Board reviews quarterly strategic-plan report highlighting SEL gains, assessment and enrollment shifts

The Emporia Board of Education at Mary Herbert Education Center received its quarterly strategic-plan report, with administrators highlighting social-emotional learning (SEL) gains, mixed academic results across subjects and a continuing enrollment decline tied to falling birth rates.

Administrators said seven of the district’s nine buildings had been nominated for Capture Kids’ Hearts (CKH) national showcase, and credited a district behavior support specialist, Jennifer Casey, and expanded student-support staffing for improving SEL metrics. Presenters pointed to a large year-over-year drop in logged major behavior incidents at the elementary level as evidence of progress while noting some month-to-month fluctuations.

District leaders told the board the district is tracking academic data across multiple measures. The report showed 65% of students made positive ELA growth on interim measures this year and that several cohorts and subgroups — including English-language learners and students with disabilities — had pockets of growth. Math presenters said some grades and cohorts advanced while secondary-grade benchmarks continue to present challenges.

Administrators and board members discussed constraints on program choices caused by Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) rules for evidence-based resources. Several intervention resources used in prior years are no longer on KSDE’s approved list, which affects how the district may spend at-risk funds for strategist positions or interventions. Staff said they continue to seek approved resources, submit requests to KSDE for review, and prioritize use of existing online materials where possible.

The district’s new dashboard and demographic data were shown. Speakers said Emporia’s birth rate fell from 358 births in 2012 to 272 in 2023 (a decline of 86 births) and that the city population declined from 24,958 to 24,105 (a decrease of 853 residents) over the same period. Presenters tied the demographic trend to enrollment numbers shown in the packet: 217 preschool students, 248 kindergarten students and 231 “grade 13” adult/alternative-enrolled students for the current year.

Communication and family engagement achievements were highlighted. District staff described expansion of Spanish-language posts across social media, implementation of ParentSquare districtwide and statistics staff shared: roughly 62,000 direct messages sent through ParentSquare since rollout, about 97% of families contactable by at least one mode (email, text or phone) and app downloads and parental interaction rates that staff said indicate rising engagement.

Recruitment and retention efforts were reviewed. Staff described increased recruiting activity at local universities and job fairs and continued difficulty filling specialized roles such as HVAC/boiler technicians and some technology positions. Safety and operations updates included recent installation of buzz-in main entrances across sites, plans for an assessment of playground equipment, ongoing vehicle/equipment prioritization for snow removal and a vendor arrangement to secure diesel fuel blended to reduce gelling in very cold weather.

District staff described the QIESA action-plan submission (quality instruction focus) that begins February-to-February and is pending state approval in April; the plan centers on implementing SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) for English-language learners and using the district’s Observe for Success tool for educator evaluation. Staff cautioned that new state assessments and FastBridge renorming in coming years will create new baselines and require re-setting some performance goals.

Board members asked clarifying questions about data logging practices, how minor vs. major behavior incidents are recorded in PowerSchool, the district’s approach to leveling classes and use of at-risk funds to create strategist positions. Staff said the district will continue to refine data definitions, expand professional development and target at-risk funding to positions and interventions aligned to KSDE guidance.

District officials said next steps include continuing CKH implementation, digging into yearlong comparisons for behavior and academic data, pursuing approved intervention resources, and planning for the timing and baselines created by new state assessment cut scores and FastBridge renorming.

The update was for information and discussion; no final board action on the strategic plan itself was taken that evening.