Laying the Foundation

From the very first meeting, our stakeholder group embraced a spirit of togetherness and action, establishing a set of guiding norms to foster open, productive discussions:

 ✅ Kids first – Every decision centers on what’s best for students.
✅ Assume positive intent – We engage with respect and trust.
✅ Lean in – Everyone contributes and stays engaged.
✅ Appreciate differences – Diverse perspectives strengthen our work.
✅ Make connections – Building relationships fosters collaboration.
✅ Align where we can – We seek common ground while honoring unique viewpoints.

Listening to Our Community

Understanding the hopes and concerns of our community has been a cornerstone of this process. To date, we have:

• Analyzed over 450 community survey responses

• Conducted more than 150 community interviews

These efforts have provided invaluable insights into the values and priorities of Kalama families, students, educators, and citizens.

Setting the Course

Guided by these values and our vision of future-readiness, the stakeholder group is now in the process of refining and defining a set of guiding principles and high-level goals based on five levels of future-readiness:

What’s Next?

Our next step is to transform these goals into concrete strategies – tangible, actionable steps that bring our community’s vision to life, and we look forward to sharing them with you in the coming weeks.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this process so far. Your voices, insights, and dedication are shaping a strategic plan that will guide our district for years to come, ensuring that each and every child in Kalama is future-ready.

Stay tuned for more updates as we move into the next phase of this important work!

Survey: Community Insights for Kalama School District's Strategic Plan
Community Insights Survey Summary
Strategic Plan Launch - Superintendent's Letter to Community