Alma Forward 2040
Strategic Planning Initiative
Launched: September 2023

In 2017, the Alma School District launched a staff-led initiative called Alma Forward. A district task force — made up of educators and staff from across the district — was formed to take “a deep, intense look at where we are today, where we need to be headed, and how to get there.”

Their mission was to explore key issues, develop philosophies and goals, and outline plans and objectives to guide the district’s growth in the coming years.

The 2017 Alma Forward initiative was built around five core components:

• Beliefs

• Mission

• Strategic Parameters

• Measurable Objectives

• Strategies

The resulting Alma Forward document helped shape several school program improvements during that time.

In late 2022, the district reignited the initiative as Alma Forward 2040 — expanding its reach beyond staff to include:

• Students

• Parents

• School board members

• Community members

Feedback gathered from district-wide surveys will serve as the foundation for this next phase of strategic planning.

The year 2040 was chosen intentionally — most children born in 2022 and 2023 will graduate high school around that time.

Our focus is twofold:

1. Continuous improvement for our current students.

2. Future preparation for students who have not yet entered our schools.

We are asking ourselves: How can we best prepare all Alma students — now and in the years ahead — for success in 2040 and beyond?

The strategic plan will include the following categories:

• Educators

• Graduates / Learners

• Programs

• Facilities

• Technology

• Budget

Additional categories may be added based on survey insights.

An important outcome of this work will be the creation of a Portrait of an Alma Graduate (or Alma Learner) — a shared vision of the knowledge, skills, and character traits our students should embody. Alma High School has already begun these discussions.

Alma Forward 2040 is a long-term, continuous improvement effort — a commitment to providing the best possible educational experiences for our students and community.

While challenges are inevitable, we welcome them as opportunities to shape a stronger, brighter future for Alma’s students and families.