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Home Student Assignments Elementary School
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About ACS 
Strategic Plan: English | Español Strategic Plan Status: Action Plan End Results • Develop a Five-year financial plan that will enable ACS to achieve its Strategic Objectives and Mission. (Finance) Status: The Board’s Finance committee has completed an operational reserve policy to help ensure financial stability for the school. Next year’s budget has been proposed and is balanced in operations and capital. Once approved the committee will look at laying out a budget for the next few years. • The ACS Connection contains essential information in a user-friendly format that easily guides parents to timely information relevant to their child. (Communication) Status: A committee of teachers and parents was formed last year. They met and developed some ideas to improve the Connection. This year the Communication Committee has made many recommendations all of which have been put in place. This will need continuous updating. • ACS will have an adequate number of staff members to meet our strategic objectives. (Curriculum) Status: A new schedule was developed for the secondary school for this school year. Based on that schedule an analysis was done to make sure there was proper staffing for the programs offered. This was done. At the elementary level, based on a SACS recommendation, one position was added (elementary counselor). This action item has been completed for this year. A staffing analysis related to programs offered must be done on a yearly basis. • Clear and consistent standards and practices for parent-teacher communication are in place at all school levels that ensure regular and open communication, attending particularly to new and struggling students. (Communication) • Status: A school committee has been formed and tasked with developing communication standards. Once a draft document has been developed (March 2006), parents will be invited to give feedback. The document will be finalized by May and put into place for the coming school year. • Appropriate Departments that will enable admin to better manage their teachers and continue to move the curricular process forward. (Curriculum) Status: This has been completed and is in place. Action Plan End Results to be Implemented in the 2005/06 School Year • Develop and implement a comprehensive staff development program that supports the strategic plan and that reflects the needs of the school. Status: Staff Development funds for all faculty members were approved by the Board for this school year. They are included in next year’s proposed budget as well. This has been effective in promoting staff development in areas that benefit the school. The College of New Jersey is working with ACS to offer staff development programs including Master’s Degrees and certification. • A MS that meets the academic, personal, and emotional needs and interests of the early adolescent. (Curriculum) Status: A Middle School philosophy and program have been developed and were implemented this year. Plans to bring 6th grade fully into the middle school next year are in place. • Provide remuneration and benefit package for all employees, which together with working climate and living conditions are competitive enough to hire and retain quality staff. (Personnel) Status: Local and international packages have been analyzed over the past two years and adjustments have been made where necessary. This has allowed us to be successful in recruiting and retaining qualified staff. Analysis must continue at least every two years. • Implement a hiring policy that ensures all staff are educationally qualified and appropriately experienced and demonstrate qualities that reflect ACS’ mission. (Personnel) Status: The Board has developed policies to ensure that qualified staff are hired. A staff profile related to the school’s mission has been developed and was used in recruiting efforts this year. • Special Services that meet the needs of our student population. (Curriculum) Status: An analysis of this area is underway. There are budget implications here. • A Spanish Program based on best practices that enables students, in a classroom setting, to reach their maximum potential. (Curriculum) Status: The Spanish as a Second Language department has developed a philosophy for the program. There is a Spanish department head who is working with Spanish teachers on instructional practices and curriculum alignment. Six Traits writing has been introduced this year in the regular Spanish program. More work in using effective instructional strategies is needed. • Develop a Facilities plan for infrastructure that will enable ACS to achieve its Strategic Objectives and Mission. (Finance) Status: Particular areas of the school have been looked at (bathrooms, classroom insulation, PA system, relocation of all elementary classes to upper campus, etc.), and changes have been made. There is no overall master plan. • An alternate schedule for grades 6-12 that will allow for more course offerings. (Curriculum) Status: A new schedule for grades 6 – 12 that provides a much greater variety of course offerings has been put in place this year. • Communications policy, systems, practices, and signage to ensure timely and accurate information on events, schedules, counselor roles and hours, school supplies, classroom and facility locations, etc. (communications) Status: Elementary and MS teachers met to ensure that accurate information was provided to parents concerning school supplies. Counselor roles are being developed and will be made available to parents. Schedules have been clearly communicated. Signs need to be made and put in place. •Create and follow an effective evaluation process that includes performance criteria for all personnel that reflects our strategic plan. (Personnel) Status: An effective evaluation process is in place for all teaching staff and administrators. An evaluation system needs to be developed for support staff. |
