With help of 151 participants, a long-term vision for district put in place.
By: Jill Matthews
After more than two years of preparation, a strategic plan for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District won formal approval Tuesday from the Board of Education.
The plan is a long-term vision for the district that was developed by about 151 people, including parents, school board members, students, administrators, faculty and residents. The participants were split into three groups the core team, action team and measurement team.
The strategic plan outlines broad strategies for the district that include, for example, defining the meaning of excellence in the district and building partnerships with community resources and organizations, among other things. Those strategies will be further defined in the next five to eight years.
The strategic plan’s mission statement focused on developing all students as "passionate, confident, lifelong learners who have competence and strength of character to realize their aspirations and thoughtfully contribute to a diverse and changing world."
People involved in developing the strategic plan hailed the process, the direction given by its moderator, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil and Personnel Services Jon Cosse, and the involvement of a wide range of community and school district representatives.
"The way this process unified the district is something we are really looking for in the product," said Kavita Vinekar, a High School South student.
School board members expressed appreciation for those who worked to develop the plan.
"The group has laid a good foundation for the future of the district," board member Stephen Smith said.
In other business, the board:
Heard the district’s second-round considerations for its 2005-2006 proposed budget, which included 1,265.7 full-time employees, up from last year’s 1,258.5, and details of the proposed $1.5 million capital outlay project. The list of capital projects includes $684,000 for roofing replacement at Community Middle School, $143,000 for technology updating and replacement throughout the district, and about $365,500 in renovation and replacement projects at High School South. The board is expected to approve a tentative adoption of the preliminary budget for required submission to the county at its next meeting.
Awarded a $774,969 contract to DJ’s Mechanical for the chiller-boiler replacement at High School South.

