Topics for this week’s School Board retreat include efforts to improve the on-time graduation rate, dropout prevention and the school system’s budget and capital plan.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Black Box Theater at King’s Fork High School. A lunch break is planned for 1 p.m. The retreat is scheduled to end by 4 p.m.

“This session is designed for long-term planning and comprehensive overviews of the division’s programs, processes and priorities,” Suffolk Public Schools spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw said in an email Monday.

She provided a tentative list of topics that includes updates from staff on the 2010-11 School Board goals and objectives; discussion of the roles and responsibilities of School Board members, superintendent and principals; information on the district’s use of instructional technology; updates on on-time graduation rates and dropout prevention efforts; overview of selected instructional areas; and a discussion on the budget and capital improvements plan.

Of interest to many — at least in the southern and western portions of the city — will be the capital improvements plan discussion. Residents and taxpayers are looking for a resolution to the seemingly interminable debate over where to place a new elementary school that will replace the aging Southwestern Elementary School in Holland and Robertson Elementary School in Whaleyville.

The city plans to allocate $1.5 million in the coming fiscal year for acquisition and design expenses, with the full amount to build the school coming in fiscal year 2013.

The full agenda will be available Tuesday at pesb.spsk12.net. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting.