By Lookout Staff

April 4, 2011 -- The school district is coming into the home stretch of its “Strategic Plan Update Process,” and wants the community's input as school officials decide how to put their newest goals and guidelines into action.

To that end, the district is inviting education stakeholders to a series of public meetings at schools in Santa Monica and Malibu during the last week of this month.

This iteration of the strategic plan is designed to guide district decisions through 2015, and will replace the last strategic plan which was developed in 2002.

The goals, first presented to the Santa Monica-Malibu Board of Education in February, are listed under the heading “The 21st Century Framework” and include: “promote excellence,” “ensure district resources,” “strengthen talent at every level,” and “nurturing collaborative partnerships.”

A handful of the emphases included in the presentation to the board include: critical thinking skills, global and environmental awareness, the integration of technology into teaching and learning, and meeting the needs of the “whole child.”

After April's meetings, the board will review the plan in May, and the final strategic plan is scheduled to be adopted in June.

The community meetings will take place during the last week of April in three locations:

Tuesday, April 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Middle School cafeteria;

Wednesday, April 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the John Adams Middle School cafeteria, and

Thursday, April 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Malibu High School library.

Each meeting will begin with a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m. and then break out into small discussion groups.

Spanish translation will be provided for the opening presentation and at one of the small groups.

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please click on the district's informational flyer or contact Sarah Wahrenbrock at district headquarters at 310 450 8338, ext. 70229.