Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) will host a “state of the district” event on Nov. 15 called “Transformation in Progress” that will serve to kickstart a community engagement campaign for the district’s new strategic plan.

ACPS announced the event Tuesday and said it will take place at Eastside High School. It will include refreshments at 4:30 p.m. in the school courtyard with the actual meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium and running about an hour.

A number of speakers will present information, including ACPS Superintendent Dr. Carlee Simon, members of the leadership team, parents, teachers and students.

The district will discuss recent developments, like the new Beyond the Bell program started in September, along with challenges both related and unrelated to COVID-19.

The community will also learn how to contribute to the district’s strategic plan as it enters the drafting process.

“During the next year or so, we’re going to be creating a new strategic plan that will guide the future direction of our schools and district for the next five to ten years,” Simon said in a statement. “Talking with the people in this community about what’s important to them and hearing their ideas on how we can support all students is critical to the success of the process.”

The event comes at the end of a tumultuous first year for Simon, whom the school board appointed on an interim basis on Dec. 4, 2020. Controversies have included debates over the process of hiring Simon, her reorganization plan, her qualifications for the job, a “no confidence” petition and the district’s face mask policies.