Superintendent reports enrollment dip, attendance gains, new CTE pathway, clinic partnership and apprenticeship pilot

The superintendent of the Central Falls School District reported a set of operational and program updates, including a small net decline in enrollment, improving attendance in most schools, expansion of career and technical education offerings, a new health-clinic partnership for the high school, and a pilot apprenticeship for teaching assistants.

Enrollment and attendance: The superintendent said district enrollment is down 11 students since January and that staff are tracking a modest increase in families considering unenrollment and departures from the U.S. The district will begin providing monthly enrollment and attendance updates. In positive contrast, five of seven schools reduced their rate of chronic absenteeism in year-over-year comparisons, the superintendent said; the increases at two schools were described as still potentially reducible before the end of the school year because the percentages reported were measured against the current year’s missing-days threshold.

Career and technical education: The district received an additional $20,000 for work-based learning tied to its computer-science pathway, the superintendent said. The board was also told the district was approved for a new career and technical education pathway in translation and interpretation, which the superintendent described as the first such pathway in the state and the third in the nation. The superintendent said the pathway builds on the district’s multilingual community and will provide certification opportunities for students.

Principal search and student outcomes: The superintendent reported 14 applicants for a high-school principal opening; five candidates participated in an initial round that required a 48-hour scenario presentation, three will move to school-based interviews with students, parents, board members and staff next week, and the district aims to make an offer for the Central Falls High School principal by the 30th of the month. The superintendent also shared that 65 college acceptances had been received so far by students and noted that Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates were relatively low compared with other communities; the guidance team cited national concerns and some families’ reluctance to enter information into federal portals as factors.

Health clinic partnership and apprenticeship pilot: The superintendent announced a tripartite agreement among the district, Blackstone Valley Community Health Clinic and the SMART team to operate a clinic within the new high school; Dr. Pacheco of Blackstone Valley Community Health Clinic was credited as an active partner. Separately, the district is participating in a state-supported apprenticeship that allows teaching assistants to "earn while they learn"; the program is a pilot in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the NEA, the AFT, the governor’s office, Rhode Island College and the Institute for Labor Studies. The first year will be small and the district expects to select two teaching assistants for the initial cohort.

Teacher-assistant staffing: Board members asked for counts of teaching assistants. The superintendent reported roughly 53 teacher assistants specifically, and a combined total of about 100 when personal care assistants and related roles are included. The superintendent said 12 teaching assistants currently hold a bachelor’s degree.

Playground funding and timeline: The superintendent told the board that the school building committee approved funding for a new playground to be located in front of the existing Robertson building (the project is a partnership between the city and the district). Construction funding was advanced by the city to allow the project to proceed sooner and will be reimbursed afterward through the state reimbursement process used for school improvement projects. The superintendent said construction could begin soon and that the playground should be in place by the following fall, pending the usual state reimbursement and project scheduling.

Questions and next steps: Board members asked follow-up questions about attendance differences between half-day and full-day early childhood programs, the number of students participating in CTE programs and whether accepted students might face barriers to enrolling in colleges they have been accepted to. The superintendent said the district would provide additional statistics (for example, exact percentages for Captain Hunt attendance, the precise CTE participation percentage and guidance follow-up on college enrollment barriers) at a later date.

The superintendent concluded the update and the board moved on to other agenda items.