Transform learning environments

As we look forward to 2016, I hope to see significant progress in the following areas:

Strategic Plan:

We need to finish the work to complete our Strategic Plan focused on improving reading proficiency, math proficiency, and on expanding equitable education opportunities. Certainly the plan will define our organization's focus areas, but we also need it to be clear on how our families and our community can help by getting involved.

Kirkwood Regional Center:

Last year brought the Kirkwood Regional Center to our community. First-year enrollments have been in line with other Regional Center's first year start ups. Over the next few years, we need to fully leverage this opportunity.

High Standards and Expectations:

We need to maintain our high expectations that all students can and must succeed in our district. The ultimate product our system is our high school graduates. We need to maintain and improve our ranking of having among the best High Schools in the nation.

Facilities Master Plan (FMP):

We are transforming our learning environment! This is a historic, community based plan which will improve every school and every classroom over 10 years. Two years into the plan we are on schedule and on budget! This year alone we 'broke ground” on Liberty High, we opened Alexander (the first elementary built east of the Iowa River since 1970), and we transformed both Penn and Twain. These are just the highlights. As a community, we need to get the FMP done for our students and for our teachers. To make this happen, we will ask for your support for a general obligation bond in September, 2017. Together we can make this happen.

Attendance Zones:

We have listened to public input to link future attendance zone changes to the Facilities Master Plan and to create a longer term Vision. With this in mind, we will review Elementary Attendance Zones in 2016 focused on defining the vision for 2019 when all of our new schools are open. We also will invite neighborhood input at the beginning of the process vs. waiting until later in the process.

Bell Schedule:

We are reviewing our bell schedule. Bell schedules involve many conflicting interests and constraints; however, I expect we will agree to a schedule that is research-based and in the best interest of our students.

Transportation Renewal:

In an era of insufficient K-12 funding, we are faced with many tough decisions. To this end, a transportation renewal is required now. Discretionary busing needs to be focused on students who will not make it to school without a bus.

Breakthrough in Community Engagement:

We are working to hold listening posts and forums 'where the people are”. We plan to come to you in 2016. We also will leverage a new digital tool called Thought Exchange which I expect will provide a breakthrough opportunity for engagement. Please 'plug into” this opportunity.

K-12 School Funding: Please advocate for sufficient and timely K-12 funding. Revenue growth has been strong in Iowa in recent years, but K-12 funding has been well below what is required. If Education is a value in Iowa, then let's fund education in line with revenue growth for this upcoming fiscal year.

Board Team:

I am very optimistic about our new board. The team has completed significant onboarding in a short period of time. We are making progress on our board action plan. We have stayed focused on education. I see great potential for making the tough decisions required to benefit all of our 13,000 students. In 2014-15 we were awarded the Better Boardsmanship Team Achievement Award. I hope we can repeat that success.

' Chris Lynch is a member of the Iowa City Community School Board. This column represents his opinions and not necessarily those of the board. Comments: Chris.Lynch@iowacityschools.org