Lynbrook Board of Education Hosts Community Forum

The Lynbrook Board of Education invited all district residents to participate in a Strategic Planning Community Forum, held on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Lynbrook High School, to assist the board in developing a plan for the district’s future.

The strategic planning process began at the start of the 2010-2011 school year, when the board called for a Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) to study the needs of the district. The SPC, composed of staff, parents, students and citizens at large, held several sessions to brainstorm important issues to bring to the community for discussion.

To give the SPC further input, the district sent out a survey to the community. Based on the results of the survey, the SPC then developed a draft five-year plan that addressed seven goals: to maximize the academic achievement of all students; to ensure that all buildings possess appropriate facilities; to ensure effective communication by the district with parents, staff, students and the community at large; to ensure the availability of appropriate and effective student guidance programs; to ensure the availability of appropriate and effective social work staff; to maintain and improve upon staff development programs; and to maintain and improve upon programs to combat substance abuse by students.

Focus groups met throughout the day on Sept. 21 to examine the draft plan and offer the SPC further input. The draft plan was then presented to the public at the community forum to solicit further suggestions about which items the community would like the committee to clarify, restate, eliminate or add.

The SPC will meet again on Oct. 4 to discuss the input obtained from the focus groups and the community forum. A copy of the draft is available at www.lynbrook.k12.ny.us.

Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino invites any residents who have further suggestions for the committee to contact his office at (516) 887-0253.