2024-2029 Action Plan

Dear residents, partners in our journey,

A municipality is entrusted to manage our city based on structured work plans and action-oriented strategies. Over the past year, I have developed the “Connected to Modi’in 2024-2029 Action Plan”, which focuses on education and social/societal services, which form the cornerstone of our core values.

In this plan, I have incorporated all the values and themes that characterize our beloved city as I envision it in the coming decade. With the support of a dedicated team of experts, professionals, and city residents who have rallied to this mission, we are building a city that requires leadership capable of aligning individual needs in various aspects of life with a clear vision, milestones, and successful execution.

Modi'in is a city characterized by its diverse population, including children, youth, adults, and seniors. These are the target audiences we have in mind when crafting this plan. 

The children attending our municipal education system will grow into a new reality characterized by inclusivity and equality, where no child falls through the cracks and where each individual can thrive at their own pace and with their unique interests, reaching their full potential. This vision entails adapting our educational system to the new era, incorporating innovation, values, and tools.

Special education students, small classes, communication classes, and inclusion will become integral parts of the city throughout all life stages, allowing for an equal and productive life, and providing 100% of all special-needs solutions within the city of Modi’in, with a strong emphasis on housing and employment.

New immigrants, a source of pride for us, will enjoy expanded opportunities and accommodations that will help facilitate their full integration into all aspects of life within the city.

Our senior citizens and Holocaust survivors will enjoy a life of dignity. The senior population in the city will have access to a variety of enrichment, leisure, and cultural activities, along with a municipal infrastructure that supports their needs and life challenges.

The city of Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut will become Israel’s capital city for community facilities and societal services, a city that is a flagship for innovative vision and execution capabilities and that allows each resident precise solutions tailored to their needs.

Twenty-one years ago, I chose to live in Modi'in and raise my children here. In the last five years, I volunteered to take on the role of deputy mayor, leading initiatives that I consider crucial for both the nation and our residents. As a parent, a son, a resident, and a public representative, I understand the challenges we face. I believe in our city and am confident that together, we will make it the best, safest city, and a place tailored to include all the city's residents.

Warm regards,
Amiad Taub

Chairman of the Connected To Modi’in faction, Deputy Mayor of Modi'in

Amichai Zelig, council member, holds the communities portfolio

Connected to Education

Vision:
"A municipal educational system that knows how to 'see' every student and how to tailor personalized solutions for them, instill values, develop abilities, and provide tools to enable every child in Modi'in to reach an equal starting point for life at the age of 18."

Goals:

  • "Nekuda" program to identify the strengths of each child in the city and develop their skills, characteristics, and abilities as a stepping stone to their success.
  • Implementing a program to identify and develop solutions for "invisible" children with the goal of reducing the number of such children in the system to zero.
  • Establishing an “Innovation and Initiatives” branch within the municipal education administration.
  • Providing equal opportunities for enrichment studies to families who cannot afford it.
  • Strengthening outstanding groups in cutting edge fields through partnerships with colleges, the high-tech industry, and technology and cyber units in the IDF.
  • Developing digital creative learning spaces.
  • "Connected to Everyone" program in all schools to raise awareness of gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, and life-threatening allergies in all schools, and providing incentives for schools to become "Safe Schools for All".

Connected to Early Education

Vision: 

"In the municipal educational system, the emphasis must be placed on building strong foundations."

Goals:

  • Upgrading and standardizing the quality of teaching and education in daycares and after-school programs, with the aim of creating consistent pedagogical quality at the beginning and end of the school day.
  • Empowering teaching staff in daycares and after-school programs.
  • Setting a municipal standard for healthy food.
  • Creating a standard of quality for kindergartens that would require appropriate training and pedagogical supervision.
  • Making buildings more accessible and adding cameras for monitoring.
  • Expanding professional training for kindergarten teachers and assistants.

Connected to Social Services

Vision: 

"The city will lead social justice through the development of services that benefit the city's residents, improve the quality of life, and address social challenges while providing professional and organizational tools, emphasizing efficiency, transparency, innovation, and adaptability to changes in society."

Goals:

  • Expanding the Benefits Center we established for all communities and adding services in English, Russian, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
  • Benefits advisors for all new residents in all languages.
  • Developing of broad training for residents to identify at-risk behaviors and provide interventions.
  • Training department staff for community integration, employment, and family economic management.
  • Involving volunteer organizations in building work plans, pooling resources, and filling challenges and gaps.
  • Establishing a shelter for victims of domestic violence and launching a municipal awareness campaign on the topic.
  • Protection of children and adolescents and improving their functioning and that of their families, and establishing additional municipal clubs for them.
  • Protecting the elderly population and promoting their welfare.
  • Improving the functioning of addicts and their families.
  • Promoting community resilience in Modi'in, strengthening the social fabric, empowering social services recipients, and developing local leadership, via cooperation between organizations.
  • Improving the economic-employment status of the department's services recipients.
  • Developing and implementing a support system for emergency situations.
  • Municipal reform in the area of rides and chaperones.
  • Citywide awareness campaign for exemptions from waiting in lines — raising awareness of businesses and residents.
  • Encouraging and supporting health services (קופת חולים) initiatives for promoting good health.
  • Increasing the number of social workers to meet standards and reducing the number of cases for each one, to facilitate proactive inquiries and promote proactive local initiatives.
  • Developing an encompassing plan for single-parent families, and providing individualized benefits advice.

