Superintendent Dr. Nell told the Elizabethtown Area School District board the district has launched a year-long comprehensive planning process required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and described recent steps taken.

The district steering committee, made up of administrators, staff, students, parents, board members and community representatives, held its first meeting on Sept. 11. The committee discussed whether to revise the district mission, vision and value statements; five students from the superintendent’s student advisory council volunteered to serve on the steering committee.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan will guide the district’s priorities and budgeting for the next six years. Dr. Nell said the plan will inform recommendations to the board and will be incorporated into the district’s budget and program decisions.

What’s been done: Dr. Nell said the district has begun required data collection at district and building levels and has submitted the Title I plans for Bear Creek and East High. Building-level teams of teachers and administrators are conducting needs assessments to identify strengths and challenges. The superintendent said administrators will consolidate feedback from students and steering-committee members and will return drafts to the board for comment.

Next steps and timing: the steering committee will finalize draft mission, vision and values and will present them to the board at the October workshop for discussion. Dr. Nell said the board is likely to vote on the final comprehensive plan in February after multiple stakeholder reviews and public input opportunities.

Board members asked for monthly updates. Board member Missus Carter and Missus Wilson, who serve as the board’s steering-committee representatives, said they would collect board input and relay it to the committee. Dr. Nell said the district will post steering-committee notes in the public board log and provide the community with progress updates.

Ending: The superintendent emphasized that the district will prioritize a small number of focused goals rather than a long list, noting that a practical comprehensive plan typically contains a limited set of prioritized objectives paired with measurable actions.