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Superintendent Prince: construction on schedule, district readies students for high-stakes testing
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Prince reported that construction projects, including a new K–8 school and Fort Pierce Westwood renovations, are on schedule and on budget. He also described district efforts to prepare students and staff for upcoming high-stakes assessments.
Superintendent Dr. Prince told the board that the district’s major construction projects, including a new K–8 school in the western Grove area and Fort Pierce Westwood renovations, remain on schedule and on budget. He credited contractors and supply-chain partners for efficiency and said he expects to name a principal for the new K–8 in the coming months.
Dr. Prince also described outreach and in-school practices the district is using to prepare students for upcoming high-stakes assessments. He emphasized that preparation starts with routine classroom practice and staff attention to testing details. “Public schools are the genius of our democracy,” Dr. Prince said, framing the district’s inclusive mission and contrasting public schools with selective private and charter options.
He listed recent events and programs: a South County career fair that connected students directly with local employers and job offers; the Young Floridian Awards on April 13 at the Sunrise Theater; a north-county career fair on April 22; the St. Lucie County Education Foundation scholarship awards on April 24; and a safety festival April 26 at Clover Park.
On testing readiness, Dr. Prince described specific school-level techniques he observed during school visits: teachers and students practicing adaptive testing strategies, calculator functions, and testing-day simulations; principals arranging proctors and staff to reduce student anxiety; food-service staff coordinating supportive breakfasts for test days; and maintenance staff scheduling work to minimize distractions. He credited “one meaningful relationship that a student has with an adult” for many students’ success and said he would continue school visits through testing season.
Why it matters: The remarks outline near-term operational priorities — school openings, staffing, and test administration — that directly affect students, staff and families. The superintendent indicated plans to continue monitoring conditions at schools through the assessment window.
Next steps: Dr. Prince said the district will name a principal for the new K–8, continue to work with construction partners to maintain schedules and post updates, and keep communicating test-preparation supports to principals and staff.
