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Superintendent reports corrected CTE enrollment, highlights attendance-achievement gap and outlines Wakefield time capsule logistics
Summary
The superintendent reported corrected CTE enrollment figures, presented data linking chronic absence to lower state assessment performance, and updated the committee on Wakefield School's time-capsule unearthing and conservation challenges.
Superintendent (name not specified) presented three items in the superintendent's report: a corrected Career and Technical Education (CTE) enrollment count, a district attendance-vs-achievement analysis, and an update on the Wakefield School time capsule.
CTE enrollment: The superintendent corrected a prior mis-sorted file and reported that the district now has 11 out-of-district students enrolled in CTE programs at South Kingstown High School (up from six last year). The superintendent listed sending communities (Charlestown, Narragansett, Jamestown, West Greenwich, East Greenwich, Warwick and Westerly) and said a fuller application discussion will be presented at the next meeting.
Attendance and achievement: Using state-assessment data, the superintendent showed that chronically absent students (missing 10% or more of school days) are associated with large achievement gaps. In grades 3'8 the district ranked well for students who are not chronically absent, but the size of the gap for chronically absent students is significant (the superintendent noted approximately 130 students were chronically absent and that gaps increase in older grades). "Come to school," the superintendent urged, explaining that students who attend perform substantially better on RICAS and other measures; committee members discussed targeted outreach and interventions aimed at restoring attendance.
Wakefield time capsule: The superintendent explained the time capsule is a concrete vault (described as roughly 2 feet by 2 feet and weighing an estimated 2,000 pounds) and detailed conservation and logistics concerns: if water intrusion occurred, mold could make a public unsealing complex; the vault will need controlled unearthing and careful planning for returning items to families and potential involvement of the South County Historical Society. The district is scheduling an opening at Wakefield School with a speaking program and is finalizing logistics.
The committee accepted the superintendent's report by voice vote.
Ending: The committee directed follow-up on CTE application materials at a future meeting, supported continued attendance initiatives, and asked administration to finalize plans for the time-capsule unearthing with conservation experts and the historical society.
