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Principals report enrollment pressures, new programs and security upgrades; district discusses possible bond planning
Summary
Building principals reported rising class sizes at some elementary schools, new student‑teacher placements and classroom programs, and district staff outlined planned IT and camera upgrades funded by school security money. Board also heard about staff resignations and a retirement.
Principals and district leaders used their board reports to outline enrollment trends, classroom initiatives and planned facilities and security work.
At Washington Elementary, the principal reported high class sizes in primary grades (pre‑K about 60 students; kindergarten 87; first grade 88) and said the largest class had 25 students. The building is planning activities including World Read Aloud Day and has received a donation from Alpha State Bank to fund an outdoor classroom; teachers are forming a committee to purchase and install the structure.
Longfellow Elementary described routines such as phonemic awareness lessons and celebrated a student‑teacher placement (Madeline Rankin) and upcoming events including a school spelling fundraiser (Spellathon) and student performances at upcoming athletic events. Longfellow said enrollment has declined slightly since the last report and activity‑fundraising revenue supports field trips and incentives.
Lincoln Elementary reported total enrollment of 158 (81 fourth graders; 77 fifth graders) and upcoming field trips and community events. The district highlighted building teachers selected as building teachers of the year across multiple schools and district rising‑star recognitions.
At the high school and middle school level, principals described project‑based curricula (Project Lead the Way in physical science), FFA activities, and recent classroom visits by Interquest Canines. The canine demonstration included a trained detection dog and a dog in training; staff said the demonstration was educational for students and staff and noted the variety of products that can appear in vaping devices.
Staffing and human resources items were presented: the district listed four resignations (Johanna Pachia, paraprofessional at the middle school; Carol Parsons, custodian at the middle school; Sandra Whitney, role noted at Longfellow; Janelle Gerald, custodian at the high school) and one retirement (Sue Whipple, middle‑school teacher). The retirement was acknowledged and the board thanked the employee for years of service. These personnel items were reported as information to the board and were included in the consent materials.
Facilities and security work is planned: district staff reported progress on IT network upgrades and an online help‑ticket system (36 help tickets completed Jan. 7–31; 23 open tickets assigned), and said camera upgrades for the middle and elementary schools will be funded with school‑security legislative money. District staff and principals also toured several recently built elementary schools in other districts as part of early planning for a possible local bond to address building needs; committee work and community input are planned before any bond question would proceed to voters.
The superintendent gave a legislative update noting the start of the state session and the volume of bills filed; he encouraged the district to stay engaged with legislators but cautioned that education legislation has a long process before final action.
The board heard these operational reports as part of the regular agenda; most items were informational and will be tracked by administration for follow up and implementation.
