Comprehensive Planning 2025-2028 Information Center

Summer 2026

Dear Lackawanna Trail Community,

I hope everyone is enjoying their well-deserved summer vacation. As we anticipate the beginning of the new school year in late August, we also begin the second year of implementing our Comprehensive Plan. We’ve had a very productive start, and now we will roll out the second year through focused professional development, regular community updates, and a greater focus on measurable goals, action steps, and anticipated outcomes. This is truly a team effort. All of this is driven by our Mission Statement which is as follows:

The Mission of The Lackawanna Trail School District, in collaboration with our community, is to establish a safe and enriching learning environment where all students develop to their fullest potential. Our curricular and extracurricular programs promote a culture of inclusion, diversity, open mindedness, and mutual respect for each others’ ideas and backgrounds. Our students are empowered to develop into productive, responsible, respectful, civic-minded, critical thinking members of a global community who possess the skills to excel in a changing and interconnected world.

It is important that we all reflect upon our Mission Statement regularly.

Our first Comprehensive Planning Goal of strengthening our instructional design framework is well underway. Atlas Curriculum Mapping, the program which helps us develop accurate well aligned ELA and Math curriculum, is being utilized to align us with PA Core Standards. Staff development focused on giving our faculty the tools, support, and training to ensure evidence-based, standards-aligned practices has been effective to date, but we still have a lot of work to do.

Our second Comprehensive Planning Goal of maintaining a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment has shown great progress. As I often say that nothing happens at Lackawanna Trail unless our students and employees have a reasonable expectation of safety. Guiding this goal to fruition does exactly that. Implementing action plans aligned with this goal and carefully assessing data from climate surveys helps us enhance this area.

The action steps designed to help us hit our targets for both goals over the two years of this plan are being carefully developed. Our students benefit from our attention to detail when carrying out all the phases of Lackawanna Trail’s Comprehensive Plan.

During the public portion of the August 10th Regular Board Meeting, I will give a Slide Show presentation to update the community on our first year progress and a preview of what we plan to accomplish moving forward. I hope you can join us.

Sincerely,

Matthew Rakauskas

Superintendent

Lackawanna Trail School District

Comprehensive Plan Progress Update October 2025

Mrs. Kuchak shared a brief presentation to share an update of the district’s Comprehensive Plan, highlighting what has been accomplished, what the district is currently working on, and what’s ahead.

The plan centers on two overarching goals. Goal 1 focuses on strengthening our instructional design framework to ensure teaching is evidence-based, standards-aligned, and consistent across classrooms. Goal 2 centers on maintaining a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment that promotes student well-being and belonging. These goals will guide all district initiatives over the next three years.

For Goal 1, the target is that by 2027–28, 90% of instructional practices will be evidence-based and fully aligned with standards. This year, the focus is completing curriculum mapping for ELA and Math to achieve 100% alignment with the PA Core Standards. The district purchased and implemented the Atlas Curriculum Mapping platform, trained a District Champion Atlas Team, and have started dedicated mapping sessions for collaboration and development. Ongoing efforts include continued Atlas training and ensuring teachers have both independent and collaborative time to complete this important work.

Once fully implemented, this initiative will strengthen curriculum consistency, identify gaps or redundancies, and support clear, effective instructional planning, ultimately improving student learning outcomes.

For Goal 2, the aim is to enhance school climate so that at least 90% of survey responses reflect positive experiences with safety, inclusivity, and belonging. Later this year, we’ll conduct a district-wide climate survey, such as the PA School Climate or PAYS survey, with a goal of 75% participation.

Completed steps include the district’s first-ever New Employee Onboarding Workshop, PBIS Classroom Practices Module 1, and a collaboration with Marywood University focused on inclusion and belonging. Upcoming initiatives include additional PBIS modules, expanded student club opportunities, continued MTSS collaboration, a district social media positivity campaign, and participation in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Wellness initiative. Each of these efforts supports the district’s commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive district culture.

Moving forward, next steps include continuing curriculum and assessment alignment, expanding PBIS implementation, providing ongoing professional development, and monitoring data and feedback to stay on track toward our goals.

Mrs. Kuchak thanked the Board for their continued support and communicated how they are working together to make steady progress toward the district’s mission: to foster a safe, inclusive, and enriching environment where all students are supported in reaching their full potential.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROGRESS UPDATE 10.14.25

LTSD Comprehensive Plan 2025 – 2028 DRAFT

OTHER STATE REQUIRED REPORTS:

Academic Standards and Assessment Requirements 2025-2028

Gifted Education Plan Assurances 2025-2028

Student Services Assurances 2025-2028

Induction Plan 2025-2028

Professional Development Plan (Act 48) 2025-2028

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting 1.24.25