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Wilkinson Elementary principal highlights staffing, test gains and $60,000 playground fundraiser
Summary
Principal Rio Boston told the Williston Basin School District 7 board that Wilkinson Elementary, a Title I school, navigated heavy staff turnover this year, posted measurable first‑grade test gains, expanded intervention schedules and raised about $60,000 toward playground improvements through a community 24‑hour run.
Rio Boston, principal of Wilkinson Elementary, told the Williston Basin School District 7 board on the school’s end‑of‑year showcase that Wilkinson recovered from high teacher turnover, showed measurable early‑grade academic gains and generated significant community fundraising for playground improvements.
"We figured it out," Boston said, describing a staff that settled to 13 classroom teachers, a new PE teacher, a first‑year library media specialist, a first‑year counselor and nine paraprofessionals. Boston said Wilkinson is a Title I school and that 33% of students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch.
Boston highlighted first‑grade growth on interim NDA+ tests, saying first‑grade math scores rose from 255 on the first interim to 267 by the third interim, moving the cohort above the state average. He credited targeted interventions, Title I services and professional collaboration across kindergarten and first grade for the gains.
The school is piloting the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) framework to align responses to students' academic and behavioral needs, Boston said. He described a two‑tier meeting structure: small‑block teacher meetings for classroom‑level interventions and larger meetings that include counselors and special education staff for students who need more intensive supports.
Boston outlined schedule changes planned for next year to prioritize intervention time — "win time" — and vertical alignment across kindergarten through second grade. He also described a plan to departmentalize fourth grade so teachers focus on fewer subjects and increase instructional consistency.
On school culture, Boston described a behavior matrix and conscious‑discipline practices under development and said the school used a new relationship‑building day called "Twist Day" to mix grade levels in STEAM and mentoring activities.
Boston also credited parent‑teacher organization work and community support for a 24‑hour run fundraiser that, he said, raised about $60,000 for playground improvements. "I was kind of blown away by how many people that were not connected to Wilkinson... reached out asking how to help," he said.
Board members asked about Boston’s transition from classroom teacher to administrator and about the PLC scheduling changes he is proposing. Boston said the biggest change is increased visibility and decision responsibility and urged other teachers considering administration to "go for it."
