ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown School District kicked off its strategic planning process Thursday evening with student performances, many plans and a lot of hope.
The goal is to develop a five-year strategic plan intended to help the district establish a set of priorities and goals that will define what an Allentown high school graduate should look like and the steps it should take to improve the educational experience for all students.
Allentown Schools Superintendent Carol Birks started off the event by dancing to “Stand Up” by musical artist Cynthia Erivo, getting the room clapping.
“So the words were ‘Stand up,’ she said. I’m gonna stand up and take my people with me,” Birks said, in a reference to civil rights heroine Harriet Tubman.
Birks said the strategic planning process will allow the district to take stock as an organization. It could take six months or longer to complete, with a steering committee and advisory groups giving feedback on that work.
"Allowing them to find what they're able to do from a young age is, I feel, very important. And in general, that's something we could work on as a district, as well as offering more opportunities for the academics."Student Tayshawn Johnson
Board Director Lisa Conover said she has a lot of hope for what will result from the work ahead.
"I'm talking about really creating a plan or really putting this district in a position where our kids can learn can compete, can become a model school district, can eventually compete globally," she said. "I'm very optimistic about this planning process."
Tayshawn Johnson is a 10th grader at Building 21. He said he also has ideas the district needs to do and he hopes his ideas are considered. He said students should be able to choose their electives before they arrive into high school.
“Not everyone is born ready to do calculus, or any of that kind of thing and they'll never be ready to do that kind of thing,” Johnson said.
“So allowing them to find what they're able to do from a young age is, I feel, very important. And in general, that's something we could work on as a district, as well as offering more opportunities for the academics."
'Try and be a light'
Johnson said he's also concerned about school safety. He said he initially was opposed to the metal detectors the school board approved this year. He said he worried about his fellow students’ mental health leading to incidents with weapons at the schools.
“It's sort of putting a Band Aid on the issue,” Johnson said. “Instead of looking for the root cause, you're basically trying to stop the symptom that's already happened.”
Johnson said the district needs to focus on mental health solutions for students, so they feel safe.
“You need a sort of a professional that can keep your information confidential, that you can genuinely just talk to," he said. "And I feel like a lot of students cannot get that for whatever reason."
“I think the efforts are noble and honest."Allentown School Board Parent Sharon Billington
“And that's what leads to like weapon threats, is mental health issues. Once we start like cutting into that issue, as well, I feel like weapon rates go down instead of installing metal detectors.
"Because in my eyes, metal detectors will work for the first few years that they’re implemented, and then people will start finding ways around them.”
Allentown resident Sharon Billington said the proof will be in the pudding for success in the strategic planning.
“I think the efforts are noble and honest,” Billington said. “I always have faith, that's the thing. I always have faith with our district.”
Pastor Anthony Jones is among the members of the steering committee. He said working together they can bring “miraculous” results.
“I'm looking for as far as my part and responsibility is to try and be a light,” Jones said.
“To really be an encourager and to really be able to say, ‘You know what, when the chips are down, we can do this, or maybe we need to step back and rethink it. Or maybe you know what, let's call it a night, because we’re frustrated, let’s sleep on it and we’ll come back, and do it all over again.’
"So I'm excited to see that.”
