Strategic Plan 2022-2027

Strategic Plan one-page summary 2022-2027

July 28, 2022

The School Board on July 28, 2022, received a copy of the new district scorecard, which is a tool to track progress on Strategic Plan goals.

May 26, 2022

The School Board on May 26, 2022, approved the District's Strategic Plan for 2022-2027.

Strategic Plan 2022-2027

One-page summary

At the May 26 meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle spoke about the importance of the document in guiding the work in the district over the next five years.

He outlined this vision for 2027 for the Ray-Pec School District if it is able to fully implement the aspirations within this document:

  • Student academic growth during the school year will be at rates never seen before for the total student population and every measured subgroup.

  • All students will be in an educational environment where they have a true sense of dignity and belonging.

  • There will be many new opportunities for student learning, led mainly by student choice between a variety of learning styles.

  • Students in all grades K-12 will have completed a Project-Based Learning unit, a Client-Connected Project, or a Real-World Learning Experience as part of their school experience

  • Every student will graduate with a market value asset, meaning they will have at least one of the following: 

    • 9 or more hours of college credit; 

    • Work experience through an internship of at least 120 hours; 

    • Work experience through a client project; 

    • Entrepreneurial experiences; 

    • Industry Recognized Credentials.

  • Staff will be competitively compensated and predominantly satisfied with their role in the school district.

  • The district will support its staff with relevant professional learning, mental health support, and wellness initiatives.

  • A program will be expanded to prepare students and staff for future employment as teachers in the district.

  • The district will focus on the mental health needs of students by using a screener to assess risk factors and putting plans in place to reduce those risks. In addition, the district will use a social-emotional learning curriculum and a program to emphasize belonging.

  • The LEAD Center will be open. This facility, one of the first of its kind in the country, will have space for career and technical students, professional-based education students doing client connected projects, a place for students with special needs, and a business incubator.

  • The ninth-grade center will be open, and planning will be underway to transition it into a secondary school that could be devoted to competency-based learning.

  • The Performing Arts Center will be open, with additional space for fine arts programs throughout the district.

  • Long-range facility planning will be focused on meeting the needs of future growth

  • Businesses and organizations will work in partnership with the district in the active learning process for students.

  • Students, staff, and families will feel more connected through communication from and with the District.

Overview of plan development

During the 2021-2022 school year, the Ray-Pec School District is updating its Strategic Plan for 2022-2026. Consultants with Education, Leadership, and Government Association (EGL) are assisting the District in updating the plan.  

A Strategic Planning Steering Committee has been formed to review the current Strategic Plan, as well as achievement data, the assessment plan, the long range facility plan, patron interviews, and patron surveys. During the process, parents, staff, and the public will be able to provide input through electronic and in-person opportunities. 

Feb. 15, 2022

The Steering Committee met to discuss ideas for strategies in each of three focus areas. Members were asked to brainstorm bold resolutions, concepts, or ideas in each area. The resulting strategies will describe how Ray-Pec will dedicate the organization's resources and energies toward the continuous creation of opportunities to achieve the extraordinary.

In the area of student success, these soft skills were emphasized: problem solving, self-awareness, self-advocacy, self-discipline, empathy, self-control, and resiliency. Also discussed were the skills to achieve healthy social interactions, risk taking and social-emotional wellbeing.

In the area of high-quality staff, members discussed the importance of a healthy culture, and the need to attract, develop, and retain the best teachers and staff.

In the area of operational excellence, the committee discussed a variety of topics, including finances and facilities.

As the strategies are finalized, the plan will include ways to measure progress or completion.

Todd White speaking to committee

Jan. 25, 2022

During the Jan. 25, 2022, meeting of the Steering Committee, members discussed results from the third survey. There was much discussion about the focus areas for the revised Strategic Plan.

In the photo, Dr. Todd White from EGL shows a summary page of the current strategic plan, which has three focus areas: Success Ready Students, High Quality Staff, and Financial Responsibility. The committee discussed whether to have three focus areas, and how to name them.

For example, the committee wanted a focus area that was broader than "financial responsibility." The idea of "operational excellence" was suggested.

On the topic of success ready students, how do we define success? Should it say "future ready" students?

Dr. Mike Slagle speaks to committee

Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle discussed the data obtained from surveys of the community, staff, and high school juniors and seniors. Overall, there were 1,755 responses to the surveys.

