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Fayetteville, NC -- As the new year unfolds, comments and recommendations provided during the district's Committed CommUNITY Chats with Dr. Connelly last fall are being synthesized to help shape the strategic direction of Cumberland County Schools (CCS).
From September through December 2023, nearly 1,800 students, staff, parents and community stakeholders attended the Committed CommUNITY Chats stops,
sponsored by Cumberland Family Academy, the district's family engagement outreach arm.
Established to be a valuable platform for dialogue and collaboration between the superintendent and stakeholders across the county, the Chats gave all the attendees an opportunity to learn more about The Cumberland Commitment: Strategic Plan 2026, share comments about how CCS is rising to the challenge and give their input about how things could be improved.
During Dr. Connelly's stop at the 10 different school sites, he met for one to two hours with each group: 10-15 students, staff from the respective attendance area and the community at-large.
The attendees shared the following commendations to Dr. Connelly:
- Strong Arts programs
- Diverse class offerings to include AP and classes at Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Positive Career and Technical Education outcomes
- Curriculum, e.g., Wonders, Bridges and Envision are well-received
- Instructional coaches are helpful
- The creation of literature and info for Spanish-speaking families appreciated
- LETRS training and the inclusion of Teacher Virtual Workdays are well-received
Conversely, the following were areas of improvement shared by Chat attendees:
- Address staff turnover and challenges recruiting teachers
- Give students frequent access to school nurses and time with school counselors
- Assess facilities issues, e.g., ceiling damage, temperature inconsistencies, etc., and make repairs
- Address several safety & security challenges: use of metal detectors, vaping and policies regarding backpack
- Analyze the slow process in hiring bus drivers
- Improve inclusivity in education, especially for Exceptional Children
Organizers said feedback from the Chats is being analyzed by district administrators to determine how it will be implemented into the Strategic Plan.
"The Chat sessions were truly meaningful," said CCS Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr. "The invaluable insights shared by our stakeholders during our Chat sessions will prove to be instrumental in shaping our path forward. I feel that their perspectives and the collaboration are the guiding lights that will propel us toward realizing our Strategic Plan goals."
About Cumberland Family Academy
Cumberland Family Academy (CFA) provides FREE workshops and educational events for the families of Cumberland County Schools (CCS). As part of its strategic plan, CCS launched CFA during the 2020-21 school year. From research, we understand that students achieve more when families are involved in their education. The purpose of the CFA program is to provide families with tools to support the success of their children’s education and to bring schools, parents/guardians, families, and community organizations together as equal partners. For more information on CFA, visit www.familyacademy.ccs.k12.nc.us.
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