Deputy superintendent outlines ELA sprint, summer programs and wellness planning for District 25

Deputy Superintendent Saren reported on academic and wellbeing initiatives during the District 25 DPAC meeting in March, outlining an ELA sprint, summer Rising logistics and work to create a districtwide wellness vision.

Saren said the ELA sprint began March 10 and will run through April 22, targeting students "on the cusp" of proficiency in grades 3 through 8. Saren said the district identified 3,922 students in grades 3 to 5 and 2,768 students in grades 6 to 8 who meet the sprint criteria and that participating students will be expected to engage in I-Ready a minimum of 30 minutes per week during school-managed times. "This work is supplemental and will not take the place of core instruction," Saren said.

Saren also reviewed midyear I-Ready results and said some subgroups lag behind. He reported a 19 percent regression for English-language learners compared with the prior year, and said just 16.7 percent of ELL students scored above benchmark while 17 percent scored at benchmark, a combined roughly 33 percent at-or-above benchmark. Saren said students with IEPs showed some gains (he cited a 7.5 percent increase in one midyear comparison) but that overall performance for both subgroups requires strategic supports.

Luis, a district staff member, reviewed summer Rising application deadlines and schedules. He said the application deadline is March 28 and that offers are not awarded on a first-come basis; applicants who miss their preferred program are placed on wait lists. Summer Rising will begin July 2, run Monday through Friday, and operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Luis said programs for K5 will conclude Aug. 15 and middle school programs will conclude Aug. 8. He said breakfast and lunch are served daily.

Saren listed upcoming application and offer dates the district provided: high school offers were released March 6, middle school offers are scheduled for April 9, kindergarten offers on April 2, Pre-K on May 13 and 3-K on May 20. He said gifted-and-talented (G&T) upper-grade applications open April 21 and close May 9, with offer releases planned in June 2025 (exact dates not specified in the meeting).

On wellness, Saren described a planned, community-driven process to define a district wellness vision and slogan, and invited families, staff and students to contribute by survey and discussion. Proposed slogan examples presented included "Healthy minds, stronger communities, brighter futures" and "Rooted in strength, guided by kindness." Saren said the district will test candidate language with the community and solicit feedback before finalizing a short slogan.

Saren and staff answered parents' procedural questions about who is required to participate in the sprint, clarifying that the sprint targets students just below or just above proficiency and that I-Ready use varies by school. "The focus group for us is the ones that are on the cusp," he said.

The presentation included acknowledgments of recent family engagement events: a March 12 comic-book civics event (organized by Melinda Williams, Principal Miller and assistant principals Bridal and Dalelo) and a district Math Night; Saren credited Diana Stein and Wing Chung for organizing the March 15 wellness day, which included more than 30 vendor partners.

Saren closed by inviting questions and by noting that the district will continue to analyze assessment data and work with schools to target supports for ELL and IEP students.