NEW SCOTLAND — New Voorheesville Superintendent Brian Hunt told the school board, in his first meeting at the helm last week, that he wants to hold staff and community forums to create a five-year plan for the district.

Hunt will hold four community forums, attend staff meetings regularly, and report to the school board each month, he said. Before each discussion, Hunt told The Enterprise, materials will be on the school website so that teachers and residents can be familiar with the topics before coming to speak.

“We’ll get into a lot more details as the year goes on,” he told The Enterprise. “Each month, you look at a different aspect.”

One month, the focus, or “theme,” will be on staff development needs, he said. Another month, discussion will center on student academic performance data, and a third month’s theme will focus on extra-curricular and sports participation, Hunt said.

“It’s a very engaging process. It gets people talking about the future of the district,” Hunt said. “We’re taking the time to do it, rather than in the heat of the moment in March and April with the budget. This isn’t just about next year’s budget.”

“We’re excited about it,” school board President Timothy Blow told The Enterprise about Hunt’s plan. “The process is meant to elicit input from various constituencies.”

“Where have we been, and where are we going?” Hunt said. “What’s the best way to enhance our results for students and ensure the financial soundness for the district?”

Hunt said that the year-long process will answer those questions, and the results of the discussions will be put into a document and presented to the board as a strategic plan for the next five years.

Hunt saw a similar system in other districts, he said.

“I did find it to be useful,” he said. “It lets everybody see a comprehensive look. It gives everybody a chance for brainstorming. April and May are the brainstorming months.”

Hunt said that, at the end of the year, the district can evaluate its strengths to see what needs to be added or changed.

“What do we need to keep an eye on?” he asked.

The longer overview will keep the district’s direction from being as influenced by the budget cycle, when administrators are “fighting the battle for that year,” Hunt said.

The plan lets the district, instead, “zoom the lens out,” he said, which allows the district to better care for the community’s resources.

In August, the board will establish the goals for the year, Hunt said.

“That’s kind of the kick-off for the year,” he said. “We know Voorheesville students perform very well. Where can we adjust something so it can be even better?”

He said that high school students had new electives last year. This year, he said, the school would like to enhance that program.

The district also wants to offer options for college and career training, he said. In addition to vocational options through the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, students could see a new program, Career Development and Occupational Studies, or CDOS.

CDOS offers training in career fields entered directly after high school, like business education and family and consumer sciences, Hunt said.

“What else could we add? What could we do differently?” Hunt said. He said that Voorheesville students are situated near the Albany and Saratoga regions’ nanotechnology industries.

Voorheesville should “prepare students to get involved in those fields, if they’re interested,” he said.

The preparation for the long-term plan, he said, will allow the district to “engage all of the students,” Hunt said.

“Brian is bringing a lot of energy and focus,” Blow said. “I’m really excited about having him on board.”