Lewis and Clark Elementary Principal Meredith Johnson presented the school's instructional model to the board, describing a data-driven intervention cycle she said focuses on academics and students' social-emotional needs.

Johnson said the school uses a BAR (benchmark assessment and response) system with fall benchmarks three times a year and PLCs (professional learning communities) where teachers examine data and form intervention groups called "WIN" groups. "So we're constantly talking kids that are doing well, what do they need, what are we missing," Johnson said, and added that the process includes attention to students who are excelling as well as those who need support.

She described an engagement lab, initially purchased with ESSER funds, as an immersive, theme-based space that teachers can reserve for lessons that blend academic standards with social-emotional learning: "Students love the lab. Teachers love the lab. Our behavior issues are, like, 0 in there because we have very strict rules on what you need to do there." Johnson said the school tracks postcards and positive recognitions to ensure each student receives recognition during the year.

Board members praised the presentation and asked about staffing; Johnson said the school is "pretty fully staffed" with a single line in long-term substitute status. She offered to answer questions and pointed board members to district strategy maps and Cognia/NDSight resources for more data.

Ending: The board thanked the principal for the presentation; administrators will continue to monitor the BAR process and engagement-lab usage and report as part of regular updates.