The Mokena School District 159 strategic planning process began in the Spring of 2021 when a group of stakeholders consisting of parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and members of the Board of Education met as a steering committee. Following this meeting a community wide survey was conducted. 292 individuals responded to the survey, including parents, community members, and Mokena staff.
On June 9th, 2021 the strategic planning steering committee met with the full Board of Education to review the results of the community survey. The steering committee and Board of Education distilled the survey feedback into 5 distinct areas of study. They were:
Curriculum - What students know and are able to do. Programs of study including special services, interventions, enrichment, and electives
Instruction - How to maximize learning. Involves technology, professional learning, knowledge of students, monitoring student growth
Finance - Topics include budgeting, facilities, capital planning, infrastructure, and technology
Human Resources - Staffing, onboarding, growth and development, retention, culture, and diversity
Communication - To both internal and external stakeholders. Website, email, social media, etc.
Community members were invited to a community stakeholder engagement meeting on October 6, 2021 to engage in discussion around these five areas of study. A draft of this plan was then presented to this same group of community stakeholders on February 7th, 2022 for revision and feedback. The strategic plan was approved by the Board of Education on March 16, 2022.
Although the strategic plan has only been formally in place for three months, Mokena School District 159 has made quite a bit of progress in almost every strategic goal area. Some of the goals have already been completed. On June 15th the Board of Education heard an update on the progress the District has made in each of the goal areas. The strategic plan and a summary of the progress in each goal area can be found here: