A new five-year plan: Optimal Success: Forward by Design

What happened

On August 12, 2026 the superintendent announced the district's new five-year strategic plan, Optimal Success: Forward by Design, running from 2026 to 2031. It replaces Moving Into Greatness, which ended with the 2025-2026 school year. The plan was built from community roundtable discussions held at Orange High School through the spring, with a final session on June 18, 2026, and the district's 2026-2027 goals were posted for public review at the same time.

Why it matters to families

A district's strategic plan is the document its budget, staffing and programme decisions are measured against for the next five years, so it is the main published statement of what Orange will prioritise for today's students through to 2031.

The evidence

The approved August 12, 2026 minutes record Dr. Fitzhugh announcing 'the upcoming launch of the district's new five-year strategic plan, titled Optimal Success: Forward by Design, which will guide the district from 2026 through 2031', thanking roundtable participants, and stating that the 2026-2027 district goals are on the district website. The approved March 11, 2026 minutes record that the previous plan, Moving Into Greatness, would conclude at the end of that school year and that a consultant was compiling data for the replacement. The approved June 10, 2026 minutes record the final strategic plan meeting on June 18, 2026.

The source