Strategic Plan

Merrywood Elementary School

2011 – 2016

Debra K. Green, Principal

“One for All and All for One”

Table of Contents

Strategic Planning Committees

Merrywood Mission, Vision, and Beliefs

Merrywood Demographic Information

Performance Goal 1 – ELA

Action Plan – ELA Goal 1 – Strategy 1 & 2

Performance Goal 2 – Math

Action Plan – Math Goal 2 - Strategy

Performance Goal 3 – Teacher/Administrator Quality – Attendance

Action Plan – Teacher/Administrator Quality Goal 3 - Strategy

Performance Goal 4 – Teacher/Administrator Quality – Technology

Action Plan – Technology Goal 4 - Strategy

Performance Goal 5 – School Climate – Volunteers

Action Plan – School Climate Goal 5 – Strategy 1 & 2

Performance Goal 6 – School Climate – Parent Conferences

Action Plan – School Climate Goal 6 - Strategy

Action Plan Committees

ELA Action Plan	Mission, Vision, and Beliefs
Wanning, John	Jarrett, Jaime
Boggs, Kristi	Bradberry, Laurie
Driver, Julie	Fennell, Carolyn
Karle, Norma	Fricks, Sheri
Lumley, Ellen	Gambrell, Al
Nizza, Barbara	Hopkins, Carol
Vanderford, Tricia


School & Community Demographics	Math Action Plan
Davis, Karen	Harris, Ashley
Anderson, Michelle	Moore, Gail
Beckham, Allison	O’Quinn, Katee
Calvert, Dianne	Ramsey, Tara
Carson, Christi	Simpson, Angie
Lee, Dana
Riley, Jill
Thompson, Donna
	Teacher Quality
	Tidwell, Angela
School Climate	Anderson, Meg
Schwartz, Chris	Atkins, Ashley
Bacote, Deloris	Evans, Cristy
Morris, April	Leonard, Debbie
Mullikin, Elizabeth	Louden, Ashley
Phillips, Sharon	Mims, Sean
Richardson, Brad
Scotland, Michele	Strategic Plan Review
Timmons, Michelle	Buckshorn, David
	Dorn, Alice
	Green, Debra
	Hartung, Sarah
	Scotland, Michele
	White, Andrea

Merrywood Elementary School

Our Vision

We envision Merrywood Elementary School as an enthusiastic community of learners that provides exciting educational experiences to maximize success and achievement.

Our Mission Statement

The mission of Merrywood Elementary School is to educate students through challenging learning opportunities and provide the LIFESKILLS for responsible and caring citizenship.

Our Beliefs

Each person is a valued individual with unique intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs.
Educators must remain flexible and receptive to new ideas that will enrich instruction, stimulate learning, and enable students to become self-directed learners.
Curriculum and instructional practices should incorporate a variety of learning activities to accommodate differences in instructional levels and learning styles.
All students can learn when appropriately challenged.
Education is everyone’s responsibility.
Mutual respect is essential for our school to function as a safe learning environment.
Decisions must be based on what is best for all students.
Learning is a lifelong process.

Part A — Demographic Overview

School and Community Demographic Data

In 2008, Greenwood School District 50 built a new facility for Merrywood Elementary School. The school is located in the city and the county of Greenwood.

Greenwood is the home of Greenwood Mills, Self Regional Hospital, the Genetic Center, Lander University, Piedmont Technical College, Park Seed Company, the Festival of Flowers, and Fujifilm, an international company. According to Greenwood County government statistics, Greenwood’s population is 68,549. An estimated 32.5% of the county’s residents live in urban areas.

Merrywood Elementary School qualifies as a school-wide Title 1 School. The percentage of students receiving subsidized meals remained over 50% in 2009-2010.

The school was given a rating of “Average” on the 2008-2009 School Report Card and met AYP for the academic school year 2008-2009. The school was awarded the SC Red Carpet Award in 2008-2009 and earned Honorable Mention as a SC Distinguished Title 1 School – Closing the Achievement Gap, 2009-2010.

