MERSD District Plan - Whole Child


  • Core Value:  Whole Child
    We believe schools must establish a safe environment conducive to the development of the whole child, which extends beyond the academic core to include experiential learning, the arts, cultural awareness, and physical and emotional well being.

    Overarching Goal:  Develop systems to support the belief system of whole child education.
    Summary of Current Status FY12:  MERSD’s embraces the whole child philosophy and informally works to implement components of the belief system.  Beginning in 2009 the district undertook a study to determine the role whole child education played in our educational program; it has since been adopted as a core value of the district and an area for development in the MERSD strategic plan.   Over the next three years our work will be to institutionalize the belief system by integrating it into our articulated set of practices.

    Goal 1:  Develop and articulate a PreK-12 social emotional curriculum.
    Strategies
    Timeline
    Resources & Responsibilities
    Deliverables
    Measures of Implementation Documentation
    Conduct  whole child needs assessment
    FY13
    Superintendent in collaboration with
    • Director of Curriculum & Technology
    • Director of Student Services
    • Principals
    • Teacher leaders
    Resources:  ASCD Whole Child Assessment Tools
    Completed ASCD Whole Child Self-Assessment.
    Research and implement curricula programs/strategies that promote social emotional development, including cultural awareness, anti-bullying and other positive behavioral activities.
    FY13-15
    Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with Director of Student Service.
    With Support from
    • Department Chairs
    • Teacher Leaders
    • Teachers







    Resources:  MARC / General Fund
    FY 13
    Recommendation of programs/strategies that meet the needs/philosophy of MERSD.

    FY14
    • Pilot and adoption of a spiraled social emotional curriculum.
    • Connect curriculum to learners’ experiences and frames of reference to expand their social emotional skills/wellness through institutionalized Responsive Classroom (PK-5).
    FY 15
    • Implementation of PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System).
    • Implementation of a comprehensive health curriculum (6-12).
    Train staff for implementation of social emotional curriculum.
    FY15
    Director of Curriculum & Technology with Support from:
    • Director of Student Services
    • Principals
    • Teacher leaders
    Resources:  Entitlement Grants
    Plan for general education staff training aligned with DESE requirements.  Structured guidelines for student assessment and service delivery.
    Athletics and Extra-curricular strategic planning.
    FY14
    Superintendent in collaboration with
    • Directors
    • Principals
    With support from
    • Athletic Director
    • Assistant Principal
    Multi-year plan for maintaining and improving high quality co-curricular activities.

    Goal 2:  Create a continuum of specialized programming designed to meet the needs of all learners PK-12.
    This is also Goal 6 of Core Value ~ Student Achievement.  
    Strategies
    Timeline
    Resources & Responsibilities
    Deliverables
    Measures of Implementation Documentation
    Implement an Intensive Reading and Written Language Program for grade 4/5 at Memorial School.
    FY13
    Director of Student Services
    MMES Principal

    Resources:  Grant Funding / General Fund
    Documented program enrollment, OOD cost avoidance, documentation of student progress.
    Implement a therapeutic program for the middle school.
    FY13
    Director of Student Services
    MMES Principal

    Resources: General Fund
    Documented program enrollment, OOD cost avoidance, documentation of student progress.
    Evaluate and refine current specialized programs – SWING, Elementary SAIL, and TRANSITIONS.
    FY13
    Director of Student Services in collaboration with
    • EES Principal
    • MMES  Principal
    • MERHS Principal
    Resources: NA
    Documented program evaluation data, recommendations for refinement of programs.
    Implement an Intensive Reading and Written Language Program at the middle school.
    FY14
    Director of Student Services in collaboration with MS Principal

    Resources: Grant Funding / General Fund
    Documented program enrollment, OOD cost avoidance, documentation of student progress.
    Assess counseling and guidance programming and needs at the middle/high school.
    FY13
    Director of Student Services in collaboration with
    • Principals
    • Director of Guidance
    Resources: NA
    Documented program and FTE recommendations
    Implement and refine RTI programs at the elementary level.
    FY13
    Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with
    • Director of Student Services
    • Principals
    Resources: Parker Consulting /Entitlement Grants/General Fund
    Documented student RTI referral and progress data; special education referral data.
    Implement Positive Behavior Intervention Supports at the elementary and middle school.
    FY14
    Director of Student Services in collaboration with
    • Principals
    • Director of Curriculum & Technology
    • Resources: Parker Consulting /Entitlement Grants/General Fund
    Documented student RTI referral and progress data; special education referral data; discipline data.
    Improve and standardize pre-referral team procedures at all levels.
    FY13
    Director of Student Services  in collaboration with
    • Director of Curriculum & Technology
    • Principals
    with support  from
    • Department Chairs
    • Team Chairs
    Resources: NA
    Established handbook of forms and procedures, common title for all teams.
    Create supplemental opportunities for gifted students.
    FY14
    Director of Curriculum & Technology in collaboration with Principals

    Resources: NA
    Established list of opportunities and resources.
    Develop an ELL Program plan for the District.
    FY13
    Director of Student Services in collaboration with
    Director of Curriculum & Technology

    Resources: DESE ELL Regulations
    Established structured guidelines for student assessment and service delivery.
    Expand capacity for providing ABA to students with autism in the PK and SWING programs.
    FY13-14
    Director of Student Services in collaboration with
    Principals

    Resources:  IDEA & Entitlement Grants / General Fund
    Provide CABA-Tech training for selected TAs; hire a BCBA for EES SWING program.