Superintendent reports improved transportation and extended-day service in first week; attendance near demographer�����s forecast

Superintendent Bois Shade opened the Aug. 26 work session with a summary of the districts first week of school and said the district saw attendance close to demographer projections. The demographer had forecast "a little more than 15,000 students" returning after a recent storm, and the districts highest attendance day was 14,979 on Thursday, Aug. 21.

The nut graf: district leaders described operational improvements in transportation at the Gateway complex and reported early- and after-school care enrollment numbers as early indicators of service continuity in the wake of recent storm damage.

Doctor White, representing the Gateway complex, told the board that transportation had improved markedly since the first day: buses were generally arriving on time, staff worked across elementary and middle schools to ensure students boarded and no students were left behind. "We've seen great improvements on our end as a staff," Doctor White said, crediting teachers and staff for coordination that allowed buses to depart on schedule.

Superintendent Bois Shade also reported early-childhood and extended-day service numbers: the before-care program was serving about 385 students and after-care about 494 students during the first week. The superintendent said cabinet meetings and school visits included site visits to Stevens at Sumner, Yeatman, Ames and Washington Montessori and to Gateway, where principals and alumni greeted the team.

District leaders said they will continue to work with the demographer to update projections following storm impacts and will monitor transportation reliability and extended-day enrollment as operations settle into the term. No formal board actions were taken on these operational reports; they were informational updates to the board.