Strategic Plan

Our Mission

Wabasha-Kellogg School District equips students to perform at their highest level and to lead lives of character, kindness, and purpose by engaging them in a wide variety of challenging and relevant experiences.

Our Vision

The school district known for preparing and inspiring students to live with purpose, grounded in community, driven by respect, committed to excellence,
and fueled by engagement.

Our Core Values

Community - Building strong relationships, fostering belonging, and working together toward shared goals.
Respect - Treating others with kindness, honesty, dignity, and understanding.
Excellence - Striving for growth, high standards, perseverance, and achieving our best together.
Engagement - Being present, involved, and actively contributing to learning, leadership, and our school community.

Strategic Focus Areas, Goals and Objectives

Strengthen Academic Achievement

Goal 1: All Children Are Ready for School

Key Strategies

Transition all early childhood teaching positions to fully licensed staff
Research and implement a guaranteed and viable preschool literacy curriculum
Develop and implement an effective leadership model for early childhood programming

Indicators of Success

By June 2030:

90% of students leaving W-K School Readiness will meet benchmarks in early language and literacy
90% of students leaving W-K School Readiness will meet benchmarks in social and emotional development
90% of students leaving W-K School Readiness will meet benchmarks in mathematics

Goal 2: All K-12 Students Perform at or Above Grade Level in Reading

Key Strategies

Implement Phase 2 of the Minnesota READ Act professional development requirements
Vertically and horizontally align the K-12 English Language Arts curriculum
Increase parent engagement in Falcon View Online
Identify and implement guaranteed and viable ELA curriculum expectations

Indicators of Success

Reading proficiency on the MCA will increase annually through 2030
The percentage of seniors meeting Redefining Readiness reading standards will increase annually through 2030

Goal 3: All K-12 Students Perform at or Above Grade Level in Mathematics

Key Strategies

Provide professional development to strengthen Tier 1 math instruction in grades K-6
Vertically and horizontally align the K-12 math curriculum
Establish guaranteed and viable math curriculum expectations
Develop and implement Tier 2 math intervention supports

Indicators of Success

Mathematics proficiency on the MCA will increase annually through 2030
The percentage of seniors meeting Redefining Readiness math standards will increase annually through 2030

Goal 4: All Students Are Career and College Ready

Key Strategies

Develop and implement K-12 Wabasha-Kellogg Life Skills Preparation requirements
Establish guaranteed and viable curriculum expectations
Create and implement a Post-Graduate Action Plan for all students
Define and communicate district career and college readiness expectations

Indicators of Success

By June 2030:

100% of graduates will complete a post-graduation action plan, job shadow or internship, and 20 volunteer hours
100% of graduates will complete W-K life skills preparation requirements
The percentage of seniors meeting Redefining Readiness standards will increase annually
Wabasha-Kellogg High School will maintain a 100% graduation rate
Falcon View Online will achieve a minimum 80% graduation rate

Recruit, Train, and Retain High Quality Staff

Goal 1: Recruit and Retain High-Quality Staff

Key Strategies

Develop and implement a teacher mentoring program that supports professional growth and retention
Build early connections and long-term relationships to expand candidate pools
Strengthen recruitment through effective marketing of district opportunities, successes, and strengths
Maintain employee salary and benefits packages within the top 30% of comparable regional districts

Indicators of Success

Establish partnerships with at least five universities and teacher preparation programs by June 2028
Annually retain 90% of recommended non-retiring teachers
Annually retain 85% of recommended non-retiring staff
Maintain employee compensation packages in the top 30% of comparable regional districts
Achieve a 90% staff satisfaction rate on district surveys by June 2030

Goal 2: Develop Excellence Among All Staff

Key Strategies

Align district goals to support high standards, evidence-based practices, and accountability
Create opportunities for staff to innovate, collaborate, and improve instructional practices
Establish consistent leadership practices that promote stability, communication, continuous improvement, and aligned decision-making

Indicators of Success

100% of retained staff meet district performance standards by June 2028
Improve Tier 1 instruction so that 80% of student needs are met within the Tier 1 environment
Achieve at least 85% positive responses on staff satisfaction surveys related to professional growth
Reach 90% or higher in classroom observations rated as effective or highly effective by 2028

Maintain Fiscal Responsibility

Goal 1: Strengthen the District's Financial Health

Key Strategies

Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications plan to promote district strengths, increase enrollment, and build public confidence
Attract and retain students through expanded life skills programming, strong community partnerships, a safe and supportive culture, and high-quality extracurricular opportunities
Maintain efficient financial systems that support responsible budgeting, transparent purchasing, and strong fiscal oversight

Indicators of Success

Maintain an unassigned general fund balance of at least 15% of annual expenditures each fiscal year
Achieve a clean annual audit with no significant findings

Goal 2: Increase Revenue Streams

Key Strategies

Increase positive open enrollment through targeted marketing of academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and student success
Reduce PSEO costs by developing district-operated college credit courses
Develop innovative, high-demand programs that attract and retain students
Build partnerships with businesses, community organizations, and higher education institutions to expand programming and funding opportunities

Indicators of Success

Increase on-campus student enrollment by 5% by September 2028
Increase Falcon View Online enrollment by 50% by September 2027
Maintain a positive annual ratio of open enrollment in to open enrollment out

Goal 3: Increase Stakeholder Understanding of School Finance

Key Strategies

Establish a District Advisory Committee to review financial information and serve as community ambassadors
Develop a clear and accessible financial communication plan
Engage community groups, parent organizations, and civic leaders through regular financial presentations
Create easy-to-understand financial snapshots and infographics for staff, families, and the public

