School Board to Receive Plan by July ’23 for Adoption

December 21, 2022

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–As is the standard practice among high-performing school systems, the Robbinsville Public School District is developing a five-year strategic plan with direct guidance from the community.

Nearly 60 volunteers have already signed up to participate in the detailed process, facilitated by the New Jersey Schools Boards Association (NJSBA).

“We are conducting a robust, collaborative, stakeholder-engaged strategic planning process,” explained Robbinsville Schools Superintendent Brian Betze. “A critical aspect of the strategic planning process is the involvement of a cross-section of district stakeholders. They will share their unique perspective about where they want the school district headed over the next five years.”

This “Strategic Plan Working Group” will develop long-term goals and objectives for the school district, focusing on the many strengths of the Robbinsville schools, the challenges they face and the ideas and hopes the community has for its students. A key goal: enhancing college and career readiness for all Robbinsville students. 

The working group comprises the superintendent, as well as district teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, community members and students. The group will meet in-person four times: Tuesday, January 31 from 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 15 from 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 15 from 6-7:30 p.m. and Monday, April 3 from 6-7 p.m. The meetings will take place at various schools in the district.

Those interested in volunteering for this important work are urged to complete a form by 5 p.m. by Wednesday, January 25. The Office of the Superintendent will contact everyone selected for the committee.

Betze, who has undertaken similar strategic plans in other school districts, expects the plan will have plenty of specifics in the first year. But then, over the course of the following years, the plan is intentionally designed to be much more flexible, with the ability to easily adjust to new opportunities and challenges.  If the plan is too rigid for too long, Betze noted, then it could no longer be applicable and could lose its usefulness.

The superintendent noted the Robbinsville schools underwent a similar process before the pandemic. But because of remote learning and other challenges that COVID caused, the school district was eager to start fresh with a new five-year plan. The plan is expected to be before the school board by its July meeting for review and adoption.

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