School Committee Discusses Strategic Planning Results at Wednesday Meeting

After a little over a month’s wait, the results are in. And there is nothing shocking about the answers provided by students, school faculty and community members in the strategic planning survey.

“What I am pleased about is that there are no surprises,” said Superintendent of Schools Joanne Benton during Wednesday night’s School Committee meeting at .

The areas that Benton expected to be brought up in the results rang true, including a new high school and other facilities, new technology, and more improvements in science and engineering.

In total, 242 community members, 263 school personnel, and 948 students took the survey. Of the community members, 10 percent were parents. The majority of students polled were in grades six through nine because they were allowed to take the survey during their computer class.

Identified areas of strength included English and Language Arts proficiency, Social Studies, relevant curriculum and programs, student health and well-being and sports and extracurricular activities.

“We found that community and staff members believe that progress has been made towards meeting the goals of the current strategic plan,” said Benton in her presentation summary. “The results show the Wilmington Public School system is moving in a positive direction in addressing all of the goals in the strategic plan.”

Though the survey results were the main topic of conversation at the School Committee meeting, they weren’t the only item discussed.

During the Superintendent Report, Benton talked about a list of topics, one of which was the recently wrapped up that is a part of the Wildcat Project.

“To be in the gym filled with people and not hear a sound was mesmerizing to me,” said School Committee Chairman Margaret A. Kane, who said the night was educational for everyone involved.

It seems as though the Wildcat Project worked. , as Benton reported as she continued her Superintendent Report at Wednesday meeting.

“I spoke with a Burlington officer at the prom and he said, ‘I just wanted to tell you that I’ve never seen such a well-behaved group,’” said Benton. “It was a wonderful evening with no issues, and everyone had a great time.”

The School Committee next meets on April 13 to discuss School Choice and the school calendar. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.