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Administrators rate director highly, board scores lower; district reports summer programs, enrollment uptick and falling absenteeism
Summary
Administrators rated the district director 4.49 on a 1–5 scale while the board's observational scores averaged about 3.3. The board discussed the evaluation disparity, heard updates on summer student programs and an enrollment uptick after a neighboring district change, and reviewed improved chronic absenteeism figures.
The Lake County Board of Education on June 9 reviewed the annual evaluation of the district director and heard superintendent and operational updates including summer programs, an enrollment increase tied to neighboring-district changes and improved chronic absenteeism statistics.
Administrators rated the director of schools at 4.49 on a 1–5 scale; that average was presented to the board alongside the board’s own observational ratings, which averaged about 3.3 across categories such as community relationships, staff and personnel, facilities and finance, vision, student achievement and ethics.
A board member said the difference between administrators’ (higher) ratings and the board’s (lower) observational ratings “disturbs” them and asked the board to take a closer look. Director of Schools Dr. Burton responded that he views the evaluation as “an opportunity to improve” and described steps he and his team have taken since the board retreat to increase communication with the board and administrators.
Why it matters: Annual evaluations are the board’s primary tool for reviewing district leadership on policy implementation and communication. The discrepancy between administrator and board ratings led members to request closer review of areas with lower board scores.
Superintendent and operational updates
District leaders described summer programming that includes student work opportunities on campus projects, a culinary-arts camp that leaders say will culminate in a student-run food truck, athletics summer practices and a beautification project at Lake County High School. Dr. Wertens (identified in the meeting as the superintendent speaker during the superintendent’s report) said summer hires have been made to support projects and that family and community attendance at open houses has increased.
Enrollment and staffing
Board members said a nearby district’s closure or reconfiguration is expected to bring an initial group of roughly 22 students to Lake County Schools; staff said the district will accept out-of-district students through the established application process and may add teaching positions if enrollment growth requires smaller class sizes.
Attendance and policy updates
District data presented to the board showed chronic absenteeism declined from higher levels (noted in prior years as about 37–39%) to 18% as of May 2025. Board members and staff credited targeted interventions (tiered attendance supports, collaboration with courts where applicable) and building-level work for the reduction. Staff also briefed the board on a packet of policy updates the Tennessee General Assembly passed; the proposed revisions will be reviewed and returned for board action at a future meeting.
Ending
Board members thanked staff for the program and enrollment updates and asked the director and administrators to present follow-up data on evaluation areas the board rated lower. The board agreed to continue discussing policy updates at upcoming meetings.
