BOURNE — Superintendent Dr. Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou is pleased to announce the release of Bourne Public Schools’ 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, a comprehensive, community-driven roadmap to guide the District’s efforts over the next five years.
The Strategic Plan, unanimously approved by the School Committee on April 2, outlines the District’s renewed mission, vision, and core values, as well as four key strategic focus areas: Teaching and Learning, Culture and Wellness, Communication, and Finance and Facilities.
“As a coastal community, our identity as Canalmen is rooted in the proud tradition of guiding ships safely through the Cape Cod Canal,” said Superintendent Dr. Quinlan-Zhou. “In much the same way, this plan serves as our navigational chart, steering us toward a future of excellence for our students, schools, and community.”
The development of the Strategic Plan began in winter 2024 with the launch of a district-wide survey. With nearly 1,000 responses and nine focus groups, the District gathered broad input from students, families, staff, and community members. Bourne Public Schools partnered with the Teaching and Learning Alliance (TLA) to guide the process and formed a 23-member Strategic Planning Steering Committee representing a diverse group of stakeholders.
Over the course of six in-depth planning sessions, the committee crafted a plan rooted in collaboration and accountability. The strategic planning process included three phases: building the foundation, building the plan, and implementing the plan.
The Strategic Plan is built on the District’s new mission statement: “Together with staff, families, and the community, we empower all students to thrive within a culture of academic excellence in a creative and innovative environment where everyone is safe, respected, and valued.”
The committee also formed a new vision statement: “Inspired to learn, empowered to explore, and prepared to act.”
The process also included renewing the District’s core values to provide the foundation for its work. The committee created an acrostic for the word “CANALMEN,” giving each letter a meaning:
- C: Commit to excellence
- A: Adapt to challenges
- N: Nurture the whole child
- A: Act with accountability
- L: Lead with integrity
- M: Motivate ALL to reach their full potential
- E: Empower students to think critically and independently
- N: Navigate through life with purpose and curiosity
The Strategic Plan’s four focus areas include:
- Teaching and Learning: Create rigorous and relevant learning experiences that support student development and prepare students for their futures.
- Culture and Wellness: Ensure that all students feel a sense of belonging and social-emotional well-being while feeling connected to our schools and community.
- Communication: Create and implement communication methods to consistently engage all families and stakeholder groups as partners.
- Finance and Facilities: Enhance collaboration between schools, town government, and the community with the goal of creating a joint vision to address school funding, facility issues, staff recruitment, and student retention.
Each area includes measurable action steps and outcomes to ensure accountability and progress.
The District’s Administrative Team has already begun working on action items at its Administrative Retreat, which took place on June 18. The District will continue to align School Improvement Plans with the new Strategic Plan to ensure that the positive momentum continues.
“While this strategic plan represents the hard work and dedication of 23 individuals working alongside TLA, the real work is yet to come,” said Superintendent Dr. Quinlan-Zhou. “It will take all of us — educators, students, families, and community members — to bring this plan to life. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our survey respondents, focus group participants, and Strategic Planning Steering Committee members. Your voices shaped this plan, and your commitment to our students and schools has been invaluable. I am also deeply grateful for our educators, administrators, families, and community partners who continue to support our mission.”
The full Strategic Plan is available on the Bourne Public Schools website at www.bourneps.org.
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