CARMEL CLAY
SCHOOLS

In This Section

Strategic Plan

Guiding Principles

Students are at the center of every decision.
A safe, non-threatening learning environment is essential.
Students’ academic, social, emotional, and physical needs must be addressed.
Students and employees excel when held to high personal standards and expectations.
High-quality employees are vital to the success of our organization.

Effective teaching and learning requires continuous improvement.
Diverse opportunities benefit all students.
Open and transparent communication maintains stakeholder trust.
Parent and community involvement enhances student learning.
Fiscal responsibility is fundamental to achieving our vision.

Student Learning

Lightbulb

Ensure identity-safe environments that support students' success

Status	Action Items
	Conduct an equity audit in order to develop prioritized goals focused on student needs.
	Continue to build knowledge of how to create environments grounded in equity and inclusion through ongoing professional development.
	Work to review and revise policies to focus on equity and inclusion.
	Conduct community outreach programs focused on equity and inclusion.

Ensure all students have rigorous and differentiated learning opportunities to meet their individual needs and have the necessary skills and abilities to be college and/or career ready

Status	Action Item
	Incorporate a later start time for secondary students.
	Increase the elementary day to 15 minutes and develop schedules that incorporate time for social emotional learning, additional recess, inquiry, and STEM activities.
	Delay the start of the K-12 school day for 40 minutes twice a month so that teachers have time to engage in professional learning.
	Strengthen the implementation of our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) so that the district is meeting the academic, social-emotional and behavioral needs of all students.
	Conduct an evaluation of the district's literacy program.
	Select and adopt materials for K-12 literacy instruction.
	Develop curriculum maps that incorporate the recommendations from the program evaluation and the new materials for literacy instruction.
	Refine the implementation of the workshop model for literacy and math instruction.
	Refocus the implementation of the math curriculum.
	Conduct an evaluation of the district's multilingual program.
	Conduct an evaluation of the district's intense behavior program.
	Develop a K-12 college and career pathway.

Leverage technology to engage, enhance, and extend student learning

Status	Action Items
	Continue to provide professional development on meaningful technology integration to support student learning.
	Refine the use of Canvas with a focus on student learning and communication.
	Expand education for staff, students, and families on online safety, security, and privacy.
	Increase student access to devices.
	Continue to improve the infrastructure that supports technology integration.

Student Support

student support

Ensure all students experience a safe and supportive environment that is responsive to the needs of each student

Status	Action Items
	School/District Safety Plan Review - The district will complete a review of emergency preparedness plans for every building and for corporation response. This plan should reflect the preparedness cycle (plan, organize, train, exercise, evaluate/improve), and should be ongoing.
	Continuous Staff Training - CCS has a trained School Safety Specialist in each building whose role is to train staff in their buildings in relation to the school safety plan. Every new hire at CCS will complete a two hour training course in emergency preparedness conducted by the Director of Student Services and a School Resource Officer. Training will be ongoing throughout the school year, and reflected in drills conducted by each school.
	Full-Time SRO in Every School - Carmel Clay Schools aims to have a full-time, highly trained School Resource Officer in every school in the district. Currently, the district has seven full-time SROs. Four additional SRO’s have been hired and are being trained during the spring semester 2020 for a full-time start date of August 3, 2020. Interviewing for an additional four SRO’s will take place in December 2020 (dependent on success of the current CPD hiring class). This hiring process will continue until there is a full time SRO in every school.
	Visitor Access Control - The district is currently piloting a kiosk check-in system that includes a limited security check. Upon satisfactory piloting of the system, this system will be implemented in each building, with training provided for all staff and awareness training provided to the community. The system would then be evaluated for improvement.
	Secured Vestibule Projects - Carmel Clay Schools will evaluate and improve security at visitor access doors across all schools. Door hardware has been installed in nearly all buildings. Front office staff are currently being trained in proper use of the systems.
	CHS Explosion Recovery Project - On December 26, 2018, a natural gas explosion occurred at Carmel High School, injuring a school maintenance worker and contractor. Students participating in various sports practices in the high school at the time of explosion were not injured and able to safely evacuate. Damage from the explosion was extensive, causing temporary closures to multiple gymnasiums and locker rooms. In response to the explosion, additional supports were offered to students and community members who may have been affected. The rebuilding was completed in late fall of 2019. Parents, students, staff and community members impacted by the event were invited to tour the new facility and discuss the impact of the explosion to gain personal closure.
	Student Training - Each CCS building will continually train staff on the fundamentals of school safety, including CCS anonymous reporting systems, ALICE active threat response, severe weather response, and fire response. CCS conducts more drills than required by state law, and drills provide additional opportunities to train staff and students. Student training should reflect the preparedness cycle (plan, organize, train, exercise, evaluate/improve), and should be ongoing.
	Parent Training - CCS will continue to host a Parent Safety Academy each semester that will teach parents the school safety principles and fundamentals that guide response protocols in CCS schools. During this interactive program, parent participants learn about national and state safety practices, current trends in school safety and how these practices and trends impact safety planning at Carmel Clay Schools. Additionally, CCS will continue to add content to the Parent Resource Center where parents can learn about issues impacting today's youth while also offering resources to them with the knowledge, tools and support to help their child achieve both academic and personal success.