The third survey asked respondents to consider 11 focus areas and select their top three. Areas that received the most responses from the three survey groups (parents/community, staff, and students) were:

  • Social and Emotional Focus

  • New Learning Styles Focus

  • Career Education Focus

  • New Programs and Opportunities Focus

  • Teacher and Staff Compensation and Health Focus

  • Facility Focus

  • Time as a Resource Focus

(See more detailed descriptions of each focus area below.)

The 11 focus areas listed on the third survey were:

Social and Emotional Focus

  • Better meet the needs of students in terms of their social and emotional needs.

  • Increase the number of school counselors to deal with mental health issues.

  • Continue to develop supports for students, including Multi-Tiered System of Supports and wrap-around services.

  • Create more partnerships with counselors and mental health professionals.

  • Continue to offer and expand mental health support.

  • Teach students the skills to communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.

  • Expand on opportunities for students to learn self-advocacy and to learn from failure.

New Learning Styles Focus 

  • Better support for our students who struggle academically.

  • Create more opportunities for students for hands-on learning experiences.

  • Implement new and exciting instructional approaches so that students are more engaged in learning.

  • Create more opportunities and learning strategies for students at the Academy and Success Academy.

Career Education Focus 

  • Create more opportunities for on-the-job training.

  • Expand career and technical education training for students.

  • Partner with local businesses to create more career learning opportunities.

  • Increase the number of higher learning/early college opportunities.

  • Create more opportunities for “blue-collar” occupations.

New Programs and Student Opportunities Focus 

  • Develop and implement a military education partnership for students like ROTC.

  • Expand guidance counseling to be more career and college-focused.

  • Create more options for advanced students.

  • Increase opportunities for independent study for secondary students.

  • Expand foreign language options for students, such as American Sign Language

  • Invest in after school tutoring programs at no cost to parents.

  • Create courses where students learn more about personal finances, new types of currency, and budgeting.

  • Create courses on safe practices such as distracted driving or impaired driving.

Teacher and Staff Compensation and Health Focus 

  • Increase teacher pay to be competitive to attract and retain top talent.

  • Increase the salary structure for all staff members.

  • Become one of the higher-paying school districts in the Kansas City area.

  • Make it a priority to retain top teaching talent.

  • Expand mental health support for staff.

Facility Focus 

  • Create or implement smaller class sizes.

  • Construct a second high school.

  • Build more schools to stay ahead of the enrollment growth.

  • Create facilities that can be flexible to accommodate the needs of various teaching methods.

  • Continue to provide for maintenance to existing facilities.

Time as a Resource Focus 

  • Switch the start times for elementary and secondary schools.

  • Stagger the starting times between middle schools and high school.

  • Critically evaluate how the school calendar is structured to allow for the best teaching and learning practices.

  • Create a calendar to allow more time for staff to plan and prepare for student lessons and student support.

Cultural Inclusivity and Awareness Focus

  • Expand the district’s cultural inclusivity and cultural awareness of staff and students.

  • Create a safe and welcoming environment for all of our minority and marginalized students.

  • Be cautious and selective with diversity and inclusion programs.

  • Increase efforts to diversify the teacher and leadership staff.

Financial Excellence Focus 

  • Ensure the district remains financially sound with appropriate reserve balances.

Bullying and Discipline Focus

  • Expand and improve efforts to combat bullying at school.

  • Strictly enforce discipline and appearance policies.

  • Expand teacher and staff training to deal with discipline issues.

  • Provide more support for teachers and staff in the area of behavioral management.

Instruction Focus 

  • Rebuild and recover from learning interruption caused by the pandemic.

  • Continue to emphasize rigorous instruction.

  • Improve the gifted program.

  • Continue the expansion into Project-Based Learning.

  • Implement better alignment of the curriculum.

  • Expand on the use of student voice and choice in their learning.

Focus Areas Not Included in the Top 11:

Activities and Athletics Focus

  • Expand middle school sports opportunities.

  • Create more opportunities in the performing arts.

  • Create more opportunities for students in extracurricular activities.

  • Invest in more sports facilities.

  • Upgrade current sports facilities.

Cutting Edge Focus

  • Create a new magnet school or more programs for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

  • Begin work on implementing augmented and virtual reality in teaching and learning.

  • Be a district that is known for cutting-edge technology and programs for students.

  • Expand the use of technology as a tool for student learning.

Expansion of Current Opportunities Focus

  • Increase the number of elective opportunities for students.

  • Expand the robotics program.

  • Expand the virtual program (VIPR).

  • Expand the LEAD Center programs.

 Communication Focus

  • Increase communication efforts about the needs of families and students in poverty.

