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Superintendent spotlights attendance push, translated messaging tool and equity audit plans
Summary
Superintendent Chris Campbell outlined district initiatives including an attendance campaign, districtwide rollout of TalkingPoints for translated communications, a forthcoming equity audit, and early-stage planning for parking and playground changes at Nathaniel Morton.
Superintendent Chris Campbell summarized a series of district initiatives to the school committee on Feb. 10, including attendance-improvement work, a new family-communication tool that translates messages, an equity audit of district policies and operations, and early conceptual planning for parking and playground changes at Nathaniel Morton Elementary School.
Campbell said the district has increased its focus on chronic absenteeism with a three-pronged approach: data-driven decision-making using the district’s analytics tools, community outreach and incentives, and targeted interventions at the school level. He described monthly collaborative attendance reviews with resident-services staff at Algonquin Heights and the district’s attendance supervisor.
Campbell highlighted TalkingPoints, an app that synchronizes with the student information system and delivers messages to families in their preferred languages. "TalkingPoints is a game changer for us," he said, noting the tool translates two-way messages and is being used for classroom and school communications, permission slips and attendance reminders.
On equity work, Campbell said the district is commissioning a comprehensive equity audit that will include building- and district-level self-assessments, stakeholder surveys of families and students, curriculum review and interviews. The stated goal is to assess policies, procedures and materials and to increase access and cultural representation in instruction.
Campbell also reported an early-stage proposal from Park Plymouth to reconfigure parking and playground areas at Nathaniel Morton Elementary to expand parking and to provide a safer bus staging area at dismissal. He said civil-engineering concepts will be shared with the school community before any plans advance.
Committee members raised the role of cell phones and social media on student well-being. Campbell referenced a recent toolkit presented by the state attorney general’s office and suggested the district might host further presentations for families and staff.
Campbell closed with operational reminders (budget calendar and upcoming events) and a goals update that he said he will publish with evidence and metrics; committee members asked for follow-up on attendance metrics and the equity audit plan.
The committee received the superintendent’s report for information; no votes were taken on the items presented.