Connected to Resident Services

Vision: 

"A smile costs nothing. Implementing an organizational culture and a mindset of conscious and courteous service to residents."

Goals:

  • Establishing citizen service centers in various neighborhoods, within which most municipal services can be consolidated, and streamlining bureaucratic processes.
  • Issuing a comprehensive smart resident ID.
  • Increasing the number of municipal police patrol cars, ensuring at least one such patrol car in each neighborhood.
  • Expanding the number of municipal surveillance cameras, with an emphasis on public parks and central areas.
  • Implementing an immediate service quality index program in different departments through real-time SMS surveys and result analysis.

Connected to Senior Citizens and Holocaust Survivors

Vision: 

"Senior residents are an asset to the city. Their life experience is a tremendous resource for the city. Providing comprehensive services and development for our senior residents is our municipal duty."

Goals:

  • Establishing a council of senior residents to listen to their requests, desires, and advice.
  • Expanding the activities of the Benefits Center for Holocaust Survivors, expanding accessibility, and even offering at-home access to benefits services when needed.
  • Adding additional “warm homes” (בתים חמים) to prevent loneliness, in addition to the nine homes already established throughout the various neighborhoods.
  • Customizing the voice response system in the municipality's districts for senior residents to reach human assistance directly.
  • Establishing a Senior Center providing professional assistance, free of charge, for minor home repairs.
  • Allocating dedicated parking spaces for senior residents.
  • Expanding the "Safe Home" project and conducting a safety and accessibility survey in homes.
  • Expanding the "Eternal Memory of the Holocaust" project and adding a Holocaust book corner to the municipal library.
  • Reducing digital and technological gaps through partnerships with local high schools.

Connected to Special-Needs Families

Vision: 

"The city views special-needs families as a source of strength and empowerment and will strive to provide 100% housing and employment solutions within the community."

Goals:

  • Establishing Israel’s capital for special needs families, the "Horizon" (אופק) neighborhood, an accessible and inclusive neighborhood with a focus on adults with special needs at all functional levels.
  • Converting vacant schools into housing and employment centers.
  • Developing programs to provide 100% of housing and employment within the city and the community.
  • Expanding the David Yellin project for the training of graduates with special needs in education and their integration into full-time employment within the municipality.
  • Subsidizing and supporting the establishment of integrated housing facilities.
  • Establishing a municipal training center for flexible professions (digital, photography, hi-tech) for graduates with special needs and special-needs parents.
  • Expanding activities for special-needs families like summer festivals, appreciation events, shows, and more.
  • Adding accessible facilities in all city parks.
  • Expanding the integrated "Blended Voices" project, including a young adult choir and a parents choir.
  • Developing a Bar/Bat Mitzvah program for special-needs children.
  • Expanding the Family Center and integrating treatments for children with special needs.
  • Establishing integrated housing for high-functioning students.
  • Establishing integrated social clubs for adults with and without special needs.

Connected to Aliyah Absorption

Vision: 

"The city of Modi'in will be open to Jewish immigration and the ingathering of exiles (קיבוץ גלויות)."

Goals:

  • Municipal assistance in converting professional licenses.
  • Making all municipal services available in all languages and areas of activity.
  • Appointing an immigrant coordinator in the engineering department.
  • Supporting the young generation and fostering a sense of belonging through youth movement projects.
  • Utilizing the potential of Aliyah absorption as a social strengthening factor for the city.

Connected to Youth

Vision: 

"The city of Modi'in sees young boys and girls as its most important asset and will ensure that their value system is complete."

Goals:

  • Conducting inspections of youth movement buildings, adding renovations and canopies.
  • Establishing a Parents' Council and appointing a parent alumnus for each branch and troop in each youth movement.
  • Conducting training workshops for all educational staff on topics such as social exclusion, suicidality, at-risk behavior, addiction, and sexuality.
  • Encouraging meaningful service in the IDF and establishing an army service preparation center.
  • Establishing a fitness facility for IDF preparation.
  • Establishing a dedicated space for young artists' exhibitions.

Connected to Religion-Related Services

Vision: 

"Strengthening the Jewish identity of the city while reducing historical tensions arising from the relationship between religion and state, developing services and solutions for all residents, and emphasizing service after 120."

