teacher Gina Wohlford, Administrator

Kaye Mink, Administrator Fran Doyle, Higher Education (MECC)

Ernie Ward, Community Member Tonya Poteet, Resource Teacher

Eddie Sharpe, Teacher Anita Ward, Teacher Jazlyn Adams, Student Robert Beauchamp, Student

Comprehensive Plan: 2012-2018

Norton City Schools Mission Statement

Norton City Schools will provide a safe learning environment where each student is engaged and instruction is personalized and differentiated. Delivery of instruction to each student will be adjusted as a result of formal and informal assessments by knowledgeable teachers who provide engaging instruction and relevant curricula. Administrators, teachers, and staff will build strong personal relationships with each student in order to develop appropriate individualized goals for academic growth. All stakeholders will work together to nurture each student’s social, physical and intellectual growth, to empower each student with the skills to become a responsible citizen, a lifelong learner, and a leader in the global community.

Committed to Excellence – One Student at a Time

Norton City Schools Vision Statement

Norton City Schools will be a safe environment where students with diverse needs and

backgrounds receive a world class education that prepares them for a career or college. By being Committed to Excellence on a daily basis, we will empower all students to be productive citizens who can solve problems on a local and global level. We will inspire all students to be creative, teach them to think critically, enable them to work well as an individual or on a team, and expose them to 21st Century innovations, as we prepare them to have a significant impact on the world.

Norton City Schools Statement of Beliefs We believe:

Norton City Schools are special.

Opportunities to learn in a high quality and safe environment should always be our top priority. Relationships are built on mutual respect between students and staff. These relationships lead to a familial atmosphere that is connected to the success of our schools.

Tomorrow’s leaders should leave our schools as critical thinkers who are prepared to solve local, national, and global problems in college and/or a career.

Our policies and procedures are in place to help ensure that our students and staff meet their individualized high expectations.

Not many things are as important as hiring and retaining high quality employees who are accountable for providing an aligned curriculum in a creatively effective manner.

Communication should be regular and relevant between stakeholders in order to encourage parental engagement and community support which are critical elements of successful schools. Innovatively researched based instructional strategies should be used in every classroom.

Teaching occurs outside the classroom as well, so we should offer an array of extension services in addition to extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities.

Yearly, we should set individualized and high expectations for all students because all students can learn.

Introduction

The Standards of Quality for Public Schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia state that “each local school board shall adopt a division-wide comprehensive, unified, long-range plan based on data collection, an analysis of the data, and how the data will be utilized to improve classroom instruction and student achievement. Each local school board shall review the plan biennially and adopt any necessary revisions.”

The 2012-2018 Comprehensive Plan was developed by a 14 member committee, composed of various stakeholders. Stakeholders included teachers, administrators, a school board member, higher education faculty from Mountain Empire Community College and The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, and parents. Monthly committee meetings began on October 4, 2010, and concluded on October 3, 2011. During the development of the plan, input was received from bi-monthly Superintendent Advisory groups, composed of parents, teachers, students, and support staff. A draft of the plan was presented to the Norton City School Board for their review on October 10, 2011. The final draft was presented to the board on November 14, 2011. The final plan was approved by the Norton City School Board on December 12, 2011, following a public hearing that was part of the regular school board meeting agenda.

The Comprehensive Plan is divided into five areas that were identified by the committee as the main areas of focus. Each area has various goal statements and strategies to meet the stated goals. The five areas are listed as follows and have now been aligned with other required Division plans:

 Student Activities and Programs: The division will offer student activities/programs in grades K-12 that will promote valuable skills such as responsibility, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking and leadership to live healthy, well-rounded lives.

 Parent and Community Involvement: The division will seek to enhance the two-way flow of communication with all parents and stakeholder and will seek to build partnerships with business, public and private non-profit organizations, and universities and colleges.

 Career and Technical Education: The division will offer a career and technical program that provides opportunities for students to acquire the skills to meet industry standards and prepare for post secondary education.

 Fiscal Responsibilities: The division will maintain fiscal accountability and stability of resources that establish, support, and sustain a quality educational program and staff while maintaining a balanced budget.

 Curriculum and Instruction (Assessment, Achievement, Data, Staff Development): The division will continue to expand curriculum offerings, particularly STEM education initiatives, that are rigorous and prepare students to compete and excel in postsecondary education and/or in the global workplace, use date to help evaluate instructional practices and make appropriate modifications, more effectively utilize technological tools to gather periodic

student achievement progress, and develop long-range professional development plans that are aligned with the division mission and beliefs.

