The Minnetonka School Board and District Administration believe a commitment to world-class, child-centered excellence strengthens Minnetonka Public Schools. The well-being and belonging of our students are both continuing priorities for families and for the District.

Student well-being is defined here as the positive sense of self and belonging that is felt when one’s cognitive, emotional, social and physical needs are being met.

Belonging is defined here as a strong feeling of positive connection, acceptance and importance as a member of the Minnetonka Schools community, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability, and/or socioeconomic status.

Integrating student well-being, connection and belonging efforts will ensure all students have the support needed to achieve at their highest potential.

The District will continue to foster and promote positive student well-being, connection and belonging efforts and will identify and remove barriers that have a detrimental effect on students’ well-being, connection and sense of belonging. The District will strive for the fair treatment, opportunity and advancement of all students to pursue their highest levels of academic and personal achievement. The Board’s vision for child-centered excellence will be the foundation for these efforts.  

For the 2022-23 school year, this goal will include the following action steps:

1. Deepen implementation of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework in the area of social and emotional learning with the target of consistency across all District schools in the MTSS referral process and student support. This will include expanding efforts to address needs identified in the 2020 Student and Family Well-being Report and recommendations from the Mental Health Advisory Council.  
   1. The District will present reports at least twice to the School Board on measures of success and progress of MTSS.
      1. Reports will be based on year one of the MTSS three-year plan focused on social and emotional learning, including progress in addressing needs identified in the 2020 Student and Family Well-being Report.
      2. Reports will include a summary of the efforts on the Mental Health Advisory Council at mid-year and year-end.
   2. The District will survey stakeholders at least annually on their experience and share results with the School Board. 
2. Deepen implementation of belonging efforts to ensure a welcoming, inclusive and safe school environment for all. This will include improving systems and processes to identify, analyze, monitor and respond to student trends and data with attention to identifying and addressing barriers affecting different student demographic groups. Reduce bullying through revisiting and raising awareness of existing bullying prevention efforts and opportunities across all learning levels as measured by student discipline data, student reports and survey data. Empower and encourage staff to support belonging efforts, including through staff development.
   1. Principals and their staff will present reports to the School Board throughout the academic year that include their school’s well-being, connection and belonging efforts and outcomes, including professional development opportunities for staff.
3. Increase communication and engagement work that reflects the District’s commitment to excellence in well-being, connection and belonging.
   1. The District will present a report at mid-year and year end summarizing communications, outreach and engagement work in this area. 

Excellence in student learning and support is a foundational principle guiding the Minnetonka School Board and District Administration in their work. The School Board and District Administration believe that each student is capable of achieving at their highest potential and is committed to work with families to achieve this. The continuation of the District’s excellence will be driven through deep implementation of educational frameworks and strategic programs to support student learning.  At the same time, the District will continue to respond to the challenges presented during the pandemic that have had a lasting impact on our students and the District.

For the 2022-23 school year, this goal will include the following action steps: 

1. Advance the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework, processes and practices to ensure delivery of high-quality academics on an ongoing basis.
   1. The District will present reports to the School Board on measures of success and progress of the MTSS framework, focused on high quality universal instruction, including interventions and enrichment in all three tiers of the MTSS framework based on year one of the MTSS three-year plan at mid-year and year-end. 
2. Increase opportunities for improved academic outcomes for all students while focusing additional efforts to improve student literacy at all levels and in all content areas as measured by student performance standardized and benchmark assessments. This includes assessing and addressing uneven and unfinished learning due to the past two years of COVID-19. This will also include identifying and addressing any gaps in achievement that exist between measured student groups, with attention to predictable outcomes.
   1. The District will provide a report to the School Board on Literacy efforts.
   2. The District will report results from District standardized assessments including from MCA and NWEA, as they relate to efforts to address uneven and unfinished learning. 
3. Broaden the reach of the Minnetonka experience through the Tonka Online K-12 e-learning program. This will include continuing to assess the program’s successes and challenges and to make recommendations and plans for adjustments for the 2023-24 academic year.
   1. The District will present mid-year and year-end reports to the School Board on enrollment and marketing efforts, trends and opportunities for the Tonka Online K-12 e-learning program.   
4. Utilize space strategically to accommodate all of the District’s growing innovative programming, including, in particular, VANTAGE Advanced Professional Studies and MOMENTUM Design and Skilled Trades, as well as meeting the space needs for all other District programs and efforts. This includes long-term facility planning for the programming needs of the District in all academic and co-curricular programs. 
   1. The District will provide an update on the VANTAGE and MOMENTUM facilities and programs for the School Board.
   2. The District will provide an update on the next iteration of the District’s Innovation efforts and processes.
   3. The District will present multiple updates to the School Board regarding facilities throughout the year.

The Minnetonka School District has built a reputation as a national leader in providing exceptional, innovative student programming and unique and diversified pathways for students to experience world-class opportunities and to achieve unrivaled outcomes.  The District will strive for excellence in all levels of leadership and organizational support using the following assumptions:

• The District will share opportunities, challenges and barriers to implementation and suggest recommendations to address them. 
• Staff are critical partners in reaching District goals and will be encouraged to share input and ideas.  
• Families are critical partners in their students’ educational success and in reaching District goals and will be encouraged to share input and ideas with District leadership.   
• Student voice is valued and will be solicited to support District goals, as often as is practical.  

For the 2022-23 school year, this goal will include the following action steps: 

1. Build stronger community trust by informing and engaging District constituents, including students, families, staff and the broad community through outreach and engagement opportunities and efforts. To fulfill this expectation and in response to community input the District commits to the following actions:
   1. The District will create new in-person engagement opportunities for community members to connect with District leadership and the Board and will resume Board engagement activities that existed prior to COVID-19. 
   2. The District will survey residents, families, students and staff regarding their experiences and sentiments about the District, including their access to information about the District and will develop strategies to address any challenges revealed by the data. Further, the School Board will evaluate District policies and procedures related to community engagement.
   3. The District will increase communication and engagement with local and statewide elected officials.
   4. The District will present a mid-year and year-end communications report to the School Board, summarizing the efforts and communications completed and providing recommendations.    
2. 2) Take steps to maximize long-term financial stability and sustainability for the District.
   1. The District will provide periodic updates to the Board on the District’s finances, including recommendations to improve financial stability. 
   2. The District will gather information about the voter-approved funding that supports student learning and present options to the School Board for future decision-making.
3. Enhance the District’s focus on recruitment and retention of exceptional teachers and staff, to include efforts to create a representative workforce that will enrich the learning environment for all students.  
   1. The District will provide semi-annual School Board updates on open positions and an annual presentation on recruitment and retention efforts, including information on the use of new platforms for recruitment and summaries of exit interviews.