Ambitious plan aired to make DV top-tier school

By Anya Tikka
MILFORD — With evident relish, Delaware Valley Schools superintendent John Bell presented a five-year plan that he says will make DV a leading school in Pennsylvania, and in the nation.

This means placing DV among the top 25 school districts in Pennsylvania, out of 500; and among the top 1,000 high schools in America, out of more than 20,000, he said.

The idea is “to develop a road map to move the district from point A to point B in a variety of measures," said Bell.

But some school board members expressed concern over his plan's viability, and whether it was going to end up just another folder left sitting on the shelves.

Bell gave detail: engage students in a challenging academic environment, involve them in rewarding co-curricular activities, maintain and improve facilities, be a vital asset to the community.

DV should have as its goal a School Performance Profile of 90, said Bell. He said the graduation rate and percentage of students going on to higher education needs to be improved, which community members have recently brought up at school board meetings.

Bell wants more surveys asking about preferred co-curricular activities and more opportunities to offer them.

Bells reviewed plans for the new elementary schoo and other campus projects. The DVHS Career-Tech (CTE) wing will be expanded, and renovation projects will be continued as needed.

Some residents have suggested that the money would be better spent by adding programs more directly related to academic results.

Bell said the district wants to maintain its “strong reputation and financial standing (by) maintaining strong property values," while also operating at the lowest cost per-pupil in the area.

The district shares facilities and resources, and aids in the economic development of Pike County, Bell said. It also publishes its annual report, open to all.

A 'very concrete' planBell’s plan also includes forming a 49-member committee made up of faculty, staff, and board members to generate new ideas. The next steps are for the board and the “Committee of 49” to comment on school goals, and for the school staff to write action plans by Dec. 23.

“This is very concrete," he said. "We present to teachers very concrete plans. How are we going to get there? Teachers can take their action plans off the shelves and say, 'This is what we agreed to do.'”

To keep things on track, a review will be held three times a year, in August, October, and June.

Board member Jack O’Leary asked how parents can get more involved. Bell said the plan will also be available to them.

“Parent/teacher conferences are available whenever,” he said, and encouraged parents to make appointments.

A district resident said it was hard to tap into the communication flow and to make meetings.

Board member Pam Lutfy told here "there should not be a conflict, ever, about getting to meet teachers or administrators."

Bell agreed.
“We all know we’re the micro cosmos of society," said board member John Wroblewski. He said the question was how to engage kids who are home before brothers and sisters get off the bus, and both parents are working.

"Maybe some kind of online club? To be involved in something?" he suggested.

Bell was happy with the prospect ahead.

"Everybody’s on the same page now," he said.