Community Strategic Plan - San Mateo-Foster City School District

Community Strategic Plan 2027 - 2032

Together with the San Mateo-Foster City community, Bay Ed Fund, and TNTP, are co-creating and transforming a stronger public education system led by the people it serves.

About SMFCSD Vision and Community Strategic Plan

The San Mateo-Foster City School District (SMFCSD) is embarking on a bold and inclusive journey to shape the future of education in our community. Through a multi-phase Vision and Strategic Planning Process, we are bringing together students, families, educators, and community partners to co-create a shared vision and actionable roadmap for the years ahead.

12/15/25 - Celebrating Community Voices in Our District Vision

Our community came together in a powerful way at the 2nd Community Vision Meeting, with families, students, staff, and community members sharing ideas and lived experiences to help shape the future of learning in SMFCSD. Through facilitated conversations led by the Vision Design Team, participants moved beyond big ideas to describe what students should see, hear, and experience every day in our schools. These reflections are now directly informing the drafting of the district’s Community Vision.

Celebrating Community Voices in Our District Vision

11/20/25 - Learning without Limits: SMFCSD visits Lindsay Unified

The visit to Lindsay Unified School District marked a defining moment in the San Mateo-Foster City School District’s journey to reimagine what learning can look like for every student. As part of the development of our Community Strategic Plan (2027–2032), district staff, parents, and students joined partners from the Bay Ed Fund for two days of observation, conversation, and reflection in a district that has transformed the way education is experienced.

Learning without Limits: SMFCSD Visits Lindsay Unified to Reimagine Student-Centered Learning

11/7/25 - Imagining the Future of Learning

Imagining the Future of Learning

As part of the San Mateo-Foster City School District’s Community Strategic Plan initiative, on Thursday, October 30th, middle school students from across the district spent a day exploring new ways of learning at Design Tech High School and Parkside Montessori. The field trip, coordinated in partnership with the Bay Ed Fund, gave students the opportunity to experience learning environments that center creativity, student voice, and hands-on exploration. This inspiration is for how schools in SMFCSD can continue to evolve.

Imagining the Future of Learning: SMFCSD Students Explore Design Tech and Parkside Montessori

9/22/25 - Shared Commitments for a Stronger Future

Student Voices at the Center of SMFCSD’s Community Strategic Plan

In his recent letter, Superintendent Diego Ochoa reminded us: “Too often, strategic plans sit on a shelf—full of ideas, but not connected to the people they are meant to serve: students. That will not be the case here.”

Earlier this month, our Community Vision Kickoff brought those words to life. Middle school students shared their hopes for the future of school—calling for safe and welcoming spaces, deep respect, and true collaboration. Their voices set the tone for the evening, where more than 200 families, staff, and community members joined together to build on these ideas and co-create our shared commitments: Trust & Safety, Respect & Deep Listening, and Collaboration & Engagement.

This is the foundation of SMFCSD’s new Community Strategic Plan for 2027–2032, and the journey is just beginning.

Read Superintendent Ochoa's letter.

9/3/25 - Community Strategic Plan Visionary Kick-Off

Over 230 Voices Launch SMFCSD’s Community Strategic Plan!

This past Wednesday, more than 230 members of our community, including 50 of our students, came together to launch the San Mateo-Foster City School District’s new Community Strategic Plan Visioning Process. The evening was filled with energy, honesty, and hope as families, staff, students, and community partners began shaping a shared vision that will guide our Community Strategic Plan for 2027–2032.

Together, participants co-wrote commitments to guide this process: Respect & Deep Listening, Trust & Safety, and Communication & Engagement. These principles will serve as the foundation for how we work together to ensure the plan reflects the voices of our entire community.

This kickoff marks the first step in a months-long process to create a community-driven vision for the future of our schools.

We welcome the community to read Superintendent Ochoa's letter.

Vision and Strategic Planning Working Groups Phases

Phase 1 — Project Launch

Timeline: June 2025 – August 2025
Groups Involved: SMFCSD District Steering Committee & Team

The SMFCSD Steering Committee and District Team work together to launch and support the entire visioning and strategic planning process.

Steering Committee: Sets the tone for engagement, identifies key participants, and offers early feedback on goals and structure.
District Team: Comprised of cabinet-level leaders, stays closely informed and provides strategic insight to ensure district alignment.

While the Steering Committee initiates the work, the District Team sustains it, becoming more involved as planning progresses.

Phase 2 — Visioning Process

Timeline: September 2025 – May 2026 & February – May 2026
Groups Involved: Visioning Design Team, Vision Leadership Committee, and Visioning Working Group.

Together, these groups drive the creation of a new district vision.

Vision Design Team: Brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including families, students, staff, and community members, for deep learning and collaborative dialogue.
Vision Leadership Committee: A smaller group within the Visioning Working Group that synthesizes input, makes decisions, and shapes the draft of the vision.
Visioning Working Group: A broad and inclusive group providing feedback and input throughout the vision design process.

The relationships among all three groups ensure a balance of perspectives for the strategic direction, grounding the work in community leadership

Phase 3 — Strategic Plan Development

Timeline: June 2026 – December 2026
Groups Involved: Strategic Planning Leadership Committee, Strategic Planning Advisors

These committees carry the momentum from the visioning phase into action.

Strategic Planning Leadership Committee: Draws from earlier visioning members and key district leaders to design the strategic plan and lead subcommittees aligned to district priorities.
Advisory Committee: Mirrors the inclusive structure used during the visioning phase and serves as a feedback body for plan drafts.

This collaboration ensures the final strategic plan is well-designed, community-informed, and ready for implementation.

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