School Division Objectives

The objectives of the School Division are distributed annually by the Superintendent. Those objectives become the basis for planning and action. Objectives are monitored and outcomes analyzed before being reported to the board.

Standards of Quality

The Standards of Quality requires that each plan address certain long-range topics in addition the most current objectives of the school division. The required topics are a plan for regional services, enrollment forecast, a technology plan, and a needs assessment.

Regional Services

Due to the size of our school division, it is imperative that Norton City Schools engages in partnerships with other school divisions in order to provide certain services that would otherwise be very expensive due to the small student population requiring these services. The partnership between Norton City and Wise County Schools has been long-term and beneficial to both school divisions. Services provided by Wise County include special education services for students identified as intellectually disabled, psychological services, and a tuition paying agreement that allows J.I. Burton students to attend the Wise County Career and Technical Center. Norton City also participates in a partnership with Wise and Dickenson County for visual services as well as a cost-sharing agreement for students to attend the Regional Learning Academy. Norton City also contracts with Mountain States Rehab to provide occupational, physical, and speech therapy. In addition, Mountain Region Hearing provides hearing services to our students as part of an agreement that also includes Wise, Dickenson, and Lee County schools. Norton City also participates in the MECC Dual Enrollment Academy and the A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School, both which provide dual enrollment distance learning courses to students at J.I. Burton.

Enrollment Forecast

Enrollment forecast information is calculated using information provided by the Virginia Department of Education and the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center. Beginning in 2004 and continuing through 2012 student enrollment was increasing, and in some years, this increase was significant. Weldon Cooper Center’s enrollment projections in 2012 predicted an increase in enrollment through 2018. However, over the last couple of years we have experienced a drop in enrollment with the largest (-45 students) occurring between 2013 and 2014. The revised table predicts that student enrollment decreases will be moderate during the remainder of the current Comprehensive Plan.

ORIGINAL ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS

GRADE 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 K 73 70 72 75 78 79 80 1 69 73 70 72 75 78 79 2 82 69 73 70 72 75 78 3 63 82 69 73 70 72 75 4 55 63 82 69 73 70 72 5 62 55 63 82 69 73 70 6 65 62 55 63 82 69 73 7 70 65 62 55 63 82 69 539 539 546 559 582 598 596 8 59 70 65 62 55 63 82 9 65 59 70 65 62 55 63 10 69 65 59 70 65 62 55 11 61 69 65 59 70 65 62 12 85 61 69 65 59 70 65 339 324 328 321 311 315 327 Total 878 863 874 880 893 913 923

Revised Enrollment Projections (October 2015) KG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total School Year Actual 2016 65 64 63 59 70 59 83 64 53 60 66 57 58 821 Projected 2016 75 57 61 58 63 64 80 63 58 68 70 53 56 824 2017 61 69 57 58 56 61 65 81 67 59 66 65 51 818 2018 60 56 69 55 58 55 61 66 86 67 57 61 63 814 Change -15 -1 8 -3 -5 -9 -19 3 28 -1 -13 8 7 -10 Technology Plan

The Six-year Technology Plan for Norton City Schools is a comprehensive document with goals and objectives that have been included in the Six-Year Comprehensive Plan. Due to the specific requirements for the Technology Plan and the detail necessary to meet the requirements, it is not included in it’s entirely in this plan.

Annual Evaluation and Review of Plan (Needs Assessment)

The areas indentified in this document will not be the only areas receiving attention in the next six years. Other planning documents, including the division Technology Plan, Gifted Education Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, individual School Improvement Plans, and the Local Consolidated Plan will be updated annually and used in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan to develop annual School Board goals and objectives. Due to the changing needs of our students, teachers, and community, the Comprehensive Plan may be modified periodically to adjust to these changes. The superintendent will evaluate the status of goals and actions included in the plan and report biennially these findings to the School Board.

When applicable, both Individual school and division improvement plans will implement the Comprehensive Plan goals and actions. As part of annual School Improvement Plan

accountability reports provided to the School Board by both principals and the superintendent, the progress of these goals will be reviewed in detail by the School Board. Discussions by the School Board that focus on the progress of Comprehensive Plan goals will help ensure that these goals remain a priority and accountability for goal implementation is assessed annually by the School Board.

Norton City Schools 2012 - 2018 Comprehensive Plan

Mission

Committed to Excellence – One Student at a Time

Promote Student Activities and Programs that Promote Personal Development

The division will offer student activities/programs in grades K-12 that will promote valuable skills such as responsibility, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking

& leadership to live healthy, well-rounded lives.

