Mr. Eastwood, reporting for the Thrive committee, said the high-school career speaker series will begin the second week after spring break and that communications to recruit speakers will go out this week.

He described the rapid adoption of FlexiScheduler for Friday flex sessions and pull-in appointments. Examples offered by teachers include knitting and crocheting, Spanish-language sitcom viewings for language practice, American Sign Language sessions, 5-on-5 basketball and weightlifting. One teacher proposed practical life-skills demonstrations such as changing a tire.

"This is all organic," Eastwood said, describing teachers' willingness to offer sessions outside traditional classroom content and noting early interest from students who do not usually attend the offering teachers' classes.

The committee plans to expand the middle-school career series next year based on lessons learned from the high-school pilot. No formal board action was taken; the report was informational.