1998 Strategic Plan
Belief Statements

•  Education enriches the quality of life.
• All students can learn when the learning environment appropriately accommodates their unique needs and abilities.
• All students must acquire and apply skills necessary to be successful in a changing society.
• A positive self-concept is essential to personal success.
• Each person should be treated with dignity and respect.
• Students must be accountable for the actions they choose.
• Public education is an active partnership among the student, the family, the school and the community.
• Families involved in learning experiences at home and school are vital to academic and social success.
• Active participation and collaboration improve learning.
• Better decisions are made through collaboration.
• Everyone benefits by being open to change.
• Physical, human, and fiscal resources must be used effectively and innovatively.
• We will not accept discrimination against individuals based upon gender, ethnicity, or cultural background.

Pekin Public Schools, a visionary, innovative elementary district is committed to preparing responsible, productive, 
life-long learners by fostering active partnerships among schools, students, families and community.
 
 

• We will increase student performance through school improvement efforts.

• We will increase collaboration and communication among schools, families, and community to facilitate an 
• exchange of human and other resources.

• We will secure adequate resources and allocate them to fulfill our mission.

• We will provide an innovative, comprehensive educational program which realizes each student’s potential.

• We will provide a safe, respectful, inviting learning environment.

Action Team One: Essential Skills Strategy
 
 

To define and develop, implement, continuously assess and evaluate, and communicate a continuum 
of learner curricula aligned with national and state standards in language arts, mathematics, 
biological and physical sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health, we will . . .
 
 

1. Develop a continuum of learner curricula that:

• assures mastery of basic skills
• meets or exceeds national and state standards
• provides exit level expectations for grades 3, 6, and 8
• explores foreign languages

• encouraging and supporting continuous progress and interdisciplinary instruction
• documenting each school's school improvement planning process to improve student achievement

• using multiple forms of assessment
• comparing student results to school goals
• comparing local results to district, state and national standards

• designing and implementing a system for reporting student progress
• achieving at each school a state accreditation rating of "meets" or "exceeds".

Action Team Two: Students Needs and Support Services Strategy:
 
 

To assure the needs of all students are being met, we will . . .
 
 

1. Complete, implement and refine the comprehensive plan for special education.

2. Provide support and training for Teacher Assistance Teams (TAT).

3. Provide fiscal and human resources for inclusionary efforts.

4. Expand the use of instructional strategies for meeting the needs of all students.

5. Provide extended day and extracurricular programs.

6. Provide enrichment opportunities for all students.

7. Implement and refine summer school camps to enrich and accelerate student achievement.

8. Enhance gifted services.

9. Create and implement programming for students at risk of academic failure that:

• identifies at exit levels students at risk of failure
• provides interventions for students identified as at risk of failure
• reduces apathy and increases motivation
• addresses the findings of the PCHS Graduation Rate Study

• addresses student discipline and disruptive behaviors
• provides alternative school settings for grades 6-8

11. Expand support services to address the needs of students, families, and staff that:

• socio-economic diversity
• utilizes community resources and agencies
• addresses health issues

13. Monitor class size.

14. Develop a plan to sustain the preschool programs after outside funding ends.
 
 

Action Team Three: Technology Strategy:
 
 

To integrate the appropriate and essential use of technology in instruction, we will:
 
 

1. Seek ideas and information to continuously update our technology plan in an effort to shape future 
decisions related to teaching and learning.

2. Sustain, extend and upgrade district and building networks to enhance communication, collaboration, 
and access to services and resources.

3. Manage information and data to enhance decision making.

4. Identify and deliver technology skills for students and staff in a sequenced curriculum.

5. Provide leadership in the development and implementation of Pekin Community Network.

6. Integrate the tools of technology into the curriculum to foster research, author and publish opportunities 
for teaching and learning.

7. Provide opportunities to participate in innovative projects and extended activities.

8. Provide continuous technological training and support to sustain our investment.

9. Provide fiscal and human resources to assist in adding, maintaining, and replacing technology.
 
 

Action Team Four: Staff Development and Training Strategy:
 
 

To identify and provide development and training opportunities to assist staff in fulfilling the strategic plan, 
we will . . .
 
 

1. Provide training and support for staff in implementing district instructional and assessment programs 
through the Teacher Academy. 

2. Monitor and support building staff development plans to optimize professional development opportunities.

3. Continue to explore and provide incentives for staff participation in development activities.

4. Expand implementation of the mentor teacher program.

5. Explore mentor programs for support staff.

6. Investigate and develop partnerships with other educational organizations.
 
 
 
 

Action Team Five: Collaboration and Shared Decision Making Strategy:
 
 

To assure effective collaboration and shared decision making within the district and its community, we will . . .
 
 

1. Improve comprehensive plans at each school to increase family involvement.

2. Recruit community volunteers and provide orientation, training and appreciation activities.

3. Continue to expand the utilization of human resources through collaboration with community agencies, 
schools, governments, businesses, and intergenerational groups.

4. Maintain and improve collaborative relationships between District 108 and District 303.

5. Collaborate with community and governmental agencies to eliminate discrimination and 
encourage cultural diversity.

6. Monitor and support shared decision making practices.
 
 

Action Team Six: Communication Strategy:
 
 

To communicate the needs and accomplishments of the district, we will . . .
 
 

1. Inform the public of school activities utilizing a variety of media and the key communicators network.

2. Maintain Presidents' Forum for the purpose of improving communication, sharing ideas to foster 
more family involvement, and providing input for school policies that affect children.

3. Use a variety of media to communicate more effectively with families.

4. Explore the collaboration of realtors, city development staff, Chamber of Commerce and major 
employers in recruiting prospective newcomers to Pekin.

5. Monitor the district communication plan.

6. Utilize technology to its fullest as a communication tool.
 
 
 
 

Action Team Seven: Facilities Strategy:
 
 

To make appropriate and efficient use of District 108 facilities and services, we will . . .
 
 

1. Investigate and secure space to meet enrollment needs.

2. Continue and maintain a long-range plan to 1) bring facilities into life/safety compliance, 2) manage 
projected resources to maintain the facilities and 3) upgrade/update learning environments.

3. Evaluate feasibility and practicality of consolidation.

4. Initiate and establish a collaborative relationship with government officials in decisions that impact children.

5. Provide security for personal property.
 
 

Action Team Eight: Funding Strategy:
 
 

To provide adequate financial resources to meet district needs, we will . . .
 
 

1. Establish a foundation to secure nontraditional revenues to support innovative projects.

2. Recognize, encourage, and support grant writing efforts by staff for innovative programming.

3. Explore other possibilities for sharing resources.

4. Protect long term interests of District program in context of school funding.

5. Market district products, services, and facilities to generate revenue.

6. Provide training for other districts, generating dollars to cover costs of training needed in the district.

7. Secure financial support for technology, multimedia, and telecommunications.

8. Allocate adequate resources to support site-based decision-making.

9. Maintain efforts to predict and influence funding decisions in the General Assembly, Illinois State 
Board of Education. U.S. Department of Education, and U. S. Congress.