Zeeland Public Schools nears completion of new strategic plan

Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel
·2 min read
The strategic planning process at Zeeland Public Schools is nearly complete.
The strategic planning process at Zeeland Public Schools is nearly complete.

ZEELAND — A new strategic plan for Zeeland Public Schools is nearly complete.

In an update to the ZPS Board of Education on Monday, Sept. 18, Superintendent Brandi-Lyn Mendham said the plan, meant to guide the district over the next 3-5 years, will be up for approval during the board’s meeting in October.

While it’s not a requirement for the board to formally approve the plan, Mendham said it’s “an important step” given the board’s involvement.

More: Zeeland Public Schools looking for community input on strategic plan

Mendham added a "companion document" will be created prior to the meeting.

“That will define for us timelines, task force memberships, the metrics in terms of how these areas will be measured,” she said.

The plan includes six focus areas developed with input from various stakeholder groups. Those areas are instruction, achievement, support, school culture and climate, staff recruitment and retainment and facilities.

A one-page summary of the plan provides a description each focus area. Those are:

  • Instruction: Provide high-quality instruction, striving to ensure exemplary program options

  • Achievement: Increase achievement by supporting students to reach their fullest potential

  • Support: Provide high levels of support for at-risk learners

  • School culture and climate: Foster a safe and inclusive school climate and culture for all

  • Staff recruitment and retainment: Recruit and retain high-quality talent

  • Facilities: Maintain exceptional facilities and ensure responsible stewardship of assets

A mission and vision are also included in the plan. The mission states: “Partnering with family and community, while recognizing the importance of every individual,  Zeeland Public Schools ensures that all students are safe, valued, loved, and learning.”

Zeeland’s vision is listed as: “Striving to educate the hearts and minds of all students to reach their fullest potential.”

Zeeland embarked on a process to develop a new strategic plan in April 2022, guided by the Michigan Leadership Institute. The process involved soliciting ideas, thoughts and information from the community.

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“We spent last year moving through the process, gathering stakeholder input both in person and through surveys online,” Mendham said Monday. “We had over 3,000 responses ... that really helped us define the six focus areas moving forward."

For more information, visit zps.org/strategicplan.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Zeeland Public Schools nears completion of new strategic plan