Kara Wall presented key findings from the Elevate '28 annual stakeholder survey (5,864 respondents), reporting increases in several perception measures: staff agreement that students "feel like they belong" rose to 97%, families and students also reported positive shifts in belonging and safety perceptions, and awareness of the Elevate '28 strategic plan improved among staff and families.

"We have made substantial gains in that endeavor," Wall said about stakeholder understanding of the strategic plan, and she flagged the need to disaggregate some responses by school and grade to better understand areas with weaker results.

Superintendent Dr. Keever then reviewed findings from listening sessions, surveys and school visits and proposed an action-oriented transition plan. He stressed three guiding priorities: be student-centered, be collaborative, and be strategic. Keever listed near-term action steps that include accelerating literacy and numeracy initiatives, establishing a "profile of a WJCC learner," expanding career and technical education (including exploring a GRTC option and a Warhill CTE center), convening stakeholder groups on mental-health supports, and phasing implementation of compensation-study recommendations across two fiscal years.

Board members welcomed the plan and encouraged prioritizing compensation/stipends, family outreach and convening advisory councils. Keever said some next steps will be presented at a joint meeting with city and county officials to secure broader understanding and support.

Next steps: staff will disaggregate survey results for targeted action, convene advisory groups, run employee webinars for messaging, and present elements of the transition plan to local government partners.