Goals:

  • Increasing Jewish heritage and culture activity.
  • Continuing to integrate digital means into religion-related services.
  • Including women in religion-related services and training female kashrut supervisors (משגיחות), who will work within municipal framework.
  • Building a large, covered eulogy site at the cemetery with areas for sitting.
  • Expanding shiva (שבעה) provisions for city residents.
  • Developing Jewish infrastructure (synagogues, mikvehs) according to the needs of each neighborhood.
  • Supporting Jewish communal activities open to all neighborhood residents.
  • Expanding support for promoting activities for both secular and religious Jews.

Connected to Special Education

Vision: 

"The Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut municipality recognizes its diverse society and sees the uniqueness of special education students as a valuable asset for the entire community. The city will enable equal opportunities for personal fulfillment while preserving the individuality of each student. The municipality will embrace diversity while adapting responses flexibly and dynamically, with the emotional, educational, and social needs of the child at the forefront."

Goals:

  • Establishing separate special needs schools (in addition to Pasifas, Gvanim, and Tzlilim) for children of various ages with autism, intellectual disabilities, or rehabilitation.
  • Separation of primary and secondary schools to create age-appropriate and protected learning experiences for the students, and to prevent “imitation” of negative behaviors.
  • Establishing an inclusive, integrated, and budgeted elementary school for low- and medium-functioning children, and a structured program for the integration of children without disabilities from preschool age.
  • Establishing a municipal school for mentally and emotionally challenged students.
  • Transforming assistants into learning support staff, and adding aides for changing and feeding.
  • Establishing a municipal program for transitions between kindergarten and school, and programs for after the age of 21.
  • Adapting the curriculum to the various disabilities within the classrooms.
  • Establishing special schools within the community to prevent excessive commuting outside the city and to provide local solutions for children.
  • Providing support and strengthening the family unit in all matters related to family benefits, financial support, and assistance in achieving independent living.

Connected to Protection of Infants, Children, Elderly, and Special Needs Residents

Vision: 

“In the upcoming term, the installation of cameras will advance in kindergartens, special education schools, daycare centers, senior centers, etc., to combat child and elder abuse and neglect.”

Goals:

The program will include different degrees of surveillance between infants, special education in both low-functioning and high-functioning individuals, and the elderly:

  • The installation of online cameras will be introduced in daycare centers for children aged 0-3.
  • Fixed cameras will be installed in kindergartens for ages 3-6.
  • Cameras will be installed in special-education kindergartens and schools, and centers for low and moderate functioning individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

The cameras will be monitored by a joint team of parents' representatives and authority representatives once a month.

The retention period for footage from fixed cameras will be 90 days.

Zero tolerance for violence. Staff members engaged in inappropriate behavior will not be allowed to continue working within the authority's educational framework.

To prevent inappropriate behavior and ensure the safety of children and staff, training and guidance will be provided.

Connected to Families with members in Defence Services

Vision:

"The municipality of Modi'in Maccabim Reut recognizes, acknowledges and cherishes the contribution of the permanent soldiers (Keva), the reservists and the security forces to the people and the country, both at the front and the back end. Our effort lies in providing full compensation to both the serving forces and their family members".

Goals:

  • Establishing a city committee which holds the portfolio for all members of the security force.
  • Establishment of a municipal department to give acknowledgement and response the families of those serving in the IDF and security force.
  • Set up a municipal plan to train schools in diagnosing and treating the children of those serving in the IDF and security force during challenging and difficult times.
  • Conduct a project with treatment options for families of those serving in the IDF and security force
  • Establishing frequent appreciation events for families of security forces
  • Prioritizing serving IDF and security forces in municipal centers
  • Developing a financial “Benefit Association” for serving IDF and security forces
  • Business promotion for self-employed IDF reservists

Connected to the Community

Vision:

The concept of community communicates the need to contribute, be a part of, to organize and manifest the municipal solidarity and mutual responsibilities. The city's communities and neighborhoods will shape the strong foundation stone of municipal activities."

Goals:

  • Additional resources for the community department
  • Additional community centers in the areas and neighborhoods of the city, in addition to the colorful community building established by Amichai Zelig.
  • Development of cultural activities and community events in the city's neighborhoods.
  • Having film evenings in the parks, singing evenings, activities around holidays and neighborhood ceremonies.
  • Engagement of the public and residents of the neighborhood
  • Strengthening existing neighborhood teams at their work with the community coordinators in the Community Division.
  • Set up work plans and budgeting all activities in each community
  • Joint neighborhood events in residents’ houses
  • Development and support of community leaders

Connected to Infrastructure and Public Transportation

To provide a better solution to the transportation problems in the city, it is important to recognize the needs and adapt the routes of public transportation to the character and uniqueness of the city.

The goal – shorter and faster routes that will reach all the important locations such as the train stations, the entertainment centers and employment areas from every area of the city.

The solution – short and relatively fast bus lines, which will travel only between the main boulevards of the city and the "Emakim" without entering the streets within the neighborhoods. These lines will reach the train station and continue to the entertainment and recreation areas. Each area of the city will have its own line.

In addition, lines will continue to commute with a lower frequency within the neighborhoods which will provide services to the residents who cannot get around easily to the main roads and the main lines.