District outlines progress on operational plan: early-childhood outreach, technology plan, READ Act implementation

District administration told the Mounds View School Board on May 27 that it met all seven goals in the 2024–25 operational plan and highlighted progress on three priority areas: early childhood and kindergarten outreach, implementation of technology-audit recommendations and cybersecurity planning, and the Minnesota READ Act literacy requirements.

On early childhood outreach, district staff launched a digital campaign called “Best Start Possible” from February through April that sent emails to more than 19,000 residents and generated more than 6,000 ad clicks, according to the presentation. The district mailed resources—including more than 370 early-childhood screening invitations—and distributed first-birthday materials and books to roughly 280 families; staff reported they completed about 370 school-readiness screenings since November (about 70 per month).

For technology and cybersecurity, the district developed a three-year technology plan aligned to the True North technology assessment and to the FR Security audit recommendations. The district reported implementation of top FR security recommendations and completion of a second cybersecurity assessment to validate improvements and set new priorities; the plan is described as a living document aligned to curricular and operational needs.

On READ Act implementation, administration described an extensive professional-development requirement the state requires: all K–5 elementary teachers, K–12 special education teachers, K–12 multilingual/ELL teachers and grades 6–8 teachers who provide reading instruction were required to complete core learning training by this summer. The district selected FastBridge as its K–3 literacy screener from the state-approved list; staff said the grades 4–12 screener guidance was released recently and curriculum staff will continue implementation planning. The district also completed vendor review and recommended instructional materials for K–5, selecting CKLA for knowledge-building and a phonics foundational program for core skills; staff plan to place orders for delivery in July 2025 and provide professional development over the summer and next year.

Superintendent Lennox and staff thanked teachers and principals for the work required to meet the READ Act requirements and said the district will continue to monitor implementation and provide further updates to the board.