Indicators of Success

Increase annual stakeholder confidence ratings regarding the district's fiscal responsibility

Develop Strong Community Engagement

Goal 1: Increase Partnerships and Student Opportunities

Key Strategies

Establish clear processes for developing and maintaining partnerships that support student learning, career exploration, and community engagement
Expand student opportunities through certification programs, internships, job shadowing, and workforce-aligned courses
Engage business and industry professionals as mentors, advisors, guest speakers, and program partners
Promote partnership opportunities and successes to increase student participation

Indicators of Success

Increase formal partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and civic organizations by 25% by September 2028
Increase work-based learning opportunities by 20% by June 2028

Goal 2: Enhance Communication

Key Strategies

Develop a centralized system for managing district communications to ensure timely, accurate, and efficient messaging
Implement a district-wide communication process that defines messaging priorities, delivery methods, timelines, and responsibilities
Establish and promote a unified district brand to create consistency, recognition, and trust across all communication platforms

Indicators of Success

Achieve 90% positive feedback regarding district communication on the annual stakeholder satisfaction survey

Create Collaborative and Positive Learning Environments

Goal 1: Ensure Safe Learning Environments

Key Strategies

Establish and enforce clear district-wide policies and practices that promote safety, consistency, and student support
Align safety, discipline, and intervention practices across all learning levels
Promote student engagement through strong relationships, welcoming classrooms, and targeted academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports

Indicators of Success

Decrease office referrals annually from 2025 through 2030
Increase stakeholder perceptions that district facilities are safe, well-maintained, and supportive of learning

Goal 2: Increase Staff Engagement

Key Strategies

Prioritize and align district initiatives to reduce competing demands and protect staff time
Implement ongoing staff recognition programs that celebrate contributions and reinforce district values
Create opportunities for collaboration and positive experiences among on-campus and Falcon View Online staff

Indicators of Success

Reduce district-wide out-of-classroom time caused by behavioral issues by 15% by June 2028
Increase annual staff satisfaction ratings as measured by district stakeholder surveys

Goal 3: Increase Student Engagement

Key Strategies

Provide professional development on effective teaching and engagement practices within the block schedule
Establish clear expectations for student movement, break times, and flex periods to maximize instructional time
Balance student choice with accountability to support academic success
Implement strategies to improve the competitiveness and participation of student activities

Indicators of Success

Reduce district-wide out-of-classroom time caused by behavioral issues by 15% by June 2028
Maintain a positive annual ratio of open enrollment in to open enrollment out for the on-campus program

Goal 4: Foster a Positive School Climate

Key Strategies

Establish consistent district-wide expectations for academics, behavior, and participation
Provide staff development focused on instructional growth, leadership, and collaboration while recognizing staff achievements
Strengthen athletic, fine arts, and co-curricular programs through participation, coaching development, and student leadership opportunities
Develop a district-wide administrative communication plan that supports consistent messaging and collaborative leadership

Indicators of Success

Increase positive collegial interactions among staff annually from 2025 through 2030
Reduce student behavior incidents by 15% annually from 2025 through 2030
Achieve a 90% staff satisfaction rate by June 2030
Increase student satisfaction with their learning environment to 90% positive responses by June 2030
Increase extracurricular participation rates in grades 7-12 annually

What is a Strategic Plan?

A strategic plan provides clear direction for the school district, serving as the School Board's roadmap for governance, continuous improvement, and student success. It reflects the shared values, experiences, and goals of students, staff, families, community members, business partners, and district leaders.

At Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools, the strategic planning process began in January 2025 with a School Board planning session facilitated by BetterU Solutions and Superintendent Onstad. Using the 7 Questions strategic planning process, district leaders developed a timeline, identified key stakeholders, and created a "30,000-foot view" of the district. This collaborative process established a strong foundation for broad stakeholder engagement and a shared vision for the future of Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools.

Committee Members

School Board: Michelle Meyer, Kent Jeffery , Sharleen Klennert, Tim Adams, Riley Costello, Brittney Ender, Rob Venz

Superintendent: Nels Onstad

District Leadership: Kristi Kropp, Chad Pederson, Dan Murtha, Anne Wasmund

Community Members:
Kala Koch, Parent, PTO Representative
Miranda Gray-Burlingame, Business Owner, Parent
Jay Jewson, Business Owner
Emily Durand, Mayor of Wabasha and Parent
Neil Hedquist, Teacher
Andrea Day, Teacher
Melody Kurtti, Teacher
Sarah Schuster, Teacher
Angie Wodele, District Administrative Assistant

Strategic Planning Process Timeline

Jan 22 — School Board Workshop
Jan 23 – Feb 7 — Profile building and focus group preparation
Feb 13 — 5 Focus Groups
Feb 14 — 1 Focus Group
Feb 19 — 5 Focus Groups
Feb 20 — 7 Focus Groups
Feb 24 – Apr 4 — Data compilation, prioritization survey, and results analysis
Apr 10 — Strategic Planning Committee Meeting #1 (15 members)
Apr 15 — Strategic Planning Committee Meeting #2 (15 members)
Apr 22 — Strategic Planning Committee Meeting #3 (15 members)
May 2 — Administrator Retreat #1
May 7 — Superintendent Review
May 14 — Administrator Retreat #2
May 21 — School Board Update
June 2 – June 13 — Plan refinement
June 18 — School Board adoption