Nantucket district lays out Year 3 actions: reunification drills, HR audit, ELL co-teaching pilot

Superintendent Dr. Hallett told the School Committee Sept. 2 that Year 3 of the district's five-year District Improvement Plan focuses on safety, staffing systems, English-learner supports, applied learning, student social-emotional learning and technology upgrades. "By the end of the year the district leadership team will collaborate to execute a full reunification plan drill with all stakeholders," Dr. Hallett said, describing a large-scale exercise that will involve the town's Fire and Police Departments. The superintendent said the drill will be planned in the same way airports conduct reunification exercises. The plan includes a human-resources needs assessment "based on the Department of Education standards and indicators document" to examine licensure, hiring and retention processes by June 2026. Finance goals emphasize maximizing use of federal grants and reimbursements, including Title I, II, III and IV funds. On instruction, the district will expand applied learning and continue a focus on sheltered English instruction professional development for core teachers. Dr. Hallett described a pilot co-teaching model at the elementary level so English-learner supports occur inside core classrooms rather than pulling students out of instruction. Special services goals include increasing the use of SEL (social-emotional learning) strategies by counselors, social workers and nurses and publishing parent resource guides online. Educational technology steps include network reliability upgrades and the hiring of a network administrator, Dave Evans, working with Northeast Technologies to improve switches and access points. Facilities efforts in 2025–26 include preventive maintenance, the 24 Surfside modular office project (bids to be issued), planning for Capizzo Stadium renovations and completion of camera and Gentec system upgrades. The athletic department will continue emergency-protocol reviews and expand CPR/first-aid training for coaches. Dr. Hallett said the district will continue to align school improvement plans to district goals and will finalize school-level plans after MCAS results and school council input. Committee members asked for clarification about camera systems and off-site athletic emergency protocols; the superintendent said off-site emergencies may fall to the host site's procedures or local law enforcement, but that district coaches will be trained on on-campus protocols. The draft action plan will return for further review; committee members may expect additional updates as schools complete school-level improvement plans and the district executes its safety and HR work.