Dothan City Schools and Yes We Can! Dothan agreed on a co-owned strategic plan Monday night, and a partnership to last five years.

After more than a year, Dothan City Schools and the community-based education reform group "Yes We Can! Dothan came together officially at Monday night's city school board meeting.

The goal is to improve the city of Dothan by improving its public schools. Monday administrators explained more in-depth the actual steps to be taken under the 5 target areas.

Target 1- Graduation For all: Allyson Morgan with DCS says pacing guides will be set up for every course in grades 6-12. That means courses being taught at different schools mirror each other so students get the same learning experience. Performance will be evaluated, and changes to teaching style could be made.

"To use technology, to create projects within the classroom, and to work cooperatively together," says Morgan. "That is the 21st century learning skills that we talk about."

Target 2- Communication that informs, engages, and reconnects: Dell Goodwin with DCS says more events need to be set up for students at school. More of an emphasis needs to be be put on school web sites, newsletters, and newspapers. Student involvement is key to improving communication according to Goodwin.

"Each school will have a success team that works on communication that works both internally and externally," said Goodwin.

Target 3- High expectations and accountability for home, school, and community: Susan Loftin with DCS says learning can be aided by school personnel, family, and community members. The Wiregrass Foundation and Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce will set up programs to partner with students according to action steps in the agreement.

"Students need a significant 'other person' to be a role model to check on that child to let that child know that he and his progress are important," said Loftin.

Target 4- Parent responsibility and accountability: J.L McCarty of DCS says schools need to go out in the community to ensure being able to reach out to all families in a comfortable environment. He says more parent summits, like the one recently for Dothan High, will be held in local neighborhoods.

"We are going to have these activities at a community recreation center, in the churches, anywhere the parents are located," said McCarty.

Target 5- Funding better schools for a better Dothan: DCS CFO Mike Manuel says accomplishing the other targets will help DCS get funding by building trust in the community. He adds that transparency is the most important thing when spending "public money."

"Our main goal is to communicate how we spend our money and be more transparent with the public," said Manuel.

School board member Gayla White asked for accountability with the agreement. She and others want to ensure that positives and negatives are being tracked as the plan is implemented.

"The community wants to know will the school system be accountable to the community," says Superintendent Dr. Nichols. "That is all part of this plan."

Co-Chairman of Yes We Can! Dothan Morris Slingluff says he couldn't be happier that agreement was past.

"My heart has always been attached to Dothan City Schools because of the wonderful education I received."

Now he hopes current and future students can get the same in return.