From the Desk of Dr. Mark Rollefson Superintendent of the Yorkville Joint #2 School District

July 21, 2023 | Issue #27

Hello Yorkville Partners,

Last month I shared with you the goals accomplished for the 2022-2023 school year. We are proud of the work and hope you share with us the successes. We could not have done this without the support of a strong community. A link to last month’s newsletter is available here: June 19, 2023 - Issue #26.

We believe that a Strong School = Strong Community. As in mathematics, the equal sign (=) implies a relationship that can be written in both directions. That is, in reverse, Strong Community = Strong School is just as true. It is a symbiotic relationship in which each is mutually beneficial to the other.  

In last month’s communication I promised to share the goals and action steps (we call them milestones) for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. That is the purpose of this newsletter.

A school-community action team wrote a new 7-year strategic plan that effectively started July 1, 2023. Each year of the 7 years we write a new set of action steps (we call them milestones). As a refresher, or for those like me that really get into organizational systematic thinking and goals, here is a link to the newsletter publication from August 2022.

PILLAR ONE

For year #2 (2023-2024) of the Strategic Plan, we have three action steps (we call them milestones). The pillars and strategic objectives, as written below, remain consistent for all seven years of the Strategic Plan. Again, we are now entering year two of seven.

PILLAR TWO

For year #2 (2023-2024) of the Strategic Plan, we have seven action steps (we call them milestones).  The pillars and strategic objectives, as written below, remain consistent for all seven years of the Strategic Plan.  Again, we are now entering year two of seven.

PILLAR THREE

For year #2 (2023-2024) of the Strategic Plan, we have two action steps (we call them milestones).  The pillars and strategic objectives, as written below, remain consistent for all seven years of the Strategic Plan.  Again, we are now entering year two of seven.

PILLAR FOUR

For year #2 (2023-2024) of the Strategic Plan, we have six action steps (we call them milestones).  The pillars and strategic objectives, as written below, remain consistent for all seven years of the Strategic Plan.  Again, we are now entering year two of seven.

You may have noticed that some of the milestones are red or yellow. None of them are designated as green, which implies "accomplished or completed". As you may surmise it is early in the fiscal year, which began on July 1, 2023. Progress is acceptable, but we have not accomplished any of these milestones for upcoming school year’s goals yet.

The administrative team is made up of Principal Bill Ticha, Director of Business Services Jeff Genovese, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Katie Nicholls, and Superintendent Mark Rollefson. We meet every Wednesday all year. Every other Wednesday, we provide a status update on the progress of each milestone. If obstacles are indicated, we problem solve to remove the obstacles. In the end we hold each other accountable to be sure what we promised the public to accomplish by each prescribed deadline is indeed accomplished.

Quarterly, we provide the Board of Education with a progress report.

Although the names of Genovese, Nicholls, Ticha, and Rollefson are mentioned in the milestones listed above, it is only to indicate who is ultimately held accountable for carrying out the mission. The entire Yorkville School staff all play a role corresponding to their job as a teacher, office staff, classroom assistant, custodian, and others. It is indeed a team effort.

Last month, I shared the successes of accomplished milestones for last school year. This month, this newsletter provides the public with our milestones for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

I/we will be sure to provide you with an accountability report in the future regarding our progress.  

I am hopeful this newsletter was informative. Feedback is welcomed. My email address is mark.rollefson@yorkville.k12.wi.us and I always appreciate hearing from you.