Worthington Christian Schools

Strategic Plan2015-2020

Charting our course for the next five years.

Teaching and Learning

Faculty

Facilities

Finance and Marketing

Worthington Christian Schools Strategic Plan 2015–2020 2

Teaching and Learning

Faculty

Facilities

Finance and Marketing

MissionWorthington Christian Schools develops the mind of Christ

in students through rigorous intellectual, creative and physical pursuits.

VisionWorthington Christian Schools will pursue excellence in teaching and learning out of love for God and the world

He has made. Our students will develop a curiosity about creation, cultivate a love for truth, beauty, and great ideas,

and exhibit wisdom that reveals God’s kingdom.

Worthington Christian Schools Strategic Plan 2015–2020 3

The strategic plan that you are about to read is the result of a six month planning process that represents the best of the collective dreams and thoughts about what should be our school’s guiding principles over the next five years. The most direct input came from the 11 member planning committee, which met regularly over those six months, and from the school board, which gave final review and approval. But in a larger sense, I believe it also flows from the countless conversations and meetings the school leadership has had over the years with our broader constituency — students, parents, alumni, faculty, church leaders, and friends of the school. We are grateful for that and hope that this plan is a means to continue the conversation into the future.

The plan represents the priorities and actions within our strategic planning but it does not necessarily specify how those priorities and actions will be implemented. This allows the school to maintain flexibility over the next five years in reaction to changing circumstances while still remaining committed to the principles within the plan.

The plan is ambitious and will require God acting on our behalf in order to accomplish it. But what better thing to be ambitious about than the education and spiritual formation of our children? We believe God has called us to attempt and to accomplish great things for His glory and the benefit of our children. Would you join us in that process? Your prayers and involvement will play a vital role in any success we have in accomplishing this plan.

“We are His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 1:23

Troy McIntoshHead of School

Dear WC Family and

Friends

Board of DirectorsFred Sanders (President)

Steve BetuliusDan CusterDale Dunn

Edward KimChristine Mallory

Troy McIntosh Karen WhiteMike Yoder

Strategic Planning CommitteeTroy McIntosh (Head of School)

Steve Betulius Tom Burns

Tammi EvansBeth Hackworth

Robin HooperDr. Buzz InbodenDawn McMahon

Jim ParrishPolly Shoemaker

Karen White

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The essence of any school is teaching and learning, but the significance of teaching and learning in a Christian school is

underscored by Jesus in Luke 6 when He says that a student’s learning is complete when he is like his teacher. Every operation in the school should be designed to improve and promote teaching and learning.

Teaching and

Learning

FacultyWorthington Christian Schools Strategic Plan 2015–2020 5

Priority: Establish an academic culture that prepares students to apply a biblical framework to their academic studies so they are able to thoughtfully address the important issues found in their future studies and vocations.

Action: Restructure the curriculum committee and design process to address gaps in the curriculum, communication and implementation of the courses of study, developmental appropriateness, and student assessment.

Action: Partner with a professional curriculum consultant to provide a complete audit and map of major content areas.

Action: Review each course of study to determine how to best reflect biblical thinking in that subject’s content.

Action: Expand college guidance services to better prepare students for admission into the colleges of their choice.

Action: Invest in the technology infrastructure and support services to provide teachers and students with technology suited for best practices.

Action: Provide additional support for students “outside the norm” by continuing to restructure the Intervention Department and identify new and better ways to challenge gifted students.

Action: Restructure into a two campus model consisting of a Lower School and an Upper School to better reflect research on learning, teacher collaboration and fiscal efficiencies.

Action: Strengthen partnerships with area churches and underscore the imperative for school families to be involved in their churches in order for a Worthington Christian education to be most effective in developing thoughtful Christian students.

Teaching and

Learning

Worthington Christian Schools Strategic Plan 2015–2020 6

The most valuable resource in any school is the body of people most directly charged with the instruction of its students. The quality of a classroom teacher is the factor most directly linked to student success.

Faculty

Facilities

Worthington Christian Schools Strategic Plan 2015–2020 7

FacultyPriority: Recruit, retain, and develop a first-rate professional faculty capable of mentoring, teaching, and leading our students.

Action: Provide faculty compensation packages –salary, retirement, health care, and other benefits — that are competitive, that recognize the professional nature of the position, and that attract highly qualified teachers.

