RITA COOK / News Editor

RED OAK – Red Oak’s Independent School District is ready to take flight. Taking flight all the way into 2023, the school recently approved what is monikered Flight Plan 2023.

Flight Plan 2023 is a comprehensive strategic plan reflecting feedback and district priorities.

The information was gathered from various input district leaders hope will ensure a move forward as a strong district preparing to face future challenges and opportunities.

“It unites all district students, staff and stakeholders together to make ROISD one of the best in the state and nation when it comes to serving our communities, impacting student’s lives, equipping employees and using growth to enhance educational experiences for all,” said Beth Trimble, CPC, Red Oak ISD executive director of communications.

Flight Plan 2023 has five areas of focus, 13 goals and 32 strategies and was approved by the Red Oak Independent School Board in the fall of last year.

It was a total of 26 committee members including current board members, teachers, parents, community members, campus and central administrators, as well as current and former students, who served on the committee to create the plan.

“Most districts have a developed plan to reach established goals,” Trimble explained.

“Dr. Goddard began the process at the end of his first year to establish a comprehensive strategic plan that will help move the district forward in five major areas of focus: Academics, Staff, Finance, Growth/Facilities, Communications.”

Trimble said plans are often three to five years for full completion, Red Oak ISD elected to go with five years, knowing the plan would be a living document and measures could be altered to push the expectations higher.

“In order to calculate success, there is an administrative Flight Plan 2023 Scorecard that will constantly be updated as well as two Board updates each year in January and July,

“On the academic side, it is hoped the outcome of preparing students with both academic and social-emotional skills will speak to the desire to develop the whole child.”

The district believes its vision of “Realizing Our Individual Students Dreams” (ROISD) can only be accomplished by preparing each student in head and heart.

“We want students to succeed academically, but also to seek challenges and get back up when they fail and try again,” Trimble explained. “We expect all students to demonstrate character by respecting, encouraging and appreciating each other as well as serving their community. All other areas of focus support the first – a premier workforce, fiscal responsibility, quality learning environments, and build relationships through communication.”

Trimble said most key changes will come as the district implements steps towards the goals of the plan. A new website and app were also launched last summer that streamlined communication and parents quickly adapted to the process.

“How we hire staff and train them to better prepare our students will mostly be behind the scenes, but students and parents should see the outcomes of a highly-qualified staff,” Trimble said. “Financial decisions to support our goals will also be internal changes, but again the outcomes of fiscal responsibility should positively impact student learning with expanded opportunities, enhanced facilities, a higher compensated workforce.

Overall, students should feel educated and valued as they leave school each day. Parents should feel confident each child is being taught and encouraged to grow academically and socially to be their best.”

The final goal is with Flight Plan 2023 the district will be catapulted toward becoming a top district in the state and nation. Specifically, expecting students to be globally competitive problem solvers as well as servant leaders of strong moral character who can transfer learning skills to new contexts and situations.

“Flight Plan 2023 will ensure Red Oak ISD continues to move forward as a strong school district and is prepared to face the challenges and opportunities ahead,” added Red Oak ISD Superintendent, Michael Goddard.