STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT
Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools
February 1999

Table of Contents
 Introduction
 Curriculum
 Program
 Financial
 Technology
 Facilities
 Community Relations

Introduction
The Sault Area Schools Strategic Plan was adopted by the Board of
Education September 14, 1998.
This report will summarize District accomplishments during the first semester of the 1998-1999 school year.

MEAP RESULTS
 Students in Sault Ste. Marie have made progress in increasing their scores on the MEAP test over the last several years.
 Students exceed the state average in
Math in grade 7 and Writing in both grade 5 and grade 8.

MEAP
 Number of students in Grade 4 scoring at the Satisfactory Level has risen 12% in the last 3 years.

20
60
50
43.6
40
28.6
30
MEAP Reading Grade 4
58.4
54.5
49.9
42.2
49.0
49.0
State
District
10
0
1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98

MEAP WRITING
 Sault Area students in grades 5 and 8 score above the state average in
Writing.

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1995-96
55.6
56.3
MEAP Writing Grade 5
73.4
72.4
64.3
59.3
1996-97 1997-98
State
District

80
70
60
50
20
10
40
30
0
1995-96
69.1
56.2
MEAP Writing Grade 8
77.0
76.8
69.0
73.7
1996-97 1997-98
State
District

Curriculum Review Process
 Elementary Language Arts Curriculum is written and ready for final approval.
 K-12 Social Studies Curriculum is written and ready for final approval.
 Language Arts and Social Studies textbooks are being selected for 1999-2000 implementation.

Curriculum Review Process
 Curriculum review and revisions for non-core subjects are beginning.
– Non-Core Subjects include:
• Fine and Performing Arts
• Physical Education and Health
• Foreign Language
• Business Technology
• Trade and Technology

Staff Development
 Staff development is related to the curriculum.
 Activities include:
– Fall EUP In Service Day
– February Sault Schools In Service Day
– Individual Curriculum activities

Coordination with Lake State
 Remodeled Automotive Technology
Shop for new 1 + 1 Program
 University student tutors at middle and high schools.
 Spring class held at our high school
– University Success Strategies

Advanced Placement Courses
 Sault Area High School offers:
– AP Art
– AP American History
– AP Biology
– AP Calculus
– AP Chemistry
– AP English
– AP Government (1999-2000)

Student Schedule and Programs
 Middle School staff are working on programming for all grade 6, 7, & 8 students as a true Middle School when the facility is complete.
 High School staff are exploring student scheduling options.

Child Care at McKinley

Welcome to
Little Gators Home Room

Art Projects are Great

We do many fun things.

A Budding Picasso

Miss Erin Reads Great Stories

Teddy Bear Picnic

Lunch for Little Gators

Outdoor Fun Can’t Be Beat

A Good End to the Day

Financial
 FUND EQUITY
– History
– Cash Flow
 COMPUTER SYSTEM/SOFTWARE
– Malcolm
– District Wide

 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
– Bottom 10% in State
 BOARD EXPENSES
– Decreased 80% over five years
 LONG RANGE PLANNING
– Three year budget

Sault Ste. Marie Area Public Schools Fund Equity History
14
12
18
16.8
16
12.8
11.3
14.5
12.8
14.1
10
8
8.7
8.6
6.4
6
4
3.9
2.8
1.2
2
0
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Percent of Annual Expenditure
1995 1996 1997 1998

Technology
Primary Goals
 Standards
 Support
 Training
 Administrative Technology
 Funding

Technology Standards
 Established
 More standards every year
 Last updated in December 1998 http://eup.k12.mi.us/sault/usf/standards98.html

Technology Support
 Active Technology Committee
 District Technology Budget
 Coordinated Technology Efforts
 Network/Internet to every Classroom
 Upgraded 2 Computer Labs
 Added 8 new File Servers
 About 100 new Classroom Computers

Technology Training
 30 offerings last summer
 Offerings continued during the year
 Staff did over 3500 hours in last year and
They Want More
!

Administrative Technology
 New Business Office Software is in
 Y2K compliant
 Reviewing K-12 Student System
 All Offices wires for Network

Technology Funding
 Regular Technology Budget for Support
 In the past 12 Months
– $20,000 in Teacher Next Day Grants
– $187,000 in State Technology Grant
– Applied for and working on USF funding for technology networking & communications

Phase I Projects
 Roof Repairs
 Boilers/Heating
 Emergency Lighting
 Classroom Maintenance
 Technology Update
 Painting
 Site/Grounds Work
 Other Projects

Phase II Projects
 High School Media Center – to be completed in the Spring of 1999
 District Technology – completed
 Career Center – completed
 High School/Middle School Site Study completed

Debt Millage Rate History
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
9
8
7
8.2
1969
3.36
1979
2.5
1989
0
1999

New Phase Projects
 Phase III Project Middle School
 Phase IV Project Elementary Schools

Community Relations
 The public stated at both the April and
June Community Forums that the district should increase its communications to the public.

Key Communicators Network

A Key Communicator’s Network was established and is in use.

Increase Public Access of School
Facilities
 Building use policy was published and reminders featured in Spotlight on
Education.
 Schedule for swimming pool use is highly publicized.
 High School is available for walking.
 A public access gate to school track was installed.

Establish Comprehensive Media
Program to Publicize Students’
Accomplishments.
 Fax Machines Available to coaches to report game outcomes.
 Teachers are encouraged to report accomplishments to a very cooperative media.

Increase District Newsletter to
Six Issues Annually
 Spotlight on
Education mailed to every home in district six times annually.

Develop a School Events
Calendar
 A 1998-1999 School
Calendar was developed and distributed to students and to the community.
 A 1999-2000 School
Calendar is being developed.

Continue Bi-weekly Media
Features
 A schedule of bi-weekly interviews on
Perspective is established.

This is the first report to the public on the
Sault Ste. Marie Area Public School’s
Strategic Plan.
Please send your comments to:
Dr. Tony McLain, Superintendent of Schools
906-635-6609 or tmclain@eup.k12.mi.us