Encourage Stakeholder Engagement

The division will seek to enhance the two-way flow of communication with all parents and stakeholders and will seek to build partnerships with businesses, public and private non-profit organizations, and universities and colleges. Goals

 All students in grades 5-12 will actively participate in at least 2 student activities  Continue to improve and

expand the Gifted Education program

 Increase cross-age learning experiences between Burton and NEMS

 Implement a Bullying Awareness and Character Counts program

 Support ways to enhance service learning programs  Expand after-school

programs that promote the fine arts and outdoor learning

 Implement a job shadowing program to help students develop 21st Century job skills

 Implement an EXPLORE program to expose students to historical and cultural travel experiences

Actions  Schools will develop

structures to enhance, increase, and improve student participation in various activities that promote leadership skills and team building

 An emphasis will be placed on Faculty and staff

modeling appropriate

etiquette in social situations  Each school will maintain a

visible and vibrant program to teach good character and bullying awareness and prevention

 Tutoring money will be utilized to support after school programs in art and outdoor activities

 Partnerships will be formed with local businesses, colleges and community agencies to develop a structured tutoring and service learning program  Obtain grant funding to help

subsidize EXPLORE

Goals

 Increase the effective use of electronic media

 Develop more opportunities for business partnerships  Expand opportunities for

students and parents to engage jointly in learning activities, such as the implementation of focus groups geared toward specific initiatives and ideas  Partner with local colleges

to increase educational programs that are beneficial to both

 Communication regarding student performance and division initiatives will increase as the result of using a wide range of media, to include technology, print, and television

 Increase the number of positive contacts by

teachers and administrators with parents

Actions  Implement the use of

Powerschool Parent Portal  Increase the use of teacher

websites

 Develop a division/school Facebook page

 Communicate school

information at activities with high parent attendance  Create an elective course

that can produce Channel 51 programs

 Sponsor/Host community forums on topics of interest  Establish Black and Orange

Club for alumni

 Implement “Parent in a Classroom” Day

 Implement webinars to allow for more direct community and parent involvement  NCS and higher education

staff will develop educational programs for both parents and students to help in college transition

Norton City Schools 2012 - 2018 Comprehensive Plan

Mission

Committed to Excellence – One Student at a Time

Improve Student Achievement (Career and Technical Education)

The division will offer a career and technical program that provides opportunities for students to acquire the skills to meet industry standards and prepare for post secondary education.

Demonstrate Fiscal Responsibility

The division will maintain fiscal accountability and stability of resources that establish, support, and sustain a quality educational program and staff while maintaining a balanced budget

Goals

 Increase the number of students participating in career/technical dual enrollment education programs  Utilize available resources, such as Virginia Wizard, to ensure students are thinking long-term in regard to

career/technical careers  Develop a plan to better inform students of CTE programs and careers  Implement CTE courses

such as Electronic Digital Media, Marketing, Culinary Arts, and Engineering  Incorporate on-site

distance learning CTE programs

Actions

 Utilize Academic and Career Plan to help students identify their areas of strength and interest related to CTE programs

 Schedule bi-annual meetings to discuss student performance data, program offerings, and industry needs

 Increase the number of students earning industry certification and/or industry credentials  Schedule a CTE information

event for regular education teachers to help them better understand CTE opportunities  Visit other schools to learn of

possible CTE offerings that may be offered at Burton

 Provide non-traditional speakers and role models from the work world to speak with student groups

Goals  Explore facility

enhancements and building additions that will allow a true 6-8 middle school configuration

 Explore ways to increase school funding

 Develop more effective communication regarding employee policies and procedures

 Set up an educational foundation for the purpose of implementing a

public/private partnership to help financially support NCS improvement projects  Develop an annual

Professional Development Plan based on current trends and identified needs

Actions

 Replace roof at J.I. Burton  Renovate Science Lab at J.I.

Burton

 Hire a part-time grant writer  New Paving at NEMS

 Provide safety training for all staff in compliance with OSHA standards

 Develop a financial handbook that allows for cross training of central office personnel

 Create a Capital

Improvement Budget Item that is funded by budget surplus

 Develop an employee handbook that details policies and procedures  Contract with A&E firm to

assist with long-term facility improvements

Norton City Schools 2012 - 2018 Comprehensive Plan

Mission

Committed to Excellence – One Student at a Time

Improve Student Achievement

(Assessment, Achievement, Data, Staff Development)

The division will continue to expand curriculum offerings, particularly STEM education initiatives, that are rigorous and prepare students to compete and excel in postsecondary education and/or in the global workplace, use data to help evaluate instructional practices and make appropriate modifications, more effectively utilize technological tools to gather periodic student achievement progress, and develop long-range professional development plans that are aligned with the division mission and beliefs.