The school currently serves students in kindergarten up to fifth grade. In 2009-2010, the enrollment was 591 students.

In 2009-2010, Merrywood Elementary School employed forty-four certified staff, eighteen instructional assistants, one registered nurse, one full-time speech therapist, one part-time speech therapist, and a case manager for Merrywood Elementary School. Three full-time custodians, two part-time custodians, and seven cafeteria operators complete the staff.

An itinerant staff provided the following student services: ESOL, ABA, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision services, and psychological testing.

Parents are involved in meeting various needs for the students and teachers at Merrywood Elementary School. In addition to serving on the School Improvement Council, the Title 1 Committee, and PTO, parents serve as volunteers in the classrooms, the Media Center, and various school-wide events.

The following demographic data was gathered from the 2009-2010 academic school year.

Gender

Grade Level	Male	Female	Total
Kindergarten	64	42	106
1^st grade	58	41	99
2^nd grade	46	41	87
3^rd grade	60	47	107
4^th grade	60	52	112
5^th grade	40	40	80
Totals	328	263	591

Ethnicity

Grade Level	African-American	White	Other	Total
Kindergarten	42	54	10	106
1^st grade	33	60	6	99
2^nd grade	37	41	9	87
3^rd grade	40	53	14	107
4^th grade	46	50	16	112
5^th grade	24	52	4	80
Totals	222	310	59	591

Demographic Data (in percentages)

Year	African American	White	Hispanic	Asian	Other	Free and Reduced Lunch	Number of Students
2009-2010	38	52	8	1	2	60	591

*The total percentage for ethnicities does not equal 100% due to rounding.

Part B - Needs Assessment

Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Quality of Education

This section of the School Improvement Plan contains perceptions of stakeholders regarding their satisfaction in the quality of education provided by the staff of Merrywood Elementary School.

Data was gathered from the results of the annual State Department of Education survey taken by the stakeholders. In this report, the stakeholders are eighty-nine of the 2009-2010 fifth grade students, fifty-three parents of the fifth grade students, and forty-three teachers of Merrywood Elementary School

Student Survey

The table below shows the percentage of satisfaction with the learning environment, the social and physical environments, and the school-home relations.

Percentage of Students Who Agree

Survey Question	Percentage
Percent satisfied with the learning environment	83.5
Percent satisfied with the social and physical environment	86.6
Percent satisfied with school-home relations	82.5

Parent Survey

Over 90% of the fifty-three returned surveys indicated that the learning environment, the social and physical environments, and the home-school relations are satisfactory.

Percentage of Parents Who Agree

Survey Question	Percentage
Percent satisfied with the learning environment	92.9
Percent satisfied with the social and physical environment	90.1
Percent satisfied with school-home relations	90.1

Teacher Survey

All teachers surveyed agreed that the learning environment at Merrywood Elementary School is exemplary. The majority of those surveyed is satisfied with the physical and social environments and the school-home relations.

Percentage of Teachers Who Agree

Survey Question	Percentage
Percent satisfied with the learning environment	100
Percent satisfied with the social and physical environment	97.7
Percent satisfied with school-home relations	97.7

Part – C Student Achievement

PASS Performance Data

This section of the School Improvement Plan provides disaggregated student performance data provided by 2009 PASS test results. Teachers studied the performance data as a grade level, as members of Action Plan committees, and as an entire faculty. Student population was compared by sub-group performance to identify areas of strength and weakness in ELA (English Language Arts) and Math.

The data below are the percentages of students who scored Not Met, Met, and Exemplary in the areas of ELA and Math in a sub-group of race population by year and by grade level.

