Local schools will see a lot more of Superintendent Doug White this year.

As one of five overarching goals for tri-town schools this year, White said he wants to increase his presence in all the schools by 50 percent.

“My goal is not to be in this office,” he said at the Joint School Committee meeting on Thursday. “It’s something I’m very passionate about.”

White said he wants kids to know who he is and for students and faculty to be comfortable having him in the classroom. He added that he would like to be more available to meet with teachers during their open periods.

Rochester School Committee Chair Michelle Cusolito questioned if White could reach the goal of bi-weekly school visits amidst his other responsibilities, but also commended him for the desire to get into the classroom.

“I think that sends a really important message to faculty, staff, and students,” she said.

White also discussed the development of a safety program for the schools. Police from the three towns  and the administration are working together to develop practices that will address weaknesses and provide a more secure learning environment. There will also be a strong focus on the behavioral and mental health of students.

“We have to create an environment where kids feel safe in order for them to learn,” said White. “The ABCs and 123 and all the other stuff will come.”

Writing will also be ramped up in all subjects.

“We want to create an environment where writing becomes natural for our students. This isn’t going to happen overnight,” said White.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos said the goal is to teach students to be able to write more than just narrative writing.

The end purpose is “students being able to represent their ideas in any kind of framework,” she said.

The five goals, said White, may be tweaked after the Strategic Planning Meeting, which begins Thursday, Sept. 19 and continues on the following Saturday.