Strategic Plan 1998-2000
Prepared by the Strategic Planning Task Force
May 1998
Strategic Directions and Goals
STRATEGIC DIRECTION 2: DIVERSITY
The Santa Barbara School Districts value and appreciate the commonality of our human experience. Yet we see it as imperative that students and staff members understand the challenges and richness of a diverse society. Broadening our horizons through contact with diverse others is one of the benefits of a public education. Knowledge of other cultures and varying family structures and lifestyles encourages students to find meaning in their own experience while gaining an appreciation of their common humanity. District programs dispel myths and stereotypes and encourage students, staff, and parents to learn cross-cultural communication skills. We collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, and learn peaceful ways to resolve conflicts in order to achieve common goals. Our diversity brings us together.
STRATEGIC GOALS:
- Provide opportunities to learn about ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity and gender equality throughout the
academic curriculum.
- Provide ethnic and gender studies coursework at each high school as part of the academic program.
- Develop an inclusionary curriculum that reflects multicultural and ethnic diversity, and gender equality.
- Expand diversity training and related programs for staff development.
- Continue to provide diversity training programs on an annual basis.
- Include sensitivity to lifestyle issues and changing family structures as part of staff development curriculum.
- Review and revise existing training materials.
- Increase the ways in which students of different ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds learn and collaborate
together.
- Utilize and expand upon existing structures and programs in order for students of different backgrounds to interact in athletic and academic teams, drama, and music to further cultivate positive relationships.
- Encourage and prepare all students for increased participation in school life and programs that lead to self-development.
- Require training for all students, staff and administrators in conflict resolution skills.
- Use the unique characteristics of the school and its surrounding community as part of the student’s academic
and personal learning experience.
- Promote field trips and community service projects that incorporate the unique diversity of the school and the community in order to explore the diverse cultural life of their community.
- Include community members from different ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds in educational programs at the school sites.
- Schools and PTSA’s will continue to work collaboratively to involve all parents in planning and attending school programs so that they feel a part of the educational programs and the school as a community.
- Build collaborative relationships with other agencies and groups in the larger community.
- Implement recommendations of Beyond Tolerance Report in this area.
- Increase sharing of resources and information.
- Collaborate with agencies and community organizations to strengthen and support families.