By Marcia Moore
The Daily Item
SELINSGROVE — The Selinsgrove Area School District's strategic plan includes a goal of raising student proficiency in reading from 79 percent to 91 percent in three years.
At Monday's school board meeting, Elaine Sautner, director of curriculum and instruction, outlined the aim of the district's long-range plan in professional education and technology that will be submitted in September to the state for approval.
Board member Jeffrey Whitman served on the strategic plan committee and explained the reason for raising the bar in reading so significantly.
"Our reach should be longer than our grasp," he said. "Let's see if we can do it."
There are no repercussions for failing to meet the goals, but Sautner said the administration is counting on the board to keep them "accountable" by regularly reviewing the progress.
Other goals that the strategic committee of teachers, administrators, board members, parents and community members came up with are to increase all student proficiency in math from 84 percent in 2009 to 89 percent by 2013, as well as improve graduation and attendance rates.
Sautner said various teaching strategies will to be used and teachers will receive training.
"If it's something we're going to do with students, we want to make sure our teachers are well versed in it," she said.
Technology coordinator Peter Geipel said more technology is being used in the classroom and one proposal may require a second look at the district ban on cell phones since texting is increasingly being used as an interactive tool.