PASS 2009 - ELA

Total Population by Year

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	19.9	37.2	42.9

White Population by Year

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	8.5	32.4	59.2

White Population by Grade Level

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	23	29	48
4	20.5	38.6	13.9
5	16	44.7	39.4

African-American Population by Year

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	31.6	43	25.4

African American Population by Grade Level

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	39.5	33.3	27
4	44.4	40.7	14.8
5	30.9	47.6	21.4

PASS 2009 - Math

Total Population by Year

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	26.2	45	28.7

White Population by Year

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	10.6	45.1	44.4

White Population by Grade Level

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	9	36.3	54.5
4	15	41.5	43.3
5	10.4	54.1	35.4

African American Population by Year

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	43	44.7	12.3

African American Population by Grade Level

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	62.5	27	10.4
4	40.7	44.4	14.8
5	40.4	50	9.5

The data below are the percentages of students who scored Not Met, Met, and Exemplary in the areas of ELA and Math in a sub-group of students receiving subsidized lunch (free or reduced) or full pay lunch by year and by grade level.

PASS 2009 - ELA

Full Pay Population by Year

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	8.9	30.8	60.1

Full Pay Population by Grade Level

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	8.1	16.2	75.6
4	13.3	35.5	51.1
5	4.8	39	56

Free / Reduced Pay Population by Year

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	27.6	42.3	30.1

Free / Reduced Pay Population by Grade Level

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	34.2	35.7	30
4	31.1	42.2	26.6
5	29	43.6	27.2

PASS 2009 - Math

Full Pay Population by Year

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	11.3	39.8	48.7

Full Pay Population by Grade Level

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	5.4	37.8	56.7
4	17.7	35.5	46.6
5	9.7	54.5	9.0

Free / Reduced Population by Year

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	38	49.1	12.9

Free / Reduced Population by Grade Level

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	54.2	31.4	14.2
4	33.3	48.8	17.7
5	36.3	54.5	9

The data below are the percentages of students who scored Not Met, Met, and Exemplary in the areas of ELA and Math in a sub-group of student gender by year and by grade level.

PASS 2009 - ELA

Male Population by Year

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	23.8	34.3	42

Male Population by Grade Level

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	25	31.1	44.2
4	31.7	39	29.2
5	21.2	34	44.6

Female Population by Year

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	15.8	40.3	43.9

Female Population by Grade Level

ELA	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	26	26	47.8
4	14.2	38.7	46.9
5	16.3	48.9	34.6

PASS 2009 - Math

Male Population by Year

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	25.2	43.4	31.5

Male Population by Grade Level

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	34.4	32.7	32.7
4	29.2	39	31.7
5	23.4	51	25.5

Female Population by Year

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
2009	27.3	46.8	25.9

Female Population by Grade Level

Math	Not Met	Met	Exemplary
3	41.3	34.7	23.9
4	22.4	44.8	32.6
5	26.5	51	22.4

From the preceding data, the faculty concluded that a large percentage of our African American students and students receiving subsidized lunch are in the Not Met and Met categories.

The faculty identified areas of academic strengths and weaknesses in the student population of Merrywood Elementary School which provided a gauge for developing goals in ELA and Math for the academic school years 2011-2016.

SCHOOL RENEWAL PLAN FOR Merrywood Elementary School DATE: 2011 – 2016

Performance Goal Area: ELA

Student Achievement Teacher/Administrator Quality

School Climate (Parent Involvement, Safe and Healthy Schools, etc.)

Other (optional)

PERFORMANCE GOAL:

(desired result of student learning)

By 2015–2016, 100% of our students in grades 3-5 will meet standard in ELA as measured by the PASS assessment.

INTERIM PERFORMANCE GOAL: (annual)

By 2010-2011, 85.1% of students in grades 3-5 will meet standard in ELA as measured by PASS assessment.

DATA SOURCE(S):

PASS scores, enrollment data, AIMS web data, MAP, common formative assessment, teacher evaluation information

Updates will be made when 2010 data is available.