Ensure all students' social and emotional needs are met and supported

Status	Action Item
	Suicide Prevention & Response Protocols - Carmel Clay Schools' Mental Health Coordinator has revised and formalized a Suicide Screening Procedure and has trained all district counselors and social workers on suicide prevention and response protocols. In 2019, the district held their 2nd annual Mental Health Fair to build community awareness and provide resources related to suicide prevention and mental health promotion. The district also has included informational videos, suicide prevention hotlines and additional resources for families on the CCS website within the Parent Resource Center.
	QPR Training - Question Persuade Respond (QPR) for Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program is a unique training opportunity designed to assist participants with recognizing a crisis and warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. Beginning in 2018, Carmel Clay Schools administered QPR training to all CCS certified employees. QPR training was held in September 2019, October 2019, November 2019, January 2020 to support any new staff who had not received training. The Mental Health Coordinator continues to hold two sessions each semester to ensure that all staff maintain QPR certification. In 2019, the district began offering QPR training once a quarter to CCS parents.
	Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Alignment - In November 2019, the district formed "The Whole Child Team," consisting of leadership from each district building including the district office. The goal of the team is to identify a common definition, beliefs, and language around SEL and align SEL initiatives for the district. In December 2019 and January 2020, the CCS Mental Health Coordinator provided training for the Extended School Enrichment program through Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation and created a Conscious Discipline training to assist in onboarding new teachers and staff and to ensure consistency in SEL philosophy and techniques.

Increase student access to mental health supports

Status	Action Items
	Contracted Mental Health Services - Carmel Clay Schools is moving forward with a Request For Proposals (RFP) from qualified organizations to provide student behavioral & mental health services. The School Safety Referendum, which was passed in November 2019, has allowed the district to seek proposals to expand its mental health services to students. The partnership with an outside mental health provider(s) aims to eliminate barriers to mental health services, support the district’s families and wrap resources around students in need of assistance.
	Mental Health Data Collection Refinement - To help refine our mental health service training and prioritize resources, a data collection method was instituted to track suicide screenings and referrals. In October 2019, the CCS Mental Health Coordinator trained district Counselors and Social Workers on documentation and data collection. The CCS Student Services team was also provided with data from local providers on the number of students referred to services, number of students enrolled in services, and the hours of services provided to students since August 2019. Data collection will occur again following the completion of the 2019-2020 school year.
	County-Wide Mental Health Response Team - The Director of Student Services and Mental Health Coordinator, in coordination with leadership from local Hamilton County schools, has formalized a county-wide safety and emotional support crisis response team to better support students and staff. To date, nine Carmel Clay School staff have received PREaRE Training (Prevent, Reaffirm, Evaluate, Provide, Respond, and Examine). Since 2019, these trained staff members have supported neighboring school districts’ staff and students in times of crisis.

Employee Growth & Satisfaction

Employee Growth

Recruit, Hire, Develop, and Retain a Diverse and Premier Workforce

Status	Action Items
	CTA Collaboration & Bargaining - Human Resources will work in collaboration with the Carmel Teachers Association on many topics that impact teachers across the district.
	Ongoing Market Survey - Human Resources will continue to monitor current market conditions and needs of the workplace. The department will continue to design and develop recruiting efforts in order to address these needs.
	Expanded Use of Applicant Tracking System - Human Resources will continue to examine ways to become more efficient through the use of technology, which includes expanding the use of the Applicant Tracking System.
	Promotional Marketing CCS - Human Resources will work in collaboration with the district's Community Relations Liaison to create proactive marketing materials to attract and recruit high quality candidates.
	Targeted Job Fair Recruitment - Human Resources will become more actively involved in attending job fairs focused on classified employee groups. Moreover, HR will assess current practices of campus recruitment job fairs and will also look to partner with universities in the state of Indiana to identify high quality teachers and administrators.
	Expanded Onboarding Process - Human Resources will create and implement an onboarding process that allows employees to complete required trainings and arrive in buildings fully prepared to execute their essential job functions. Furthermore, HR will examine the current practices in the onboarding of certified staff.

