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Superintendent Ross highlights magnet awards, strategic priorities and 'gifted IEP' planning
Summary
Superintendent Doctor Ross told the School District Five board on Feb. 10 that district magnet schools received national recognition, the district is aligning advisory input with strategic goals, and staff will provide nine‑week "success criteria" to clarify expected skills — an approach the district says is not a substitute for special education IEPs.
Superintendent Doctor Ross and district staff reported to the School District Five Board of Trustees on Feb. 10 that multiple magnet schools won national awards, the district is aligning parent, student and teacher advisories with a 24‑strategy strategic plan, and staff are developing common "success criteria" for classroom expectations that district leaders said will not replace Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) but will help parents and teachers understand student strengths and gaps.
Magnet awards and counseling recognition Doctor Ross welcomed three schools recognized by Magnet Schools of America: Nursery Road Elementary School Arts Magnet (named a National Magnet School of Excellence), Leaphart Elementary School STEAM Magnet and Spring Hill High School Career Pathways Magnet (both named National Magnet Schools of Distinction). Ross also noted that Dorothy Aniro, director of school counseling at Irmo High School, was selected as the 2025 South Carolina School Counselor of the Year by the Palmetto State School Counselor Association.
Strategic plan, outcomes and data Ross summarized district strategic goals focused on academic, social and emotional growth and said the district continues to work on state outcomes. He told the board that fall assessment results show about 46% of elementary students were not on grade level in English language arts in the most recent fall assessment the district reported, and he emphasized efforts to support third‑grade outcomes in light of state retention rules referenced in the presentation as "Act 114."
Gifted IEP / success criteria discussion During Q&A, a parent asked whether the district planned to require IEPs for gifted students. Ross and Tina McCaskill (academics department) said the district is not creating IEPs for all gifted students. Instead the district will publish a set of "success criteria" — teacher‑clarified lists of the skills students should know by each nine‑week reporting period — and will use Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) interventions for students who are not meeting expectations. McCaskill said all students will receive a success criteria list; students needing additional support will have more detailed intervention plans.
Class sizes and staffing A trustee asked about class sizes for first and second grade. The district reported maximum class sizes of 22 students in non‑Title I schools and 18 students in Title I schools for first and second grades; the district said those classes are staffed with one teacher.
Next steps Ross said the district will continue aligning parent, student and teacher advisory feedback with strategic planning and the budget process, and that academics staff will return with implementation details. He also invited questions and feedback from trustees on the success criteria approach and said heavier interventions will be focused on students who are not performing well.
Ending: Trustees received the report and asked clarifying questions about implementation, class size and how success criteria will interact with existing special education processes; staff characterized the work as a step toward clearer parent‑facing information about standards and interventions.
