KEYRIS MANZANARES: At Monday night's Richmond School Board meeting, director of advocacy Matthew Stanley and Superintendent Jason Kamras introduced Dreams4RPS, a five year strategic plan.

Kamras outlined several big bets to help the district reach its goals, including an expansion of the RPS200 program, which extends the school year by beginning classes in mid-July to all elementary schools.

JASON KAMRAS: We just put a stake in the ground to go big at all elementary schools.

That's also not a recommendation that we move to that next year.

Again, this is a five-year plan and so the vision would be that we would get there over the course of five years.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: Neri Suarez, president of the Richmond Education Association, pushed back on this.

NERI SUAREZ: We have many questions about the costs, pay and feasibility of this plan.

Further, after only one year, initial data shows gains at Fairfield Court, but only minimal ones at Cardinal.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: Several school board members also raised concerns about lack of data, teacher retention and the anxiety they say some families and staff are already experiencing.

KENYA GIBSON: And I think it's especially critical that we engage the teachers union in this process.

As, you know, there is concern about teachers leaving because they felt that the RPS200 program, as it's been developed so far, hasn't been effective.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: The next iteration of the strategic plan will be introduced at the August 20th school board meeting.

Reporting for VPM News, I'm Keyris Manzanares.