The San Mateo-Foster City School District has narrowed 370 community ideas to 11 draft initiatives for its next five-year strategic plan. Three rounds of workshops brought together parents, students, teachers and staff to shape the proposals.

The district’s STAR Teams, three groups totaling 65 members, completed their third round of workshops Oct. 20-22, according to a district update posted Oct. 26. Each team examined all 11 proposals, expanding its review beyond its assigned focus area.

Three proposals address needs across the plan: One System for Professional Learning, Data-Driven Decision Making, and Tiered Supports for Students and Families.

The plan’s three focus areas are Academic Excellence by Design, Real World Learning, and Community Wellbeing. They grew from the Community Vision that trustees approved May 28, according to the district’s strategic-plan page.

In their first workshop, teams brainstormed the initial ideas and drafted five-year goals. CREW, the district team supporting the process, organized those ideas into 24 initiatives and explored their costs and staffing needs.

During the second round, held the week of Sept. 21, members assessed the proposals using factors including supporting evidence, equity, consistency with the vision and the number of students and teachers they would reach. Members then voted on priorities, according to the district’s September update. CREW used that feedback to reduce the list to 11.

At the third workshop, participants worked in small groups to discuss the revised proposals. They used red yarn to connect each initiative with the five-year goals it would support. Materials were available in English and Spanish.

Amanda Goll, principal at Bowditch Middle School and a member of the Real World Learning STAR Team, said the process has pushed participants to think long-term.

“It’s really given us an opportunity to pause, take a step back, and think about what skills our students need as they move into high school and beyond,” she said, according to the October update.

Lisa Joseph, the district’s chief of strategic plan initiatives, described the repeated drafting and revision process at the Sept. 24 board meeting, according to the September update.

That update lists 65 STAR Team members, including 25 certificated staff, 15 students, nine administrators, eight family members and seven classified staff, alongside community partners.

The 11 proposals are not final. CREW will consider the latest feedback, reduce the list further and develop the remaining proposals before a fourth workshop. Teams will then seek feedback from stakeholder groups and revise the draft.

STAR Advisory meetings are open to district employees. The upcoming schedule is:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2:15-3 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29, 3:15-4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 4, 3:45-5:15 p.m.

The district has also offered virtual participation options for employees unable to attend in person.

From December through March, the district plans to develop procedures for tracking progress and evaluating the plan annually. Monthly board updates will continue.