OVERALL MEASURES:

PASS scores, enrollment data, AIMS web data, MAP, common formative assessment, teacher evaluation information

Average Baseline

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

82.8%

85.1%

87.7%

90.3%

93%

95.8%

100%

ACTION PLAN

EVALUATION

STRATEGY 1: Increase the percentage of students scoring met and exemplary on PASS ELA.

Activity

(List the processes to fully implement the strategy. Include professional development, scientifically based research, academic assistance, innovation initiatives, parent involvement, technology, etc.)

Timeline Start/End Date

Person

Responsible

Estimated

Cost

Funding

Source

Measures of Success/Indicators of Implementation

(Formative measures used to assess impact of strategies and activities on improvement)

Continue to train teachers in grades K-5 in Balanced Literacy to strengthen the reading program. Provide teachers with extra collaborative time.

Continue training in Writer’s Workshop in order to provide a consistent school-wide writing program.

Update technology training (Smartboard, Video Streaming educational websites) to effectively enhance instruction.

2011-2016

Principal &

Instructional Specialist

Principal & Instructional Specialist

School Technology Leader & Media Specialist

N/A

District Funds

N/A

Attendance log

Principal observation

forms, Guided Reading/SRA Lesson Checks, MAP data & PASS results

Attendance log, Principal observation & PASS results

Attendance logs, Principal observation & PASS results

ACTION PLAN

EVALUATION

STRATEGY 2: Utilize professional learning community structures at all levels to improve academic success.

Activity

Timeline Start/End Date

Person

Responsible

Estimated

Cost

Funding

Source

Measures of Success/Indicators of Implementation

(Formative measures used to assess impact of strategies and activities on improvement)

Utilize research-based essential standards and develop pacing guides for ELA.

Continue to meet in grade level meetings (Professional Learning Community) and analyze all data to provided differentiated instruction, varied academic support/services to insure success of all students.

2011-2016

Principal & Instructional Specialist

Grade Level Chair &

Administrative Staff

N/A

Oncourse Lesson Plans &

Grade Level Meeting

Agendas

Grade Level Meeting Agendas & Data Room

SCHOOL RENEWAL PLAN FOR Merrywood Elementary School DATE: 2011-2016

Performance Goal Area: Math

Student Achievement Teacher/Leadership Quality

School Climate (Parent Involvement, Safe and Healthy Schools, etc.)

Other (optional)

PERFORMANCE GOAL:

(desired result of student learning)

By May, 2016, 100% of our students in grades 3-5 will meet standard in Math as measured by the PASS assessment.

INTERIM PERFORMANCE GOAL: (annual)

By 2010-2011, 76.3% of students in grades 3-5 will meet standard in math as measured by the PASS assessment.

DATA SOURCE(S):

PASS data (holistic and subgroups), MAP data, Accelerated Math data, common informative assessments followed by flexible groupings and enrollment information.

OVERALL MEASURES:

Grades 3 – 5 PASS MATH percentages of students scoring met or above.

Average

Baseline

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

80.5%

86.1%

88.9%

91.7%

94.5%

100%

ACTION PLAN

EVALUATION

STRATEGY: Increase the percentage of students scoring Met or Above on PASS Math

Activity

Timeline Start/End Date

Person

Responsible

Estimated

Cost

Funding

Source

Measures of Success/Indicators of Implementation

(Formative measures used to assess impact of strategies and activities on improvement)

Establish individual goals and monitor student achievement through student/teacher and parent/teacher conferences utilizing FASTT Math, PASS, MAP, and Accelerated Math.

Provide remediation for students through small group instruction, volunteer efforts, and tutorial websites.

Enrich math instruction through teacher observations, the Gifted and Talented program, Brain Boosters, small group instruction, flexible grouping, the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, and the annual Family Math and Science nights.

Utilize research – based instructional strategies and manipulatives to plan and implement instruction.

Provide opportunities for collaboration through Professional Learning Communities (PLC).

Use technology to effectively enhance instruction.

