In the next three years, Dartmouth Superintendent Bonny Gifford plans to support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs, promote better communication with the community, and increase students' access to technology.

"This strategic plan is data-driven," Gifford said in presenting the plan to the School Committee on July 11, noting that her staff has performed focus groups and surveys. "We looked at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) throughout the district," she said.

Gifford highlighted teaching and learning, access and equity, and community engagement for the 2016-2019 stint.

To better teaching and learning, Gifford plans to expand the science, technology, engineering, and math programs. She will be working on aligning the curriculum of the elementary, middle, and high schools and increase after-school programming.

School Committee member Chris Garth applauded the superintendent's efforts.

“If we’re not getting them with a strong STEM foundation, we’re making their road to college that much longer and that much harder,” he said.

Gifford said she will be evaluating the current teacher and student assessments.

"We don't want our teachers to be spending time on assessment after assessments if it’s not going to help move them forward," she said.

Gifford also plans to “address academic gaps, redundancies, and misalignments” to create a more coherent curriculum throughout the schools.

Gifford went on to say that the "tech structure" needs to be bettered in order to ensure students' college and career readiness. “So many of our kids cannot access the curriculum,” she said.

In response, Gifford plans to evaluate the current technology resources and its usage in classrooms, visit other districts to identify the best practices for utilizing enrichment programs and software, and implement them to familiarize students with up-to-date technology and better their academic, social, and emotional well-being.

Gifford also plans to increase communication with students, parents, and teachers through social media.

“They love our Facebook page now,” said Gifford, explaining that both the social media site and public schools website are being updated more often. “The more we can communicate, the more positive the perception of the school,” she said.

Gifford said this correlation can be seen in her Healthy Dartmouth initiative—in which she works with the Dartmouth Police and town’s youth advocate to educate the community on substance abuse and prevention. There are now 25-30 people at each meeting, she said.

“My compliments to the administration and everyone that worked on this,” said school committee member John Nunes before the committee approved the strategic plan.

Dartmouth Public Schools include Cushman, DeMello, Potter, and Quinn elementaries, Dartmouth Middle School, and Dartmouth High.