The Hendry County School Board received a draft strategic plan for the 2025–2028 cycle during its April meeting. Dr. Staley and district directors led a review of goals, targets and the engagement process that produced the draft, and the board discussed target-setting, metrics and community outreach plans.

Dr. Staley said district staff reviewed the 2021–2024 strategic plan outcomes, collected staff and principal feedback, and drafted new goals. The draft retains a focus on academic achievement, school culture and climate, teacher recruitment and retention, family and community engagement, and fiscal stewardship, and adds safety and security as a new district goal. The academic targets in the draft plan are described as 44% to 54% proficiency in English language arts and 47% to 57% in mathematics by 2028; the presenters said those targets reflect an attempt to set attainable, sustainable milestones and account for changes in state test items.

Board members debated the tradeoffs between setting more ambitious long-range targets and staging smaller, attainable milestones. One board member argued higher targets set tone and expectations and worried a lower published target would convey insufficient ambition; another said incremental targets can sustain staff morale and avoid discouragement if goals are missed.

District staff described the process for collecting input: director teams consulted stakeholders, principals presented the draft to teachers and staff, and the district will hold community town halls with QR-coded surveys for parents and community members. Dates for upcoming town halls were announced for late April in LaBelle and Clewiston; the plan remained a work in progress and will be revised after community input.

The board did not adopt the draft at the meeting; the presentation was informational and staff asked board members for feedback prior to wider community engagement.