2011-2016

Classroom teachers & Instructional Specialist

Classroom teachers, GT Instructor, Instructional Specialist & the Principal

Classroom teachers & Instructional Specialist

Classroom teachers, Instructional Specialist, & the Principal

Classroom teachers

N/A

Conference logs, FASTT Math reports, PASS scores, MAP scores, & Accelerated Math

Lesson plans, schedules, volunteer sign-in report

Lesson Plans & Schedules

Lesson plans & Student data

PLC attendance log and meeting minutes

Lesson plans & student data

SCHOOL RENEWAL PLAN FOR Merrywood Elementary School DATE: 2011 - 2016

Performance Goal Area: Teacher/Administrator Quality (Attendance)

Student Achievement Teacher/Administrator Quality

School Climate (Parent Involvement, Safe and Healthy Schools, etc.)

Other (optional)

PERFORMANCE GOAL:

(desired result of student learning)

By 2016, Merrywood Elementary School will recruit and retain highly qualified, technologically competent, and diverse personnel to implement the school’s mission statement as measured by the State Department’s Accreditation Report, the Computer Proficiency Report, NCLB criteria, and school’s retention rate. By 2016, teachers’ attendance rate will be at 95.5%.

INTERIM PERFORMANCE GOAL: (annual)

By the academic school year 2010-2011, teachers’ attendance rate will be 93%.

DATA SOURCE(S):

Annual District Report Card and Merrywood Elementary School’s Annual Report to Parents

OVERALL MEASURES:

Annual District and School Report Card

Average Baseline

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

92.5%

93%

93.5%

94%

94.5%

95%

95.5%

ACTION PLAN

EVALUATION

STRATEGY: Increase the attendance rate of teachers.

Activity

Timeline

Start/End Date

Person

Responsible

Estimated

Cost

Funding

Source

Measures of Success/Indicators of Implementation

(Formative measures used to assess impact of strategies and activities on improvement)

Provide perfect attendance motivation through media recognition and monthly drawings.

Offer annual healthcare screenings through Prevention Partners.

2011-2016

Principal

School Nurse

Community Donations

$15.00/ person

Business Partners & Community Leaders

Participants

Attendance records

Registration sheets provided by school nurse

SCHOOL RENEWAL PLAN FOR Merrywood Elementary School DATE: 2011-2016

Performance Goal Area: Teacher / Administrator Quality (Technology)

Student Achievement Teacher/Administrator Quality

School Climate (Parent Involvement, Safe and Healthy Schools, etc.)

District Priority

PERFORMANCE GOAL:

(desired result of student learning)

By 2016, Merrywood Elementary School will recruit and retain highly qualified, technologically

competent, and diverse personnel to implement the school’s mission statement as measured by

the State Department’s Accreditation Report, the Computer Proficiency Report, NCLB criteria,

and school’s retention rate.

INTERIM PERFORMANCE GOAL:

Increase technology proficiency of certified staff five percent yearly.

DATA SOURCE(S):

State Technology Proficiency Report, lesson plan monitoring, and classroom observations

by the Principal.

OVERALL MEASURES:

State Technology Proficiency Report, lesson plan monitoring, and classroom observations by the principal.

Average Baseline

2011*

2012*

2013*

2014*

2015*

2016*

69%

74%

79%

84%

89%

94%

99%

* Represents projections of improvement

ACTION PLAN

EVALUATION

STRATEGY: Assist all teachers in accomplishing proficiency in technology as required by the district.

Activity

Timeline Start/End Date

Person

Responsible

Estimated

Cost

Funding

Source

Measures of Success/Indicators of Implementation

(Formative measures used to assess impact of strategies and activities on improvement)

Provide assistance to teachers in completing district requirements in proficiency of technology.

Provide information and training on the use of progressive technology in order to provide effective classroom instruction.

