At Murray City School District, our mission is clear: Every Student, Every Opportunity, Every Day. This guiding principle is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s the driving force behind the Murray Board of Education’s exciting new Five-Year Strategic Plan, which we’re thrilled to share with our community in the coming weeks.

This comprehensive plan isn’t just a document; it’s a bold vision for the future of education in Murray. It underscores our collective ambition to give every student elevated learning opportunities and a clear pathway to their fullest potential. We believe that through thoughtful investment and a shared commitment, we can continue to build a thriving educational environment for all.

While the Murray City School District is dedicated to being the steward of these ambitious goals, we know we can’t walk this road alone. Achieving these aspirations will require the unwavering commitment and support of our incredible Murray parents, dedicated citizens, and visionary business and civic leaders. There are countless ways our community can get involved – from actively encouraging individual students and celebrating their achievements, to volunteering your time and talents, to providing valuable resources that further elevate student opportunities. Your partnership is essential to our shared success.

Our strategic plan is built upon six core values that define the Murray City School District experience:

• Lifelong Learning: Fostering curiosity and adaptability in an ever-changing world.
• Empowered Leadership: Encouraging initiative, responsible decisions, and positive change.
• Collaboration & Community: Valuing teamwork and meaningful partnerships.
• Creativity & Innovation: Nurturing out-of-the-box thinking and problem-solving.
• Ethical Responsibility: Promoting integrity and accountability in all we do.
• Resilience & Perseverance: Empowering students to overcome challenges and embrace growth.

These values are interwoven into three key Board Priorities that will guide our efforts over the next five years:

Student Achievement: Raising the Bar for Learning

Our primary focus is ensuring every student achieves their academic best. We have ambitious goals to significantly increase student progress and proficiency in reading, math, and science across all grade levels by 2030, as measured by state assessments. We also aim to boost College and Career Readiness benchmarks, including ACT scores, graduation rates, and readiness coursework.

To achieve this, we’ll be implementing strategies such as providing high-quality Tier 1 instruction for all students, using data-driven practices for targeted interventions, and expanding opportunities for advanced coursework, career pathways, and experiential learning.

Student and Staff Safety and Wellness: Nurturing a Supportive Environment

Creating a safe, supportive, and healthy environment for both students and staff is paramount. Our goals in this area include decreasing chronic absenteeism by 10% by 2030 and maintaining positive behavior support plans in all schools. We’re also committed to prioritizing and promoting the overall well-being and personal growth of our entire school community.

Our strategies involve evidence-based approaches to improve attendance, professional learning for engaging students, and ensuring every school has a fully implemented Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) system. We will also expand access to wellness programs, including mental health services and social-emotional learning.

Operational Excellence and Fiscal Responsibility: Building a Sustainable Future

This priority ensures we are good stewards of our resources and that our facilities support optimal learning. We aim to develop a long-term facility plan by 2030 to address building needs, with our two new schools, Riverview Junior High and Murray High School, opening in Summer 2027, being significant steps in our right-sizing efforts. We will also maintain safe, secure, and efficient educational facilities and practice sound financial stewardship. Attracting and retaining top talent is also a key focus, as we strive to maintain competitive salary and benefits packages for our dedicated employees.

Strategies include reviewing student enrollment and school boundaries, conducting regular facility assessments, and making budget decisions aligned with our long-term vision for financial sustainability. We’ll also pursue grants and other funding to support our district priorities.

The Murray Board of Education’s five-year strategic plan represents a collective commitment to Every Student, Every Opportunity, Every Day. We invite you to learn more about this exciting plan in the coming weeks and partner with us as we work to elevate the educational experience for all Murray students. How will you help us achieve these exciting goals for our community?