Superintendent presents year‑in‑review: gains on early literacy and MAP assessments, more mental‑health staff, new programs

Superintendent Dr. Papakayi delivered a year‑in‑review summarizing academic indicators, school climate measures and programmatic work from the 2024–25 school year.

Academic indicators: Dr. Papakayi presented DIBELS early-literacy snapshots for incoming first through third graders and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) cohort and tested-in-grade views for grades two through eight. She said DIBELS and MAP data show a mix of green arrows (year-to-year improvement) and some declines in specific grades and subgroups. The superintendent and staff noted gains for Hispanic and Black student subgroups and increased percentages of students meeting the 50th percentile benchmark on some MAP measures. Board members asked staff to investigate drops in some grade-level results (for example, fifth-grade ELA) and highlighted typical transition points such as fifth to sixth grade.

School climate and supports: The superintendent reported an increase in school-based mental-health providers (from nine in an earlier year to 18 in 2024–25) and described how substance-abuse referrals are now folded into broader mental-health referral counts after the district removed a standalone substance-abuse preventionist position. Threat and bullying incidents and threat assessments showed declines, staff trainings were offered, and attendance rates for students and staff remained high (student attendance around 92 percent); the district plans to produce comparative county-level attendance data upon request.

Safety systems: Staff discussed rollout logistics for a Syntegix school-safety notification system (described alternately in the meeting as safety lanyards or a school safety notification system). District staff said wiring and installation work will occur in evenings, with a tentative September start for activation depending on site work progress.

Programs and operations: Dr. Papakayi highlighted the launch of a new Judy Center, expanded career-pathways work, new ELA and math curriculum rollouts, a therapy dog program, the telehealth "Yonder" pouches, expansion of industry-recognized credentialing, recognition of the district's new-teacher mentoring program as a potential state model, a new records-management system migration to Diligent, seven completed audits with no findings, and the summer career enrichment program.

Board members commended the transparency of data reporting and the improvements shown in subgroup results. The superintendent said the district will continue to track strategic-plan indicators quarterly and return to the board with periodic updates.