Petersburg School Board approves new 5-year strategic plan

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- The Petersburg City Public Schools board approved its new five year strategic plan for the district on Wednesday.

In a school board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, the Petersburg School Board approved the final draft of "Petersburg Forward 2031" -- a plan that outlines the district's vision of a graduate, its core beliefs and five priorities for the district, including student achievement, talent acquisition and operational excellence.

According to the plan, the mission of PCPS "is to develop and empower students through innovation and collaboration, who demonstrate virtue and good character and make meaningful contributions to society."

The school system’s last strategic plan went into effect back in 2022. With major leadership changes having taken place since then, PCPS began creating a new plan in October 2025. The process included focus groups, surveys and a community town hall before the plan was ultimately drafted in November 2025.

Richmond school community urges support for immigrant families amid ICE concerns

One objective of the plan is to improve student content mastery and growth in reading and math. PCPS students performed more than 30 percent points below state averages in these subjects in the 2024-25 school year.

Earlier this year, three of the district's schools were deemed fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Those were Cool Spring and Walnut Hill elementary schools, as well as Petersburg High School.

Because of the VDOE's new accreditation standards, that status is separate from the state's accountability criteria, which found two-thirds of the city's schools needed intensive support, and the other third were off track.

Another priority laid out in the plan is talent acquisition, development and retention. The objectives under this priority include increasing the percentage of instructional staff who are fully licensed and certified, and increasing retention of highly-qualified staff by "working to implement a robust compensation package and provide a safe and wholesome work environment."

Fifth-annual Chocolate Fest returns to Hanover this weekend

During Wednesday's meeting, the board voted to approve the plan unanimously.

The plan's next steps are to launch awareness, communications and community outreach about the strategic plan from March to May.

Implementation of the strategic plan is set for July 1, followed by quarterly board updates from 2026 to 2031.