The first draft of Cumberland County School’s strategic plan has been presented to the county’s school board.

According to Division Superintendent Dr. Amy Griffin, “the plan is focused on one guiding purpose: to prepare each and every student to be a 21st century learner, worker and citizen.”

Under the plan’s purpose there are five areas, Griffin said: engaging every student, balanced assessments, improving opportunity and achievement, partnerships and optimizing resources.

She said the school has met with a variety of parents, students, staff and community members in order to develop the plan. Approximately 100 people were surveyed, she said.

The final draft of the plan states, “We believe skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving are just as important as content knowledge. Students must know how to use and apply knowledge. We seek to inspire the natural curiosity of our students by cultivating engaging learning environments, hands-on learning experiences and real-world learning opportunities.”

Strategic priorities for the schools in the plan include preparing students for entry-level positions in the workforce, citizenship and post-secondary education.

Strategic priorities also focus on increasing the number of students receiving college credits before graduation and cultivating a fully funded capital and operational budget to accommodate the school’s needs.

“I am honored to be a parent member of the Cumberland County Public Schools’ Strategic/Comprehensive Plan Committee,” said county resident Jennifer Turner. “In a county where such a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, providing technology and opportunities that ‘bridge the gap’ for students is not just a good idea [but] it is a necessity for student achievement.”

She said technology allows “students to compete with other rural, suburban and city schools whose resources and opportunities may be more readily available.”

The plan will incorporate an enhanced STEM curriculum, tablets for students with a predetermined data plan and expansion of career and technical work services, according to Turner.

“The plan is on paper, but it’s also in the hearts of those who work so hard to implement it in our school system every day,” she said.

Griffin said the division is currently working on the “Portrait of a Cumberland Graduate,” which will display the desired qualities and skills of Cumberland students by the time they reach graduation, as determined by the community.

The strategic plan is on the agenda for approval at the Dec. 14 school board meeting, and no public hearing is planned at this time, according to Griffin.

Cumberland’s Strategic Plan may be assessed by visiting Cumberland School Board’s BoardDocs page at www.cucps.k12.va.us. A hard copy may also be obtained at the Cumberland County School Board Office.