Action: Develop non-pecuniary policies and practices that draw potential faculty candidates to Worthington Christian.

Action: Develop a Faculty Learning Program which encourages teachers to do in-depth study and presentations about a topic within their disciplines that will; a) promote teaching as learning; b) improve instruction and student learning; and c) benefit the entire faculty through collegial interaction.

Action: Create a coordinated, district-wide plan for professional growth by; a) defining what excellent teaching looks like; b) identifying goals for professional growth; and c) planning strategies and programs to improve instruction that are aligned with these goals.

Action: Promote professional involvement in the larger educational community through professional memberships, conferences, graduate study, and other leadership opportunities.

Action: Expand diversity within our faculty to better reflect the demographics of our school community.

Action: Review and revise job descriptions and evaluation processes to recognize and promote excellent teaching.

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The facilities of the school must be appropriately sized and constructed to serve the needs of the school. Aging and inadequate facilities currently prevent the school from providing the kind of access, environment, and instruction that we wish to provide. Future investment in our campuses will be necessary to ensure that the school is capable of sustaining the next forty years of excellence.

Worthington Christian Schools Strategic Plan 2015–2020 9

Facilities

Facilities

Priority: Launch a capital campaign that solves the current and future problems that our existing facilities present and provide learning spaces that inspires students to the best of K-12 learning.

Action: Create a plan for facilities that will solve the following problems:

At the Elementary School• Alocationthatnolongerfitsourdemographicareaandmakesitdifficulttoattract

students.• Inadequatephysicaleducationandlibraryspace.• Aginginfrastructurethatwillrequiremajorrenovationinvestmentinthenearfuture.

At the Middle School• Modularunitsthatareover23yearsoldandnot

suitable for continued use.• Securityissuesrelatedtostudentsmovingbetween

buildings and a design that did not take into account contemporary school security needs.

• Adisconnectamongthefacultyandstudentscreatedby the physical space between buildings.

• Insufficientspaceforalibrary.• Lackofsciencelabspace.• Limitationsonexpansionofenrollment.

At the High School• Securityandsafetyissuescausedbythesplitbetween

buildings on two sides of the street and a design that does not take into account contemporary school security needs.

• Aginglab,media,andclassroomspaceinneedofrenovation.

• Spacepoorlydesignedforfineartinstruction.• Limitationsonexpansionofenrollment.

At the Athletics Complex• Insufficientstadiumbleachercapacityandbleachersthatarenothandicapaccessible.• Inadequaterestroomspaceforguests.• Naturalturfthatcannotsustainidealplayingconditionsduetotheamountofusageit

receives.

Faculty

Facilities

Worthington Christian Schools Strategic Plan 2015–2020 10

All school resources belong to God and have been provided to the school to accomplish the mission to which we

believe we have been called. As stewards of these resources, we must allocate them

wisely, righteously, strategically, and fairly. A number of factors play a role in

our ability to do so, including the possible effects of rising tuition costs, an uncertain

economic future, unpredictability in health care costs, future enrollment

levels, costs associated with any new construction, and the mutual relationship

between the school and Grace Polaris Church. A solid financial position and the promotion of the value of a Worthington Christian education are important to the

future strength of the school.

Facilities

Finance and Marketing

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Priority: Create a responsible financial plan that provides full funding for the school with no operating deficits, while wisely stewarding the resources of the school and school community.

Action: Significantly expand the promotion and growth of the WCS Foundation and its endowment funds to provide a stable, long term source of revenue that is not dependent upon tuition.

Action: Identify budgetary priorities on an annual basis and align the combined budget to provide for those priorities.

Action: Engage in a study to identify a sustainable level of tuition that is cost sensitive to families while still adequately funding the level of services needed to fulfill the school’s mission.

Action: Develop new ways to communicate the value of Christian education and the mission of Worthington Christian within the broader Christian community.

Action: Restructure the Development Department to become the Office of Advancement to better meet its objectives of donor relations, alumni engagement, and school marketing.

Action: Create a branding message that better communicates the value of Christian education and the mission of Worthington Christian to the families of potential students, alumni, and donors.

Finance and

Marketing

6675 Worthington-Galena Road, Worthington, OH 43085 | worthingtonchristian.com