Director's report: Brigance screener shows 66.6% not ready; district posts high growth rating and new firearms-safety classes planned

During the director's report the district presented assessment, safety and program updates affecting instruction and student supports.

Mister Bunch, presenting the director's report, said the district used the Brigance kindergarten screener for the first time last year and that 66.6% of its kindergarten students scored “not ready for kindergarten.” He said results will be shared with parents and used to focus K–2 intervention work.

Bunch also announced that a law passed in 2024 requires a firearms-safety class for all K–12 students. He said the State Department of Safety developed the required learning points and the district, in partnership with Sheriff Mullins and local law enforcement, will deliver the instruction via videos created by Doctor Green and Officer Gillette. Bunch said no firearms or toy guns will be brought into schools and parents will receive an email with a pamphlet and a link to review the material; the program is expected to start within the next two to three weeks.

Doctor Green presented the district's TBOS results, explaining TBOS is a state measure of student growth where a score of 3 indicates expected growth and 5 indicates significantly exceeding expectations. He said the district earned a TBOS level 5 for the year, with nine schools earning level 5 and three schools earning level 4.

Miss Lloyd described a Walter State Community College grant that placed 11 nominated students from the district in a manufacturing inclusion camp. Lloyd said students are working on building a tiny home at Walter State and receiving hands-on experience at a local employer, Moore Company. The program targeted 10–15 students and runs during September; the district coordinated nominations for both high schools.

Matt Drennan and other staff updated the board on renovations at Miller Boyd (alternative elementary), Meadowview Middle School and Lincoln Heights Middle School. Drennan said Meadowview and Lincoln Heights phase 1 work remains on track for substantial completion by Nov. 1 and that staff plan to compress planned two years of work into one year using internal room transitions.

On chronic absenteeism, the director reported a districtwide drop from 19.1% to 14.9% year over year. He noted Alpha Elementary reduced its rate to 5% from 16.8% the previous year, Meadowview Middle led middle schools at 11.9%, and both high schools remain over 20% despite improvements. The district plans to begin calling parents when a child does not attend as an early-notification step; the practice is new and the district said it will evaluate how it works over time.