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FASD seeks public input on
comprehensive plan
(9/26) The Fairfield Area School District seeks the public’s input into its educational program.
The district is forming its "Profile of a Graduate" to determine what skills a Fairfield Area School Graduate should have in order to succeed in today’s world. To create that profile, Superintendent Thomas J. Haupt asks parents, citizens, and business owners to complete a survey that will be available on the district website.
Haupt said during the school board’s Sept. 11 work session that he and his staff want to align Fairfield’s curriculum to meet not only state standards but the community’s needs. The "Profile of a Graduate" will be used to revise the district’s comprehensive plan, Haupt said. The initiative has three goals:
- Clear and consistent curricula standards across all schools for all students.
A commitment to focused and comprehensive professional development.
Effective instructional practices across all classrooms in each school.
Haupt said it is important for everyone to complete the survey because a strong educational system is important for a thriving community.
"A well-defined profile of a graduate will guide our educational programming and equip our graduates with the essential skills needed in the 21st Century job market," he said.
The anonymous survey will ask participants to list up to three skills they believe graduates should possess, Haupt said. The district kept the questionnaire simple to achieve its goal of high participation. Those who want to share more information can volunteer to join a focus group that will be held in the future.
Board member Lisa Sturgis, a former district teacher, expressed concern about the district creating a comprehensive plan it never uses. Sturgis cited several initiatives the district began with good intentions then later stopped without results. Haupt acknowledged the concern, but assured the comprehensive plan will become the district’s "North Star." Haupt is in his second year at Fairfield.
"These are skills employers, universities, and the military are expecting kids to have when they leave us," Haupt said. "This is not something that just sounds great. It is embedded into research and we have to embed it into our curriculum."
The "Profile of a Graduate" survey will soon be available at www.fairfieldpaschools.org.
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