Though the beginning of a new calendar year has many individuals setting new long-term goals, this year, those individuals will be accompanied by the St. Louis Park school district as it constructs its revision to its quinquennial “Strategic Plan.”

Working with Transformation Systems, Inc. and plan facilitator, former Osseo area school district superintendent Susan Hintz, the district will work to set goals, known as “strategies” for the 2015-2020 cycle.

Superintendent Rob Metz said gaining input from the community as to what the desired strategies are to be is the first step in developing the Strategic Plan. This will take place 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 24 in three World Cafés meeting where students, staff and parents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the future of the district. Those who cannot attend will still be able to provide input via the district website that day.

Metz said by April, a group of around 30 student members will be organized as a “Core Planning Team” to determine a few goals that will become the main strategies.

“The Core Planning Team will meet for two days and look at what was said at the World Cafés to identify three to five strategies that will shape the next five years,” he said.

Director of communications & community relations Sara Thompson said that in the past, the district has tried to find students willing to be part of the Core Planning Team.

“In past years we have tried to  find the right fit of students, but it’s hard because you have to commit to attend all the meetings,” she said. “If we could get two students on it, it would be fantastic.”

According to Thompson, applications for being on the Core Committee will be available online and due sometime in March. Both Metz and Thompson said that they encourage anyone interested in participating in Core Committee to reach out to the district.

Once the strategies are identified, an “Action Team” will be assigned to each strategy to work out the details and steps to achieve it and report back to the Core Planning Committee, according to Metz.

By June 22, Metz said the teams will have identified the strategies and how to accomplish them and he expects the 2015 Strategic Plan to be presented to the school board for consideration.

Senior Mohammed Mohamed said that he would like one of the strategies to focus on expanding technology in the classroom.

“I think we need more technology in the class,” he said. “It provides an engaging way to get kids to learn.”

Metz suggested that this topic of digital learning may be indeed a focal point of one of the strategies.

“Five years from now we need to ask whether online high school, online classes and handing out devices would be a possibility if there is a way to bridge the digital divide between students,” Metz said.

As for another specific strategies that will shape the plan, Metz said he is fairly sure that one of the strategies will address district facilities and enrollment.

“One for sure will concern facilities and enrollment as we are running out of building space,” he said. “Next year we expect to have around 4,700 students [in the district] and that number will continue to rise. Our buildings are full so the whole process of addressing this will be one of our goals of Strategic Plan.”