Frenchtown Elementary School District
Is Creating a New Five-Year Strategic Plan
The 3D Strategic Planning Process:
Dream, Determination, and Destiny by Design
Session 2
February 18, 2025
What Are Our Visions for the Frenchtown Elementary School District?
On February 18, 2025, Frenchtown Elementary School District administrators, Board of Education members, staff, parents, and community members came together for the second strategic planning meeting, 40 in total. The topic for the second meeting was focused on developing a vision and initiatives toward achieving that vision, for the Frenchtown Elementary School District. The meeting began with a welcome and introduction by Frenchtown Chief School Administrator, James Hintenach, and Board President, Kate Nugent. Facilitator Patti Rees, from the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), was introduced and provided an overview of the strategic planning process and the focus for the evening’s activity.
The topic for the evening focused on creating a shared vision for the Frenchtown Elementary School District. We were then asked to imagine — what if, in five years’ time, at the maturation of the strategic plan we are creating, Frenchtown Elementary Schools had become a nationally recognized school district for providing an outstanding education for its students? What if the national media was writing about Frenchtown so public school districts nationwide could emulate what happens here?
Participants gathered in randomly assigned groups, six groups in total, to develop a shared vision and initiatives. After the group discussion, each group identified their consensus points and presented those to the full group of meeting participants.
The information that follows is a summary of the work of the small groups. As discussed with the meeting participants, all consensus points are recorded and posted on the district website to share the group work during the strategic planning process.
Group Consensus: Vision & Initiatives
Group 1 | |
Title | Frenchtown Elementary small and mighty- The heart of our Community |
Vision Statement | Support \parent engagement, string academics with robust community support enrichment. School is the heart of our community. Small class sizes with personalized attention, socially "safe", kind and regulated. |
Initiatives | Fuller preparation = better test scores |
marketing strategy to attract families and new students = enrichment programs, after school clubs, emotionally safe | |
After school clubs, emotionally safe + caretaking environment | |
income generated programs | |
Harness community volunteerism to "teach" to be additive to our curriculum + partner with local business + organization. | |
(Grants) Programming that ties into grants, i.e. agricultural, arts, etc. | |
Group 2 | |
Title | Frenchtown School cultivates a new Kind of Leader |
Vision Statement | Emotional Intelligence, Autonomy, confidence, wisdom, leadership = academic success |
Initiatives | Emotional Intelligence: safe spaces, regulation |
Autonomy: Individualized learning, responsibility | |
Confidence: Mentorship, peer to peer collaboration | |
Wisdom: Experiential learning + knowledge, Community engagement | |
Leadership: Humility, role models, courtesy, effective communication | |
Equals educational and life success | |
Group 3 | |
Title | FES Magnet School Attracts Families Statewide with Fresh Approach |
Vision Statement | Frenchtown Magnet School specializes in individualized education for all, the arts, community partnerships, special ed and academics, emphasizes inclusivity and specialty programs |
Initiatives | Individualized education plans - a team for each child with family engagement |
An education foundation to support academics, curriculum, grant writing | |
Academy programs especially for middle school that mimics high school, student can choose electives | |
Community program - student projects with local businesses and mentorships | |
School as community space - hosting classes, programs, etc. | |
Strong art and music programs | |
school has an inclusive, welcoming environment for allwith highly trained, educators and staff | |
Families see Frenchtown School's small, unique individualized education programs as the best fit for their child and choice hereto be part of the Frenchtown family. | |
Group 4 | |
Title | Rigor on the River |
Vision Statement | Destination school for a destination town |
Initiatives | no smart phones |
"Learn how to learn” with experiential learning | |
Local businesses become pillar for school | |
full enrollment | |
encouraged family engagement | |
utilize the river leading environmental science | |
more field trips -local and urban | |
Harmony Between school and community sparks student success | |
Group 5 | |
Title | Open communication, students meeting or surpassing potential, Frenchtown vibes embedded in school culture, Broadening perspectives |
Vision Statement | Regular workshops to foster shared foundations/expectations for students, families and teachers |
Initiatives | Leveraging the best of our community and incorporating it into our schools |
Using small class size to individualize education (IEP for all?) | |
Raise the bar for student driven achievement | |
Group 6 | |
Title | Frenchtown Leans on the Community for academic enrichment and social interaction |
Vision Statement | increased academic achievement, continued SEL focus, Opportunity for outside MS experience |
Initiatives | increased enrollment |
involvement with community resources (people) | |
getting creative with resources that don't cost significant money | |
alternative funding solutions | |
Following each group reporting out their consensus points, the large group identified the following five goal areas:
1. Student Enrollment
2. Community Engagement
3. Marketing & Communications
4. Cultivating School culture
5. Student Learning & Achievement
The third strategic planning session is scheduled for:
April 1, 2025
During the April 1, 2025, meeting, participants will review the outcomes from Meetings 1 & 2 (strengths & challenges, vision & initiatives) and develop the strategic planning goals and objectives for the Frenchtown Elementary School District.
Attendees will have the opportunity to work with any / all the goal areas in which they would like to participate!
Please join us. Bring a friend! Everyone is welcome! We look forward to seeing you!