Goals

 Expand mathematics curriculum at both Burton and NEMS to better prepare students for success in entry-level, credit-bearing math courses in college or career and technical education

 Place an emphasis on written and verbal communication skills in all subject areas

 Curriculum maps will be developed for all grade levels and subject areas  Research based instructional strategies shown to increase student achievement will be implemented by all grade level teachers  Develop division-wide

literacy plans

Actions

 Expand mathematics curriculum by offering Algebra

Functions and Data Analysis, on-site Calculus, a college

placement course in conjunction with Mountain Empire

Community College, provide Algebra to advanced seventh grade students and Pre-Algebra to those seventh grade students not taking Algebra I

 Writing committees will be formed at both schools to promote writing across the curriculum and assist teachers with effective writing strategies  Teachers will be provided

professional development to help in the development of curriculum maps

 Reading specialist from NEMS will work with K-12 language arts teachers to enhance reading instruction at both schools

Goals

 Develop strategies to better support ELL and Special Education students

 Analyze master schedules, scheduling models, and remediation opportunities at both schools

 Increase the number of foreign languages offered from one to three utilizing the fiber optic classroom or distance learning

 All classrooms will have SmartBoard technology  Implement strategies to

implement electronic textbooks and hand-held technology

 Expand interdisciplinary units of study

 Consider adding project-based learning activities in place of exams

 Develop methods to

enhance data analysis skills for all staff

Actions  Administrators will

document the

implementation of research-based strategies and reinforce the sharing of effective implementation strategies; also use data to determine what strategies are most effective with certain student groups  Hire a part-time ELL

coordinator to assist those teachers teaching ELL students

 Research other special education models to improve SWD SOL scores

 Visit other schools to

research various scheduling options

 Increase the number of foreign language courses and examine the possibility of expanding to NEMS  Schedule data days at both

2012-18 Comprehensive Plan Progress Report - October 2015

Summary of Successful Progress toward Goals

Encourage Stakeholder Engagement (Governance and Leadership) [Parent Community Involvement]

• Increase the effective use of electronic media

• Develop more opportunities for business partnerships

• Expand opportunities for students and parents to engage jointly in learning activities, such as the implementation of focus groups geared toward specific initiatives and ideas

• Partner with local colleges to increase educational programs that are beneficial to both

• Communication regarding student performance and division initiatives will increase as the result of using a wide range of media, to include technology, print, and television

• Implement the use of Powerschool Parent Portal

• Increase the use of teacher websites

• Develop a division/school Facebook page

• Communicate school information at activities with high parent attendance

• Create an elective course that can produce Channel 51 programs

Improve Student Achievement (Teaching and Assessing for Learning) [Curriculum and Instruction / Career and Technical Education]

• Expand mathematics curriculum at both Burton and NEMS to better prepare students for success in entry-level, credit-bearing math courses in college or career and technical education

• Place an emphasis on written and verbal communication skills in all subject areas

• Curriculum maps will be developed for all grade levels and subject areas

• Research based instructional strategies shown to increase student achievement will be implemented by all grade level teachers

• Develop strategies to better support ELL and Special Education students

• Analyze master schedules, scheduling models, and remediation opportunities at both schools

• Implement strategies to implement electronic textbooks and hand-held technology

• Expand interdisciplinary units of study

• Develop methods to enhance data analysis skills for all staff Increase the number of students participating in career/technical dual enrollment education programs

• Utilize available resources, such as Virginia Wizard, to ensure students are thinking long-term in regard to career/technical careers

• Implement CTE courses such as Electronic Digital Media, Marketing

Demonstrate Fiscal Responsibility (Resources and Support Systems) [Fiscal Responsibilities]

• Explore facility enhancements and building additions that will allow a true 6-8 middle school configuration

• Explore ways to increase school funding

• Develop more effective communication regarding employee policies and procedures

• Develop an annual Professional Development Plan based on current trends and identified needs Promote Student Activities and Programs that Promote Personal Development (Resources and Support Systems) [Student Activities and Programs]

