The district’s mission is to educate and prepare all students to reach their potential, discover their purpose and be engaged community members.
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.
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.
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
Conduct a Five-Year Program Review Cycle
Close all achievement gaps
Fully implement a comprehensive K-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) program
Integrate innovative, rigorous and engaging instructional technology
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
Provide staff and students with educational opportunities to increase awareness and offer strategies to promote equity and inclusion for all students
Incorporate programs to promote and inform students about school activities and programs
Support age-appropriate character education programs at the elementary, middle and high school levels
Develop, promote and expand extracurricular opportunities for students
Community
Objectives
Strong family, school, and community partnerships…
Are welcomed and encouraged
Promote an atmosphere where partners develop common goals
Prepare students with the skills to participate in their community
Support the success of students and staff
Advocate for equal access and opportunities for all students and families
Foster appreciation of the value of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures
Major Strategies
Collaborate with community partners to support and expand opportunities for students
Engage stakeholders in dialogue about priorities in the district
Develop systems that promote and improve outreach and advocacy for all families
Improve/create opportunities for family mentoring programs to guide families through school processes or assist with hardships
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
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
Provide programs to strengthen the emotional and physical wellness of students and staff
Implement the K-12 social-emotional learning curriculum
Offer professional development to enhance the understanding of health, wellness, social-emotional learning, and safety
Improve student and staff attendance through the implementation of a multi-tiered model
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
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
Student Disciplinary Incidents
Student Suspension Rates
Community Service Hours
Character Recognition
Restorative Practices
Community
Website Visits
ParentSquare App Use
Social Media Followers
Facilities Use
Voter Turnout
Budget Approval
Tax Levy
Budget – Cost per pupil
Wellness
Social Emotional Wellness
Student Social Behavior
Student Academic Behavior
Student Emotional Behavior
Chronic Absenteeism
Co-Curricular Participation Rate
Interscholastic Athletics
Strategic Planning Review Committee
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