Lehighton Area School District is hosting a community planning session on Jan. 17 as it seeks to compile ideas for future budgeting and planning.

Superintendent Dr. Christina Fish said the session, which is open to the public, will run from 6-7:30 p.m. in the district board room.

“In our long range planning, we want to be responsive to student needs so we want to hear from the community on what they are looking for in their graduates,” Fish said.

One of the ideas Fish is already looking to bring to Lehighton is “Portrait of a Graduate.”

The process, which Pleasant Valley School District took on several years ago, aims to outline the skills and character traits a district wants one of its graduates to possess.

Districts typically bring together students, staff, teachers, community leaders, business leaders, and school administrators to create the portrait.

“It’s a very extensive process but at the end of the day you come away with a very good idea of the traits and tools you want graduates to have when they leave our district,” Fish said.

Ideas that come out of the planning session will be discussed by the school board at its Jan. 20 retreat.

“Goals and budget preparation will be a big part of that retreat and what we hear at the community planning meeting will go a long way in driving some of that conversation,” Fish said.

Anyone who can’t make the meeting on the 17th can still share their thoughts by emailing Fish at cfish@lehighton.org.