TORONTO — The Toronto Board of Education has adopted a three-year strategic plan designed to encourage more parent and community involvement in schools and offer opportunities for students to explore their interests.

Maureen Taggart, superintendent of Toronto City Schools, said every three years, the school board recruits a committee of staff, parents and other community members to aid it in assessing and updating its goals.

She said the plan is designed to align with another three-year plan required by the Ohio Department of Education with projected school improvements.

Taggart said with the local plan, the school district will be adopting a new motto, “Empowering Students, Strengthening Communities.”

She said it’s fitting because “We want our school district to be the heart of our community. Toronto’s always had a strong sense of community and citizens have been strong supporters of the school district.”

On Thursday, the board agreed to employ Apptegy of Little Rock, Ark., to develop a new website for the school district and establish a portal through which staff may submit photos and information about various school activities.

The business will receive $16,701 for its services and start-up costs.

The strategic plan also identifies seven overall goals, including implementing new academic programs, with more opportunities for students in all grades to learn principles of science, technology, math and art and for older students to develop skills in robotics and computer coding.

There also are plans in the 2026-2027 school year to reserve the final month of May for elective courses of interest to students in grades 3-12.

Children in pre-kindergarten through second grade would take part in the One School One Book initiative, which involves all of them reading the same book together and engaging in related activities appropriate for their age, said Taggart.

To accommodate the month of electives, the remainder of the school year would be divided into four eight-week periods, a change from the current four nine-week periods that would allow students’ final grades for the year to be calculated in April.

“It’s exciting, something new. I think the kids will enjoy it,” said Taggart.

She said students who are struggling in subjects such as reading and math also could receive additional instruction in May.

The inclusion of a “Maymester,” with elective courses, has been practiced in Steubenville City Schools.

Taggart added there also are plans to add clubs focused on esports, in which students participate in video game competitions; science and gardening

Taggart said she and others also will look to expand opportunities for career training through its partnership with Belmont College.

Toronto High School students currently attend the college once a week while completing their high school courses and have an opportunity to earn certification in their chosen fields.

Another goal outlined in the plan is to increase student attendance by 5 percent and reduce chronic absenteeism by 10 percent.

Taggart said under state guidelines, any student who has missed more than 10 percent of the total school hours required by the state, whether the absences are excused or not, is considered chronically absent.

She said local school officials are advised to encourage parents to be mindful of the impact any absence from school can have on their child’s academic performance.

Taggart said that is especially true for pupils in their elementary school years, when many math and reading skills are introduced, but regular attendance is important for all age groups.

“Studies show that students who are present in school perform better academically,” she said.

The plan suggests that parents of students with mental health problems or difficulty with family members or peers can be referred to counseling and other help.

“We have a lot of counseling services available in our district,” said Taggart.

The plan also references a check-in check-out system for students who are having more difficulty in school for various reasons.

She explained such students are assigned to an adult staff member with whom they meet regularly and can discuss any problems they are having in school.

Taggart said there’s also a social skills class in which students can learn appropriate classroom behavior and interaction with others.

Under the umbrella of student involvement, the school district will begin assessing pupils for the gifted program in first grade, rather than the current second grade.

Taggart said students new to the school district also will be evaluated, while any student may be assessed in any year at the request of a parent or teacher.

She said the plan also includes the introduction of student advisory committees in some form at the junior high and elementary schools.

Taggart said members of the high school’s student senate have served that function, while all students were surveyed last year about entrees they would like added to their schools’ menus.

On Thursday, the board also:

�–� Approved agreements with Easter Seals and physical therapists Kelly Crosby and Amy Purcell to provide occupational therapy or physical therapy services for students, as needed, at a cost of $70 per hour for each child.

�–� Approved hirings, for the 2025-2026 school year, of Grace Huddleston as an elementary STEM-art teacher, Lexi Ferguson as a kindergarten teacher, and Briston Ramby as art teacher for the junior-senior high school.

�–� Agreed to renew contracts for the following high school athletic personnel: Sean Tucker, head boys basketball coach; Rusty Hodgkiss, head girls basketball coach; David Blawut, head wrestling coach, Courtney Hatcher, head track coach; Emily Antill, assistant track coach; Shannon Bahen, head volleyball coach; and Cathie Thomas and Lexi Ferguson, both assistant volleyball coaches.

The board’s next meeting is at 5 p.m. May 15 in the library of Toronto Junior-Senior High School.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)