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MSD Martinsville reports above-average iRead 3 results, adopts districtwide K–4 curriculum and expands STEM
Summary
Superintendent and assistant superintendent highlighted iRead 3 results showing the district average at 92.9 (state 87.3), adoption of CKLA for K–4, NWEA use and plans to expand PLTW and a new teacher academy to improve retention and literacy.
MSD Martinsville Schools leaders reported that the district’s third-grade iRead 3 scores exceeded the state average and outlined curriculum and programming steps aimed at sustaining gains.
Assistant Superintendent Susie Lipps presented district test results and curriculum changes. Lipps said the district average across the seven elementary schools was 92.9 on the iRead 3, compared with the state average of 87.3. She said six of seven elementary schools scored above the state average and five schools achieved a 90 percent or higher rate. Paragon Elementary earned the top percentage, Lipps said.
Lipps told the board the district has adopted the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum for all kindergarten through fourth-grade students after Paragon piloted the program. She credited the district’s pilot investment and a reading coach with contributing to Paragon’s results.
Lipps described additional steps: requiring second graders to take the iRead assessment to remediate earlier, implementing the reading-fluency feature of the NWEA adaptive assessment to measure growth, and expanding STEM programming through continued rollout of Project Lead The Way (PLTW).
Superintendent Eric Bolin and board members praised teachers and staff for a smooth start to the school year. Bolin said district staff reported the current start had been "the smoothest" many could remember and previewed upcoming projects and community partnerships.
Lipps said the district’s 2026 plan emphasizes writing stamina and cross-content writing and that primary teachers are being trained to strengthen foundational reading skills. No formal board action was required for the curricular and program reports at this meeting.
Ending: District leaders said they will continue monitoring assessments and refining programming with training and targeted interventions; staff will report progress to the board in future meetings.