• Continue to improve and expand the Gifted Education program

• Increase cross-age learning experiences between Burton and NEMS

• Implement a Bullying Awareness and Character Counts program

• Support ways to enhance service learning programs

Goals Remaining for 2012-18 Comprehensive Plan

1. All students in grades 5-12 will actively participate in at least 2 student activities 2. Implement a job shadowing program to help students develop 21st _{Century job skills}

3. Implement an EXPLORE program to expose students to historical and cultural travel experiences 4. Increase the number of positive contacts by teachers and administrators with parents

5. Develop a plan to better inform students of CTE programs and careers 6. Implement CTE courses such as Culinary Arts, and Engineering

7. Incorporate on-site distance learning CTE programs

8. Set up an educational foundation for the purpose of implementing a public/private partnership to help financially support NCS improvement projects

9. Develop division-wide literacy plans

10. Increase the number of foreign languages offered from one to three utilizing the fiber optic classroom or distance learning

11. All classrooms will have Smart Board technology

12. Consider adding project-based learning activities in place of exams

Recommended Revisions to Remaining Goals

1.

3. Take necessary steps to expose students to historical and cultural travel experiences. 4. Track the number of positive contacts by teachers and administrators with parents. 5. Develop a plan to better inform students of CTE programs and careers.

6. Implement CTE courses such as Culinary Arts, and Engineering.

7. Incorporate on-site distance learning CTE programs (for non-technical areas).

8. Set up an educational foundation for the purpose of implementing a public/private partnership to help financially support NCS improvement projects.

9. Develop division-wide literacy plans for struggling readers.

10. Increase the number of foreign languages offered from one to three utilizing the fiber optic classroom or distance learning.

11. All classrooms will have Interactive technology and appropriate teacher training. 12. Consider adding project-based learning activities in some areas, in place of exams.

Highest Priority

Suggested New Initiatives 1. Add a School Resource Officer.

2. Add a Hospitality/Recreation/Tourism Program (#6). 3. One-to-one initiative.

4. ACT/SAT Prep Class. 5. Healthier Lunch Options.

6. Develop a more active club environment. 7. Playground for Middle School Students.

Norton City Schools Division Goals 2015-16

Vision – Mission – Beliefs (Purpose and Direction)

•Implement and communicate our Vision, Mission, and Belief Statements.

•Revise and update our Comprehensive Plan

•Develop and begin implementation of our AdvancED Improvement Plan (May 2017 due date).

Encourage Stakeholder Engagement (Governance and Leadership)

•Increase awareness and use of social media to share information about the Division.

•Utilize our parent list serve and implement School Messenger.

•Continue to improve communication between all staff and stakeholders of Norton City Schools.

•Continue to build strong relationships with all stakeholders, especially our students.

•Develop a smart phone app for the Division.

•Identify community members to advise and support our schools.

•Provide training for parents for online services.

Improve Student Achievement (Teaching and Assessing for Learning)

•Schools will be fully accredited and will meet FAMO.

•Educational and instructional funds will be aligned with School Improvement Plans and accreditation initiatives.

•Provide professional development to address Assessment for Learning and Unpacking Standards.

•Improve opportunity and expand the curriculum by being creative in the scheduling process.

•Incorporate the Comprehensive Instructional Program as needed.

•Develop and implement a mentor teacher, professional development, and technology plan.

•Enhance classroom instruction through the use of technology by providing hardware, software, and professional development opportunities.

Demonstrate Fiscal Responsibility (Resources and Support Systems)

•Take full advantage of E-rate reimbursements.

•Look for grant opportunities to enhance educational and safety initiatives.

•Implement a textbook adoption cycle and fund the textbook account accordingly.

•Formalize financial processes to improve efficiency and accountability.

Promote Student Activities and Programs that Promote Personal Development (Resources and Support Systems)

•Expand the middle school experience for our students.

•Investigate ways to grow our Pre-K program.

•Provide opportunities to ensure students receive a diploma.

•Expand course offerings through partnerships with local colleges and The Linwood Holton Governor’s School.

•Improve participation in the AIMS Scholar Program and develop an Honors Society.

•Continue to increase the awareness of the post-secondary educational and occupational opportunities including increasing Career and Technical Education opportunities.

•Provide training to staff on recognizing, preventing, and addressing bullying.

Use Data to Improve Learning (Using Results for Continuous Improvement)

•Discuss data at Leadership, Faculty, Grade Level, and Department Meetings.

•Use School Report Cards, Build-a-Table and other resources to obtain data.