Superintendent reports assessment work, CTE fundraiser proceeds, special‑education staffing challenges and stepped‑up safety coordination

Director of Schools Dr. Burton gave the superintendentreport covering instructional assessment work, CTE program activity and fundraising, special‑education staffing and placement options, and recent steps on school safety and security coordination.

Dr. Burton said district staff hired a consultant to help interpret assessment data and to guide teachers on instruction tied to standards ahead of spring testing. "That's a pivotal moment in time for a classroom teacher," Burton said, describing how assessment data are being used to target instruction and reflect on classroom practices.

Board members praised the CTE programs and the first‑year "Holiday Mart," which Dr. Burton said hosted 25 vendors; proceeds will be split across CTE programs. The CTE work was described as strong student engagement and a community success that the district plans to continue and to move earlier in the calendar next year to improve participation.

On special education, the board discussed the TEIS population and staffing shortages. The transcript records that the special‑education teacher position has been posted since June; the district had one certified applicant who accepted another job. Staff described meeting with parents to offer options including drop‑in services on campus, out‑of‑district placements, or home‑based services, and noted compensatory services remain available if baseline data show regression.

On safety, a Homeland Security agent was reported assigned to the county about two weeks before the meeting and had toured the schools with the sheriff; the agent identified door and other physical security issues that need attention. Dr. Burton named David Beal as the district safety coordinator and said Beal has convened security partners, including SROs and sheriff's department personnel; two meetings had taken place and a third was scheduled in January. A board member also mentioned a contact at Eversang Security Solutions who offered to help write grants for safety improvements.

Other items in the superintendent's report included improved benchmark results at the high school (notably in Algebra II and U.S. History), a reduction in "discount referrals" reported as down 61% year over year on the provided report, cancellations of some events and games because of illness, and plans for increased student involvement at future board meetings. The board also discussed scheduling a retreat and noted a Feb. 6 training on the board's role in school finance in Jackson.

No formal board action was taken on these operational items during the meeting; members asked staff to continue recruitment efforts for the special‑education vacancy, to refine service delivery options for TEIS students and families, to pursue security‑related grant opportunities, and to report back at upcoming meetings.