By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

In preparation for the new school term, Parkland Assistant Superintendents Tim Chorones and Dr. Michelle Minotti presented goals for 2023-24 to the board at its Aug. 15 meeting.

Goals were listed as completed, ongoing or new.

Family reunification has been an area of study for some time, but for the new term, the goal includes a full-scale active assailant exercise with law enforcement and first responders.

The aim is to assess the process of communicating with families during an emergency situation and providing an efficient, safe way for students and parents to be brought together.

As part of safety and security measures, district staff will continue to learn and understand the active assailant protocol which is Run, Hide, Fight.

In other matters, a goal for the school services department will be to implement a new GPS system and student transportation management system to improve efficiency.

The facilities and operations department has an ongoing goal to clean and disinfect all school buildings thoroughly to protect students, staff, and visitors.

A new item for that department will be to develop a master plan for upgrades to the football stadium on the Orefield Middle School campus.

Human resources has the goal to coordinate and keep up with constant, year round staffing demands.

Administrators will maximize the use of social media and special events to offer recruitment opportunities for teachers, support staff, substitutes and leadership personnel.

The technology department lists a new goal to provide professional development for district staff on artificial intelligence (AI).

Several departments will devote attention to a new policy and regulations which will allow children taught at home to attend district schools for up to 25 percent of the day.

The office of teaching and learning lists many goals relating to math and science curricula.

An objective which involves several departments is to provide professional opportunities for instructors to move from teacher centered practices to student centered practices.

The aim is to foster curiosity and develop characteristics of inquiry-based learning.