Sprague Parents: Attend one of three public meetings to provide input for WPS Strategic Plan

Dear Wellesley Community,

As part of my entry as the new Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools, I have met with scores of individuals and groups to better understand what’s working well and what needs to be addressed in our school system. It’s clear that the community wants to build on our successes while adapting to a future in which the college, career, and life opportunities for which we are preparing our students continue to evolve rapidly. Whether considering academic programs, long-term facilities needs, or plans for economic sustainability, we must develop a vision for the future that will guide our efforts in a coherent way.

With this in mind, the Wellesley Public School system has begun the process of developing a multi-year strategic plan to inform our work in the days ahead. The core of this effort will be focused on addressing three essential questions: What should all Wellesley students know and be able to do? What program(s) of instruction will best develop these competencies? How will we measure our success? Naturally, these questions are simply the starting point to what we hope will be a robust community conversation about the future of our school system.

For this work to be successful, community participation will be imperative. An Advisory Committee has been formed to manage this process and includes teachers, administrators, parents, and town officials. We are also inviting staff and members of the Wellesley community to attend one of three public meetings to provide early input into this process:

• Wednesday, February 13, 3-4:30 PM, Wellesley Middle School Auditorium
• Monday, February 25, 7-8:30 PM, Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Auditorium at Wellesley High School
• Wednesday, March 5, 7-8:30 PM, Wakelin Room, Wellesley Free Library

In addition to these community meetings, we will be convening specific focus groups and conducting a community-wide survey in late March. Our goal is to have a working draft of the strategic plan by early summer.

Among our greatest assets in Wellesley is an engaged community that demands much from its public schools but one that also provides exceptional support. Whether you have children in school or not, we invite the entire community to join us in charting a future path for the Wellesley Public Schools in the coming months.

David F. Lussier
Superintendent of Schools