Superintendent reports modest enrollment gain, residency checks and nearly $600,000 in school safety grants

Superintendent Mr. Purvis addressed the board on Aug. 20 with updates on enrollment, residency enforcement, attendance priorities and school safety grant awards.

Purvis told board members that, comparing enrollment as of Aug. 20, 2025 to the same date in 2024, the district is up about 117 students. He cautioned that first-day counts are fluid and subject to later changes as registration continues. Purvis said the district’s online student information update process is roughly 89% complete and urged parents to finish updates because the information is important for student safety and communications.

On residency enforcement, Purvis said district staff have been working with the child-welfare and attendance officer and the sheriff’s office to verify student residency when necessary; he said some home visits with sheriff’s-office assistance have already occurred. Purvis also said the district will place heavy emphasis on student attendance this year and will run communications and school-level efforts to improve attendance, noting it is also a statewide initiative.

Purvis announced that district schools applied for and won school safety grants: he listed 12 schools receiving awards (Albany Lower, Albany Middle, Albany Upper, Frost, Jubin Park Junior High, Levi Milton, Lewis Vincent, Live Oak High, South Live Oak, Springfield Elementary, Walker High and Walker Junior High) and said the total award amount was "close to $600,000." He described the grants as funds the schools will use for safety upgrades and said the district was pleased with the awards.

Purvis closed the comments by reiterating the district’s focus on student safety and attendance; no board action was required on his remarks.