The Westbury Union Free School District’s goals for the 2024-2025 school year were presented to the district’s Board of Education during its Nov. 19 meeting.
The presentation, created by District Superintendent Dr. Tahira A. DuPree Chase and her administrative team, focused on four main goals: scholar achievement; leadership, culture, and communication; district operations and financial management; and engaging families and communities as partners.
For the first goal, scholar achievement, the board set out to collaboratively design and implement a forward-thinking curriculum, as well as an innovative instructional framework that promotes increased scholar opportunities and equips them with essential skills for the future.
Some of the actions taken to reach this goal include developing a brand new strategic plan, intended to launch for the 2025-2026 school year.
In addition, other objectives include focusing on increasing student attendance and increasing the amount of credit-bearing courses by 5%, according to Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Brendan Gallivan.
For the second goal, leadership, culture, and communication: the board seeks to nurture a positive organizational culture, empowering visionary leaders to advance multifaceted communication strategies that strengthen effective collaboration among stakeholders.
Actions taken to reach this goal have included the establishment of the Westbury UFSD aspiring principal academy, a pipeline of current staff and administrators who have gone on to receive promotional administrative positions among other initiatives, according to Dr. Roger Bloom, assistant superintendent for personnel.
The promotion of equity within the current budget to align human as well as monetary capital to maintain high-quality programs, capital projects, and efficient facilities and operations for the greater school community is the focus of the third goal, district operations and financial management.
Actions taken by the district to reach this goal include settling all outstanding bargaining contracts in the district, designing and constructing a new bus loop as well as parking lot expansions at Drexel Avenue Elementary, according to Mary O’Neil, acting assistant superintendent for Finance and Operations.
O’Neil said the district was currently applying for a dinner program that, if approved, would allow students who attend classes after school to have dinner. O’Neill also pointed to numerous new districtwide safety features.
The district is also looking to apply for the Smarts School Funding, which O’Neill said would enhance safety and security throughout the district.
The fourth goal called for fostering respect, belonging, and a strong sense of partnership among scholars, staff, families, and the community at large to fortify a safe and inclusive learning environment.
According to Bloom, the district is looking to introduce and implement at least three new interscholastic sports for the 2024-2025 year to meet this goal. Bloom also said that the district is looking to introduce intramural programs at the district’s elementary and middle schools.
In addition, numerous efforts to improve student attendance were highlighted as well. After the presentation ended, the public was allowed to comment.
“At the end of the day, we want our scholars to graduate feeling proud of the school district that has educated them,” Chase said.
