A recently adopted five-year strategic plan is moving into its first year of implementation as Excelsior Springs School District leaders focus on priorities across academics, student support, staffing, communication and safety.

The Board of Education recently reviewed the district’s 2026-27 strategic priorities, which identify specific action steps from the 2026-31 Comprehensive School Improvement Plan that will receive focused attention this school year. The plan is organized around six strategic areas: instruction and academic achievement, community relations and partnerships, staff retention and recruitment, facilities and operations, well-being and strategic compliance.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Bullimore explained identifying annual priorities is intended to keep the strategic plan active rather than allowing it to “sit on a shelf and collect dust.”

District leaders will return to the Board of Education throughout the year to report on implementation, with updates planned for October o…