Special committee works on division’s strategic plan

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

A special committee has been making good headway in early 2023 working to develop a new strategic plan for Powhatan County Public Schools to take it through 2030.

Meeting for the third time on Wednesday, March 15, the committee continued its work to set the school division’s priorities, focus its energy and resources, and ensure that all stakeholders are working toward common goals. The committee, which met for the first time in February, will continue to meet this summer. In between each committee meeting, staff is taking the group’s work and synthesizing that into what will end up being the division’s goals and strategies for 2023 through 2030, said superintendent Beth Teigen. She is facilitating the sessions along with consultant Amos Fodchuk, president of Advanced Learning Partnerships.

“It is just an exciting process to think of where we are, where we want to go and what we expect of our students as far as preparation when they leave Powhatan County Public Schools and being ready and equipped with the skills and attributes they need to be successful,” Teigen said. The goal of the strategic planning process is to “secure the voices of the community,” and the steering committee is one part of that, Fodchuk said. The committee has about 30 mem- bers and includes a cross-section of school and division administrators, two school board members and community members. Because of the schedule during the weekday, Teigen also went to the individual schools to talk to staff there before and after school to gather their feedback, he said.

“Down the road there are going to be public opportunities for anyone to share their feedback on