In 2019, the Bethlehem Central School District updated its mission statement and embarked on a five-year Strategic Plan. The plan identified the district’s four core values—Academics, Character, Community, and Wellness—and established shared goals within each. 

A committee of stakeholders reviewed the Strategic Plan in 2024-2025. The plan has been extended with the same set of goals and reinvigorated with a new online data dashboard to help district residents track progress toward meeting those goals. 

• Mission Statement and Core Values
• Strategic Plan
• BCSD Data Dashboard
• Review Committee

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District Mission

To educate and prepare all students to reach their potential, discover their purpose and be engaged community members.

Core Values

• Academics: Delivering instructional and assessment practices that are aligned to a strong and relevant curriculum.
• Character: Fostering positive character traits that are essential to becoming contributing members of society.
• Community: Strengthening family, school, and community partnerships through transparent communication.
• Wellness: Enhancing social-emotional wellness and balance for students and staff by supporting active, healthy lifestyles and promoting positive behavior.

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Strategic Plan

Academics 

Objectives

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment…

• Supports the development of problem-solving skills, both with academic content and life skills
• Prepares students to become actively engaged in their communities
• Encourages and supports culturally responsive teaching
• Ensures all students graduate with the skills, knowledge and attitudes to pursue productive and satisfying lives

Major Strategies

1. Conduct a Five-Year Program Review Cycle
2. Close all achievement gaps
3. Fully implement a comprehensive K-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) program
4. Integrate innovative, rigorous and engaging instructional technology 
5. Provide professional learning experiences for teachers in areas of emerging needs and practices

Character

Objectives

Character Education…

• Teaches and models positive behaviors and attitudes in all aspects of our learning environment
• Ensures equity and cultural responsiveness for all students
• Encourages all students to develop passions outside of the classroom
• Develops in each student an understanding of their unique character strengths

Major Strategies

1. Provide staff and students with educational opportunities to increase awareness and offer strategies to promote equity and inclusion for all students
2. Incorporate programs to promote and inform students about school activities and programs
3. Support age-appropriate character education programs at the elementary, middle and high school levels
4. Develop, promote and expand extracurricular opportunities for students

Community

Objectives

Strong family, school, and community partnerships…

1. Are welcomed and encouraged
2. Promote an atmosphere where partners develop common goals
3. Prepare students with the skills to participate in their community
4. Support the success of students and staff
5. Advocate for equal access and opportunities for all students and families
6. Foster appreciation of the value of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures

Major Strategies

1. Collaborate with community partners to support and expand opportunities for students
2. Engage stakeholders in dialogue about priorities in the district
3. Develop systems that promote and improve outreach and advocacy for all families
4. Improve/create opportunities for family mentoring programs to guide families through school processes or assist with hardships
5. Provide workshop offerings and resources to support families and community members on a variety of topics

Wellness

Objectives

Wellness…

• Promotes connected relationships in the school community
• Fosters self-care, a healthy lifestyle and mindfulness among students and staff
• Maintains an environment that is physically and emotionally safe

Major Strategies

1. 1. Employ the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model to support a unified approach to improving the health and learning of all staff and students
   2. Provide programs to strengthen the emotional and physical wellness of students and staff
   3. Implement the K-12 social-emotional learning curriculum
   4. Offer professional development to enhance the understanding of health, wellness, social-emotional learning, and safety
   5. Improve student and staff attendance through the implementation of a multi-tiered model

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Data Dashboard

District leaders and the district’s instructional team use the Strategic Plan to develop annual district goals before the start of each school year. These goals are reviewed throughout the year to track the district’s progress. A new online Data Dashboard includes 28 distinct indicators within the areas of Academics, Character, Community and Wellness. Each indicator reflects performance within the prescribed annual goals and/or long-term strategic planning. 

View the BCSD Strategic Plan Data Dashboard.

Key performance indicators included on the dashboard are

Academics

1. 1. • K-2 Proficiency – ELA and Mathematics
      • 3-5 Proficiency – ELA and Mathematics
      • 6-8 Proficiency – ELA and Mathematics
      • 9-12 Proficiency/Mastery – Regents Examinations
      • Graduation Rate
      • 9th Graders on Track for Graduation
      • Advanced Coursework – Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, Industry Recognized Credentials
      • Achievement Gaps

Character

1. 1. • Student Disciplinary Incidents
      • Student Suspension Rates
      • Community Service Hours
      • Character Recognition
      • Restorative Practices

Community

1. 1. • Website Visits
      • ParentSquare App Use
      • Social Media Followers
      • Facilities Use
      • Voter Turnout
      • Budget Approval 
      • Tax Levy
      • Budget – Cost per pupil

Wellness

1. 1. • Social Emotional Wellness
      • Student Social Behavior
      • Student Academic Behavior
      • Student Emotional Behavior
      • Chronic Absenteeism
      • Co-Curricular Participation Rate
      • Interscholastic Athletics

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Strategic Planning Review Committee

1. • Sara Bailey
   • Matt Bixby
   • Carolyn Daley
   • Holly Dellenbaugh
   • Darnell Douglas
   • JoEllen Gardner
   • Kevin Grossman
   • David Hurst
   • Kate Kloss
   • Ian Knox
   • Ewan McNay
   • John McPhillips
   • Michael Mitchell
   • Jody Monroe
   • Katherine Nadeau
   • Gina Norfleet
   • Linda Seymour
   • Erin Sheevers
   • James Smith
   • Farrin Wagoner