2011-2016

School Technology Leader, Instructional Technology Specialist, & Office of Computing Services

School Technology Leader

N/A

Proficiency online assessment

Oncourse lesson plans

SCHOOL RENEWAL PLAN FOR Merrywood Elementary School DATE: 2011-2016

Performance Goal Area: School Climate

Student Achievement Teacher/Administrator Quality

School Climate (Parent Involvement, Safe and Healthy Schools, etc.)

District Priority

PERFORMANCE GOAL:

Community and Parent Involvement

Merrywood Elementary School will increase parental involvement and communication as measured by participation and documentation of activities and events.

INTERIM PERFORMANCE GOAL: Annual

Merrywood Elementary School will increase the total number of daily school volunteers by two percent in

2010-2011.

DATA SOURCE(S):

Volunteer Application forms

Volunteer sign-in sheets (School Check-In)

Certificate of Agreement

OVERALL MEASURES:

Total number of volunteers as documented by volunteer sign-in register.

Average Baseline

2011*

2012*

2013*

2014*

2015*

2016*

486

496

516

526

537

548

575

* Represents projections of improvement

ACTION PLAN										EVALUATION
STRATEGY 2: Increase community volunteer involvement.			Timeline Start/End Date		Person Responsible		Estimated Cost	Funding Source		Indicators of Implementation
Activity (List the processes to fully implement the strategy. Include professional development, scientifically based research, academic assistance, innovation initiatives, parent involvement, technology etc.)			Timeline Start/End Date		Person Responsible		Estimated Cost			(Formative measures used to assess impact of strategies and activities on improvement)

	Strengthen relationship with current business partners. Adopt new business partners. Coordinate partnership recognition.	2011-2016 2011-2016 2011-2016		Public relations, the Principal, and Hospitality Committee Public relations, the Principal, and Hospitality Committee Public relations, the Principal, and Hospitality Committee		$0 $0 $0		N/A N/A N/A	Teacher survey on effectiveness of volunteers and the impact on student achievement Teacher survey on effectiveness of volunteers and the impact on student achievement Teacher survey on effectiveness of volunteers and the impact on student achievement

SCHOOL RENEWAL PLAN FOR Merrywood Elementary School DATE: 2011-2016

Performance Goal Area: School Climate

Student Achievement Teacher/Administrator Quality

School Climate (Parent Involvement, Safe and Healthy Schools, etc.)

District Priority

PERFORMANCE GOAL:

Community/Parent Involvement

Merrywood Elementary School will increase community/parent involvement as well as communication as measured by participation and documentation of school activities and events.

INTERIM PERFORMANCE GOAL:

Merrywood Elementary School will increase the number of parents attending conferences in 2010-2011 by two percent as reported in the SC Report Card.

DATA SOURCE(S):

State Department of Education survey and the annual school report card

OVERALL MEASURES:

State Department of Education survey and the annual school report card

Average Baseline

2011*

2012*

2013*

2014*

2015*

2016*

88%

90%

92%

94%

96%

98%

100%

* Represents projections of improvement

ACTION PLAN											EVALUATION
STRATEGY: Diversify communication with parents by enhancing and expanding communication tools and channels.			Timeline Start/End Date		Person Responsible		Estimated Cost		Funding Source		Indicators of Implementation
Activity (List the processes to fully implement the strategy. Include professional development, scientifically based research, academic assistance, innovation initiatives, parent involvement, technology etc.)			Timeline Start/End Date		Person Responsible		Estimated Cost				(Formative measures used to assess impact of strategies and activities on improvement)

	Analyze the effectiveness of the current communication tools in the school and make necessary changes. Collaborate with parents and expand communication of school activities. Enhance new outreach opportunities such as websites, mass callings, instructional calendars, newsletters, and local media.	2011-2016 2011-2016 2011-2016		Principal and teacher committee Principal and SIC committee Principal and Instructional Specialist.		$0 $0 $0		N/A N/A N/A		Parent survey asking which communication tools and channels impacted their attendance at conferences. Parent Survey Parent Survey