Superintendent Gibbs highlights near-90% attendance, family guide, student leadership council and service day

At the School District of the City of Erie regular board meeting on Sept. 10, 2025, Superintendent Doctor Gibbs reported the new school year is underway and highlighted operational priorities including safety protocols, attendance, family communications and student leadership initiatives.

Gibbs told the board the district’s attendance rate is “approximately at 90% as of date,” and described attendance as a critical building block of student success. The superintendent said the district is finalizing safety protocols and training, and that staff training and unified communications to families will be distributed to ensure consistent information.

Gibbs also announced the release of the “Erie Public Schools family information guide,” posted to the district website and ParentSquare; the guide accompanies the annual handbook and includes transportation, bell schedules, dress code, graduation requirements, legal information and language accessibility resources. He said the guide was uploaded to Schoology as well.

The superintendent recognized recent school achievements and community partnerships: Perry Elementary’s early-literacy campaign encouraging 100 reading visits in the first 100 days; Erie High’s marching band showcase; a 6-0 soccer win for the boys’ team; and events supported by community partners such as the Inner City Neighborhood Art House’s Taste of the Arts. Gibbs also praised the newly formed student leadership council as an opportunity for students to serve alongside the board and to develop governance experience; board member Doctor Brennaman and other directors were cited for supporting the student leadership initiative.

Gibbs asked the community to join the district’s first service day of the year: a packing party on Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the Erie High gym, and the service day on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon. He said the district intends to make service days recurring opportunities for students to practice civic engagement.

Board members and committee representatives also provided program updates under committee reports, including the Foundation for Erie Public Schools’ volunteer clinics, teacher-grant cycles that funded more than $25,000 in classroom projects last year, district wellness activities and community school events such as Strong Vincent Middle School’s wellness fair attended by more than 860 families.

Gibbs closed by urging continued collaboration across the board, administration, staff and families as the district moves forward with its Building Excellence Together strategic priorities.