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Nichols Elementary reports higher reading engagement, staffing and attendance initiatives
Summary
Nichols Elementary presented academic, staffing and community-engagement highlights to the Buchanan Board of Education, citing large increases in library circulation and Accelerated Reader participation and outlining staffing supports and safety measures tied to the district strategic plan.
Nichols Elementary school leaders summarized academic and community efforts during the Buchanan Board of Education work session Thursday, telling the board the school is using targeted literacy initiatives, differentiated instruction and community partnerships to support students.
The presenter reported Nichols has 48 faculty and staff and about 317 students and described actions aligned to the district strategic plan’s five goal areas: student academic success, communication and stakeholder engagement, a high-quality workforce, organizational effectiveness and a supportive culture and climate.
On literacy, the school said staff have been trained in the science of reading and have implemented Bookworms as a primary curriculum. Library use rose from 17,972 books checked out last year to 25,624 this year, an increase of 7,652 checkouts. The presenter also reported 20,110 Accelerated Reader (AR) tests were taken this year, up from 9,700 the prior year, and said those measures indicate students read the books they check out.
School leaders described tiered reading and math interventions, career-awareness activities with guest speakers and field trips that tied directly to classroom standards, listing visits such as Redland Farms, Okefenokee Swamp, Jacksonville Zoo and Andersonville National Historic Site.
On workforce supports, the school highlighted use of an induction specialist and retired teachers returning part time to fill instructional roles. The presenter said four new teachers on campus were supported by those induction efforts and described several hires from the district’s “grow your own” student-teacher and parent-teacher programs.
Leaders also described safety and operational practices, including daily safety procedures, use of the Raptor system, locks and other access controls, and praised custodial and cafeteria staff for keeping daily operations running smoothly.
The presentation closed with student- and staff-recognition programs, including an employee-recognition platform that sent more than 1,300 shout-outs this year and aims for 2,000 by May. The school named Miss Stacy Boms teacher of the year and announced other staff recognitions.
Board members placed the minutes from the previous meeting on the consent agenda and moved on to the next items.
