December 5, 2022

Dear Wayne-Westland Community School Families and Staff,

Weekly Letter to Student's Parents and Staff

Wayne-Westland Community School District hopes everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is an exciting time in our school community.

The challenges experienced over the past two years have only strengthened our school district. This strength was evident three months ago as we began the year in an environment that felt like a true back-to-school experience. The energy and pace have only increased and placed us in a great position to continue focusing on academic excellence while we look to the future. It is an honor to report that after fifteen months of candid, honest reflection, intense focus, respectful discussion, inspiring enthusiasm, and steadfast commitment by our administration, faculty, staff, and Board of Education, a comprehensive strategic plan was completed this past August. The process included many alumni, parents, students, benefactors, and staff. Wayne-Westland is deeply grateful to all participants and survey respondents devoted to the mission of our great institution.

The plan’s four strategic goal areas include: Academics, Communications, Personnel and Facilities, and Operations. Within each area, strengths and weaknesses were identified, and recommendations were developed. When implemented, these goals will ensure the realization of our vision and fulfillment of our motto: “Great Future Start Right Here in Wayne-Westland Community Schools.”

At the core of this plan is the intent to excel beyond the aspirations and accomplishments of the past half century and continue to distinguish ourselves from other school districts by character, vision, values, and mission. Implementing these goals seeks to ensure that Wayne-Westland students excel academically on a level that competes with the best schools in the region. The Board of Education, school leadership, and staff are dedicated to the strategic plan's success and intend to propel Wayne-Westland Community Schools into the future.

  • Academic: Prepare all students for a post-secondary experience at all grade levels, including college, career, and military paths. Cultivate a collaborative culture of data based decision making with a focus on aligning best practices in literacy through the development of intentional and structured professional learning communities. Each school will create a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) designed to fully respond to all student needs, encompassing academic, behavioral, and social-emotional development.
     
  • Communications: Attract and engage the school community through consistent communications using a variety of platforms intended to strengthen opportunities for engagement and feedback, enhance internal protocols that value transparency and staff input and develop marketing strategies to attract and retain students and staff.
     
  • Facilities and Operations: Analyze and adapt resources for timely and fiscally responsible alignment to meet student and community needs.
     
  • Personnel/Human Resources: Strategically recruit and retain quality staff while intentionally offering meaningful career development.


Over the next few months, Wayne-Westland Community Schools will continue this focus by creating action plans to support the recently adopted district strategic plan. The district has already started moving forward on a significant part of these action plans with a comprehensive facility improvement initiative. This effort grew from strategic plan discussions on how school buildings can best support the needs of students today and well into the future.

The moment is right to begin this work:

  • Series three of our 2018 bond funding will wrap up in 2026. The district will do a facility assessment to identify the next steps to maintain a safe and positive learning environment.
     
  • Our strategic planning process has identified specific investments that will positively impact student success for today’s students and future generations.


It is important that Wayne-Westland Community Schools continue to gather input from the community. In mid-January, a community-wide survey will open to join the Strategic Planning Committee. More information will be forthcoming via email about this opportunity after the Winter Break.

The support of past generations has made WWCS a destination district. When considering innovating and updating buildings, technology, CTE programs, labs, athletic fields, playgrounds and parking lots, the same opportunities will be afforded to the community that past parents and grandparents had to maintain this legacy of excellence. Thank you for your support of the students, staff and mission of the district.
 

Sincerely,

John Dignan, Ed.D.
Superintendent