It is being described as your last best chance to express your opinions on the future of the Ironton City School system.

The kickoff for the district's five-year strategic plan is Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Ironton High School.

The strategic plan will be the document the district officials use to operate the city schools for the next five years.

A 25-member planning committee made up of educators, business people, parents, students and other community members met late last year and established a mission statement and then used that mission statement to establish firm parameters about what the district should and should not do in the future. That 25-member team also created core beliefs, objectives of the strategic plan, and

seven areas or strategies for development.

The outline for the strategic plan was presented twice to the community during public forums at Ohio University Southern in November of last year. At both forums, people were invited to sign up for one of the seven strategic teams with a specific purpose in mind: developing an implementing a comprehensive K-12 integrated computer/technology program; developing an aggressive revenue enhancement program; implementing programs to modernize the district's facilities; implementing in-service programs for all employees and volunteers; creating a career awareness program for all students; developing partnership programs to involve parents and community; and plans to create a unified school district community. Ironton High School Principal Dean Nance said about 80 people have signed up to help with the plan thus far.

During the kickoff meeting, those who attend for the first time Feb. 18 can select a team.