Milford Schools Seek Input After Releasing Strategic Plan Draft

MILFORD, NH — The Milford School District has created a new strategic plan, the first one in nearly a decade, and is asking for input about it from the public. The plan, according to Jessica Huizenga, the superintendent of the Milford School District, is an effort to improve student learning and social emotional development, as well as community engagement and communication in the district. It hopes to set educational expectations of students and initiate curriculum that will help them develop skills so they can succeed.

Those skills include "critical thinking, problem solving, innovation and creativity, personal responsibility, effective communication and awareness as global citizens," according to the draft. The district "will also analyze student needs and progress, and develop professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to facilitate the new curriculum" and approaches to learning.

"We're excited to implement this new programming to increase supports and challenge students in the classroom along an aligned preK-12 continuum, encourage more dialog between the community and district, and foster greater equity in a healthy, welcoming, supportive learning environment," Huizenga said, calling it a "new chapter" for the district.

The plan seeks to also improve communication between administrators, students, parents, educators, faculty, and the public during the next five years, something that appears to be a need in the wake of dozens of resignations in the district and a contentious meeting earlier this month.

The New Hampshire Union Leader reported in late May that 48 people had resigned and the Milford Teachers Association had issued a no confidence vote – with 99 percent voting negatively – in Huizenga's ability to led the district. It was one of the first time in the history of the association that such a vote had taken place, according to the org.

Last week, residents raised concerns about the leadership of the school district at a board meeting, according to WMUR-TV. At that meeting, Huizenga confirmed that 58 district employees were leaving or had left the system.

Huizenga said the communication plan hopes to improve transparency and allow the district to be more open about goals, news, and work, inside of the district. Expanding and improving community engagement by adding more PTO positions, hosting more family night events, and creating more community partnerships, will also be considered, to supplement and support student learning. Officials will also review and modify building safety plans with the school resource officer and emergency services personnel.

The last strategic plan the district developed was in 2010. That plan lasted for three years. Since 2013, the district has not had a strategic plan. When finalized, the plan will be in place until 2024.

The plan can be found in .pdf format on the district's website. A Google doc survey to share thoughts about the plan is also available for members of the community to comment.

A vote on the plan will occur during the board's meeting at 7 p.m. on July 15, 2019, in the Milford High School lecture hall, Room 182.

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