  • Create additional communication opportunities between parents and schools/Board.

  • Create more school-related informational resources for parents utilizing a variety of communication delivery methods.

Dec. 6, 2021

Dec. 6, 2021

The Steering Committee met to review survey #2 results. Committee members focused their time on considering the question “What does Ray-Pec look like in 2026?” Answers to that question were informed by survey responses.

Strategic Planning Committee meeting on Nov. 15, 2021

Nov. 15, 2021

The Strategic Planning Committee met on Nov. 15 to review progress in the planning process. Dr. Kristel Barr, Director of Secondary Education, reviewed a document illustrating the "Portrait of a Ray-Pec Graduate." Dr. Todd White of EGL (pictured above) led the group through a process to review feedback from the first survey. Starting on Nov. 19, students, staff, and parents will be asked to participate in a second survey - to help identify priorities for the district to pursue over the next five years. The group also reviewed the District's Safe Return to School Plan.

Oct. 7, 2021

Oct. 7, 2021

The Strategic Planning Committee met for the first time on Oct. 7, 2021. Todd White, a consultant with Education, Leadership, and Government Association (EGL), led the introductory meeting. He asked members to consider points of pride, potential areas of growth, and hopes for the district's future.

Sept. 16, 2021

During a School Board work session on Sept. 16, 2021, Dr. Bryan Pettengill, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, updated the Board on the strategic planning process. A Strategic Planning Steering Committee is being formed to review the current Strategic Plan, as well as other data.

Aug. 26, 2021

On Aug. 26, 2021, the School Board approved entering a partnership with Education, Leadership, and Government Association (EGL). The consultants with EGL will assist the District in updating the strategic plan.

Strategic Planning Steering Committee Members

Dr. Mike Slagle, Superintendent

Dr. Bryan Pettengill, Assistant Superintendent, Operations

Dr. Lisa Hatfield, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources

Dr. Al Voelker, Assistant Superintendent, Academic Services

Dr. Kristel Barr, Director of Secondary Education

Dr. Michelle Hofmann, Director of Elementary Education

Ryan Gooding, Director of Technology

Scott Dobson, Director of Facilities

Kim York, School Board Member

Deanna Olson, School Board Member

Aaron Howlett, School Board Member

Pam Steele, Assistant to the Superintendent

Cynthia Byous, Chief Financial Officer

Michele Stidham, Director of Communications

Mary Shatford, Director of Early Learning

Dr. Missy Mattingly, Principal, Bridle Ridge Elementary School

Cristin Blunt, Assistant Principal, Ray-Pec East Middle School

Steven Miller, Principal, Ray-Pec High School

Jim Cadoret, Raymore City Planner

Nick Jacobs, Peculiar City Planner

Brad Kiehl, Patron/Architect/Parent

Mike Gallagher, Mayor, City of Peculiar

Allison Bruflat, Citizens Advisory Committee

Erin Burks, Citizens Advisory Committee

Eric Collins, Citizens Advisory Committee

Keri Collison, Principal, Peculiar Elementary School and member of Citizens Advisory Committee

Deanna Dawson, Elementary Teacher and member of Citizens Advisory Committee

Christi Feagins, substitute teacher and member of Citizens Advisory Committee

Jackie Garcia, High School Teacher  and member of Citizens Advisory Committee 

Dan Garrison, Middle School Teacher and member of Citizens Advisory Committee 

Adam Hawley, Citizens Advisory Committee

Dana Hille, Citizens Advisory Committee

Robert McClemore, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Brian Niemeyer, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Donna Reser, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Jennifer Story, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Kris Turnbow, Mayor, City of Raymore and member of Citizens Advisory Committee 

Phil Van Deusen, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Cathy Wansing, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Taylor Watts, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Angie White, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Jodi Price, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Janet Jones, Citizens Advisory Committee 

Shea Allen, Parent, Creekmoor Elementary

Cade Chace, Parent, Timber Creek Elementary

Loren Jones, Parent, Raymore Elementary

Valerie Adams, Parent, Eagle Glen Elementary

Angie Gaither, Parent, Stonegate Elementary

Audra Bell, Parent, Bridle Ridge Elementary

Emily Wills, Parent, Peculiar Elementary

Adam Spaulding, Parent, Shull Early Learning

Dawson Jones, student, Ray-Pec High School

Bailey Roe, student, Ray-Pec High School

Brett Barbarick, Teacher, Ray-Pec High School

Brandon Ransom, Teacher, Ray-Pec High School