Superintendent outlines enrollment gains, three 'network' structure for schools and proposes a charter‑school office

Superintendent Dr. Barry Brown presented a broad fall update on Aug. 11, reporting preliminary enrollment, a new central‑office networking structure to support schools, a proposed charter‑school office and a small academic calendar revision.

Enrollment and withdrawals: As of Aug. 11, Dr. Brown said the district’s enrollment stood at 6,160 students. He reported approved enrollments prior to June 1 totaled 151; the district recorded 98 enrollments in June, 270 in July and 67 enrollments for August so far. Dr. Brown also said withdrawals from June through August numbered 105 compared with 257 in the same period last year — a change he described as an encouraging reduction in transient enrollment.

Networks and instructional strategy: Dr. Brown described a new “three‑network” organization intended to give schools more consistent, job‑embedded instructional support and to align central office resources with building needs. The three networks are: - Access and Opportunity Zone: Bearcat Cyber and William Penn Senior High School, network lead Dr. Natasha Mathis. - Dream It Forward (network lead vacant): Davis, Devers, McKinley, and STEAM Academy. - Schools of Innovation: Goode, Ferguson, Annapen and Jackson, network lead Dr. Brandon Carter.

Dr. Danielle Miles, director of networks and projects, will lead network rollout and staff the networks with content coaches. Dr. Miles and Dr. Carter described coaches aligned to math, ELA, talent management and special populations. Dr. Miles said the network design prioritizes coaching and in‑school presence: “The priority for the networks… is to ensure that when a student hits the seat, they're receiving the the highest quality instruction,” she said, adding that coaches will spend the bulk of their time in classrooms.

Charter school office proposal: Dr. Brown requested board approval of the concept of a charter‑school office, authority to allocate initial funding and direction to develop policies, a handbook, and a timeline. He said the district needs a more structured charter‑oversight process that includes dashboards and regular reporting (Shar’s reports and similar compliance documents). The superintendent said the administration has a scope of work and a contract line in the packet (identified in the presentation as work for a contractor named in the packet) and characterized the initial cost as a one‑time contract item; the committee asked for any necessary clarifications and said the matter will be on the board meeting docket where public comment is available.

Calendar and staffing updates: The superintendent said the district is adding grades 8 and 12 to Aug. 19 to meet instructional hour requirements and will keep Aug. 20 as the first day for all students. Dr. Brown also outlined several proposed reassignments and vacancies across schools and central office, and listed teaching and specialist openings (speech pathologist, ELA teachers, science and math openings at specific schools). He said HR reported the lowest number of open positions in nine years, but vacancies remain in key areas.

Public process and next steps: The superintendent said administration will bring formal documents and any needed contract language to the regular board meeting for action; public comment on any agenda items will be heard at the regular board meeting where votes occur.