The Alamance-Burlington Board of Education held its annual Board Retreat today. During the retreat, the board reviewed the district's new strategic plan, discussed strategies for increasing parent/family engagement, and examined the student code of conduct.
One of the newest initiatives is the launch of a district-wide Family Led Organization (FLO) to strengthen family engagement and student advocacy. The initiative will target parent groups like the PTA/PTO and Boosters at each school to focus on advising the district and advocating for students. The Family Led Organization will empower parents to have direct input to the Superintendent on key issues impacting students. The current plan is for Central Services to host quarterly meetings to discuss how parents can be effective advocates on important topics like curriculum, school policies, and student needs. This new collaborative effort will ensure parents have a voice and can help shape important decisions to support better outcomes for all students in Alamance-Burlington Schools.
The Board reviewed several common student discipline issues from the District's Code of Conduct, including student noncompliance, attendance issues, vaping and tobacco use, threats without weapons, profane language, fighting, and substance abuse. Through a role play activity, Board members considered how they would address offenses like those most often leading to out-of-school suspensions. This exercise served as preparation for the Board's upcoming vote on August 8th to approve the latest version of the Code of Conduct. Going forward the Board aims to ensure the Code provides clear guidance on managing discipline issues at all grade levels and consistency across the District.
School Resource Officers will once again be on patrol at all Alamance-Burlington Schools. The Board of Education approved memorandums of understanding with the Alamance County Sheriff's Office, Burlington Police Department, Mebane Police Department, Graham Police Department, Haw River Police Department, and the Town of Elon Police Department. The officers will remain employees of their respective departments and be provided with the same benefits, equipment, supplies, and training. The various partnerships cost the District more than $2.8 million for the upcoming school year.
During the retreat, the Board also reviewed the District’s new 2023-2029 Strategic Plan, which will be voted on for final approval this fall. The comprehensive plan was developed through an extensive process over the past few months, incorporating input from Board members, administrators, teachers, families, students, and other community members. With a focus on the next six academic years, the Strategic Plan outlines key focus areas for the district: creating safe and supportive learning environments, improving staff recruitment and retention, promoting mastery teaching practices, maximizing learning pathways for students, fostering community partnerships, and preparing students to be productive citizens. The new plan reflects the shared priorities and goals for the future success of the Alamance-Burlington School System and the students it serves.
This year, Impact Alamance, part of Cone Health Network, has agreed to provide new grant opportunities to honor and support the District’s top educators. The organization plans to offer a special one-time grant of up to 20,000 to each of the Teacher of the Year Semifinalists and Finalists. The grant will allow the teachers to fund innovative projects and needed supplies in their classrooms. Additionally, Impact Alamance will continue its tradition funding a classroom makeover for this year’s ABSS Teacher of the Year, Ashley West.