Johnson to join discussion at retreat

Bobbi Johnson, new superintendent for Culpeper County Public Schools, has plans to attend the School Board’s summer retreat this weekend, according to board Chairman George Dasher.

This would mark Johnson’s second public appearance since the announcement of her becoming the school division’s next chief administrator. She also attended the board’s public forum in April.

Although not officially employed in Culpeper until July 1, Johnson would like the board to focus on the school division’s six-year comprehensive plan.

“My one suggestion for the comprehensive plan, in addition to reviewing the current one for necessary updates, is to include baseline data with the goals so that we can determine our progress as we go forward,” Johnson wrote via e-mail Thursday afternoon.

“I also want to have a discussion on a process for community input before the plan is finalized. We have an aggressive agenda for the retreat that should certainly help determine the direction the board and I should take over the next few years.”

Dasher expects the board will have an outline for a comprehensive plan at the retreat’s conclusion. Updated annually, the plan presents a long-range strategy based on how data will be utilized to improve classroom instruction and student achievement.

The two-day retreat starts tonight at 6 and resumes Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Central Office on Radio Lane.

In addition to the comprehensive plan, tonight’s agenda includes information regarding Standards of Learning tests, preliminary Adequate Yearly Progress figures, graduation rates, class sizes, discipline and communication.

Saturday’s lineup includes more discussion about the comprehensive plan’s content and schedule.

Board members are also expected to receive department reports from human resources, finance, transportation, technology, maintenance, food service, and instruction.

Other topics include the Culpeper County High School renovation plan, security vestibules, board communications and the school division’s vision and mission statements.