Continuous Refinement of Employment Policy, Processes, and Procedures

Status	Action Items
	Performance Evaluation Training for Supervisors - Human Resources will provide professional development to administrators and supervisors in the area of managing employee performance.
	Specialized Professional Development - Human Resources will collaborate with administrative assistants on differentiated and specialized professional development in order to enhance their skills in the school and district setting.
	Refinement of Compliance Training Purposes - Human Resources will implement differentiated trainings to all employee groups while fulfilling state and local requirements. HR will focus on the attendance of different employee groups and examine data in order to inform future practices.
	Equity & Inclusion Identify Safe Workplace - Human Resources will begin to share best practices regarding equity and inclusion in the workplace in order to provide a safe and inviting environment for all employees.
	Talent Development Evaluation System - Human Resources will create and modify classified employee evaluation tools for all employee groups. The department will work in collaboration with the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment department as well as the Carmel Teachers Association on updating the teacher evaluation system.

Personalized Human Resources Support for Building Administration and Staff

Status	Action Items
	Wellness Center & Benefits Promotion - Carmel Clay Schools will communicate the vision of holistic wellness for all employees while sharing the advantages of all benefits offered within the school district in the areas of physical, mental and financial wellness.
	Enhanced Customer Service - Carmel Clay Schools will Institute a servant leadership model within the HR division to become more accessible to all employees during the school day and beyond.

Enhanced Operations

Operations

Increased Efficiency and Refinement of Daily Operations

Status	Action Items
	CTA Collaboration & Bargaining - The Carmel Teachers Association (CTA) represents Carmel teachers in collective bargaining. Representatives from the Carmel Clay Schools Administration and the Carmel Teachers Association will work collaboratively to determine salary and benefits available to Carmel teachers.
	Implementation GAAP Accounting - Effective August 15, 2020, Carmel Clay Schools and other large school districts will be required to provide an annual financial report using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in order to issue bonds.
	School Safety Referendum Fund - In November 2019, the Carmel community approved a School Safety Referendum. This referendum has a maximum property tax rate of $.05 per $100 of assessed value over the next eight years to fund additional school resource officers, mental health services for students and school safety initiatives and training for staff.
	Long Range Planning - The district will develop a seven year Comprehensive Financial Plan and a Comprehensive Multi-Year Facilities Plan. (90% complete)

Continuous Improvement in Design, Construction, and Maintenance of CCS Facilities

Status	Action Items
	Design & Construction of Two Elementary Schools - Carmel Clay Schools will construct two new elementary schools and close Orchard Park Elementary. Both schools will be completed by July 1, 2021. (33% complete)
	Furnishings & Technology for New Elementary Projects - The two new elementary schools will be furnished with flexible seating options and the latest instructional technology.
	Driver Recruitment & Training - Carmel Clay Schools is experiencing a critical bus driver shortage. The district will form a bus driver recruitment task force to evaluate the situation and make recommendations.
	New Bus Routing Due to Redistricting - With the opening of two new elementary schools in 2021, the district will develop new bus routes to reflect redistricting.
	Routing Adjustments Due to School Day Changes - The district is considering changes to the school day. If changes to the school day are approved by the School Board, it will be necessary to evaluate and reconfigure some current bus routes.

Expansion of Environmentally Friendly Initiatives

Status	Action Items
	Expanded Propane Bus Fleet - Carmel Clay Schools currently has 24 buses that are powered by LP gas. The district will expand the use of LP powered buses over the next several years.
	Electric Bus Pilot - Carmel Clay Schools has been awarded a grant from the State of Indiana to pilot the use of an electric bus. This bus will be in service at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
	Food Service Silverware to Reduce Plastic - Carmel Clay Schools continues to eliminate plastic silverware and many other plastic items from our school cafeterias. The district will continue to use more paper single-serve items and reusable silverware and containers.
	Energy Management - Carmel Clay Schools will continue to implement energy-saving measures that will produce positive results for the environment and save money for taxpayers.
	Green Team School Pilots - Carmel Clay Schools will partner with the CCS Green Team on school-based environmentally friendly initiatives to improve district recycling practices. The CCS Green Team is a group of parents and staff that have a passion for encouraging habits in the school district that support and protect the Earth and promote an eco-friendly lifestyle.