Bloomfield Hills Schools staff gathered Thursday, Sept. 3, for a district-wide Welcome Back Day built around Destination Bloomfield 2030, the district's five-year strategic plan.

The event brought together employees from all 10 schools and departments, including Wing Lake, Conant, Eastover and Bloomfield Hills High School, according to the district's website. The district said the day was meant to build momentum heading into the school year.

The theme carried through to a "Destination Bloomfield 2030 boarding pass" gift drawing. Ten staff members won Owala water bottles, one from each school and department, including Jaime Felt of Wing Lake, Courtney Beeman of Bloomfield Hills High School and Sue Camarata from the Facilities department.

What is Destination Bloomfield 2030?

The plan grew out of a process the Board of Education launched when it approved a contract of up to $110,000 with Thru Consulting at its Sept. 29, 2025, meeting. That process drew more than 2,200 survey responses, 11 focus groups with more than 100 participants across every district building and two workshops, according to board meeting records.

Community members identified two broad areas for improvement: culture and connection, which includes a stronger sense of belonging and mental-health support, and academics, with a push for more real-world learning and deeper academic challenge.

The district adopted the tagline "Belong here. Excel anywhere."

Superintendent Rick West, in a strategic plan kickoff video released in September 2025, called the plan "a roadmap to guide us over the next 5 years, ensuring that our vision comes alive in the classroom and throughout our community."

"Excellence is never the finish line," West said in that video. "As proud as we are of these successes, we know the world is changing rapidly."

He pointed to the most recent graduating class's 96% college attendance rate, more than $9.3 million in scholarships earned and more than 26,000 hours of community service as benchmarks the district wants to build on.

Where the plan stands

At the Feb. 23 board meeting, West told the Board of Education that draft goals had been developed through "extensive data analysis and feedback collection." Board action on the final goals was planned for May or June 2026. The specific pillars and final approved goals of Destination Bloomfield 2030 have not been published in a format available for review.

The plan's mission statement calls for "bold expectations, strong relationships, and meaningful learning." Its vision describes a district "where students are known, challenged, and prepared to engage in a dynamic world with confidence and character."

West said at the Feb. 23 meeting that the goals would be brought forward for board action by June 2026.