The Palo Alto Unified School District School Board is drafting a new strategic plan to guide staff work and district development. This new draft will update the district’s current strategic plan from 2008.

The strategic plan works as a mission statement for the district, setting general guidelines for policy-making, such as striving for academic excellence, a goal from the 2008 strategic plan. It also sets out specific and measurable long-term goals, like to ensure that every student who graduates has the basic requirements to attend a four-year college, another goal of the 2008 plan. The strategic plan will also include metrics to determine if the district meets its goals set forth in the plan.

“With clear goals, metrics and initiatives, the plan describes our priorities and will be a strong foundation as we reflect on our progress and move forward together,” the PAUSD website reads.

Input from staff, students and parents will shape the new strategic plan.

“Community buy-in is so critical during this process,” board member Melissa Baten-Caswell said.

Creating a new strategic pan will take several months, and the final draft will not be up for approval until May 28.

The drafting process will begin with a preliminary round of interviews and focus groups with district personal and parent organizations. These first discussions will decide on key themes which will outline the plan. The cabinet will present these key themes to the school board on Feb. 26.

On March 4, the district will then launch surveys. after the surveys, parent organizations and district staff will further refine the plan and present it to the board for final approval on May 28, according to the schedule outlined on the PAUSD website.