Vancouver Public Schools

What do students need in order to learn and thrive right now and in the future? These needs are constantly evolving, and addressing them takes the whole community.

That’s why we are redefining our district’s vision, goals and objectives. As part of a process called strategic planning, we are gathering input from students, staff members, families and the community to shape our path forward. Because the final plan will guide our work for the next five years, we want it to reflect the shared hopes and goals of the people who learn, work and live here.

The future of our schools will affect the future of the entire Vancouver community. We invite you to join us.

Help us Define Our Vision 

We have spent a great deal of time over the past year working to gather feedback from our community to help shape our strategic plan. 

We understand planning like this can seem a bit removed from our day to day experience, but in reality the outcome of this feedback will inform every decision we make for the next half of a decade. 

It will inform:

  • what continues to be funded and where to cut if there are budget shortfalls

  • what curriculum to prioritize and center in our academic plans

  • how we select students for our choice programs

  • every decision – even the smallest in our day-to-day planning

We want this plan to really reflect the values of our community – all of our community – as our schools and communities cannot be separated from one another. 

At this point in our process, we have started to see four emerging themes that are shaping up to be the focal points of our plan. We want and need your input on these. 

Please weigh in on all of them, or just the one about which you are most passionate.

We know your time is valuable, but so is the future of our community and schools. 

Join us in this important work. Weigh in on these four emerging themes or just the one you are most passionate about.

March–July 2022

August–September 2022

September 2022–February 2023

October 2022–fall 2023

January–April 2023

March–July 2023

April–June 2023

April–October 2023

Fall 2023

Fall 2023–2028

Background

The most recent strategic plan was finalized in June 2014 and was meant to provide direction for our district through 2020. We purposefully delayed starting a new strategic plan at that time due to both the impacts of COVID-19 on the ability to hold gatherings for feedback, and then again as we allowed a year for our new superintendent to transition into his leadership role. But now is the time to revisit our plans, especially since a lot of things have changed in both business and our community in the last eight years.

The previous plan was titled Design II, Chapter 2. This second phase of a strategic plan for the district’s strategic plan was approved on June 10, 2014. The first phase was implemented in 2008.

While different, all strategic plans share a common purpose: reflect the community’s vision for Vancouver Public Schools and guide the district through the time period for which the plan is designed.

Past plans

Design II, Chapter 2: Strategic plan 2014–2020

Design II highlights

Design II: Strategic plan 2008–2013

Frequently asked questions

A strategic plan will define what’s most important for us to focus on over the next five years to help students learn and thrive. The final plan will reflect the shared hopes and goals of the people who learn, work and live in Vancouver Public Schools.

VPS is working with PointNorth Consulting to shape opportunities for students, staff members, families and the community to be involved in the development of the plan. These opportunities will likely include workshops, focus groups and surveys. Please watch for more information.

Students, staff members, families and the community will all have opportunities to be involved in the development of the plan. We want the final plan to reflect the shared hopes and goals of the people who learn, work and live in Vancouver Public Schools.

The VPS board of directors, superintendent, cabinet and steering committee will work with PointNorth to review the ideas that are submitted and identify which ideas are feasible and likely to produce the best outcomes for students.

VPS is working with PointNorth Consulting to shape opportunities for students, staff members, families and the community to be involved in the development of the plan. These opportunities will likely include workshops, focus groups and surveys. Please watch for more information about ways to provide your input.

Strategic planning roster

Sandra Zavala-Ortega, board president
Kyle Sproul, board vice president
Tracie Barrows, director
Kathy Decker, director
Wendy Smith, director

Student advisory
Staff advisory
Family advisory
Community advisory
Equity advisory
Steering committee

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