Principal Nicole Newman and assistant principal Dr. Little presented Giffen Memorial Community School’s annual update and progress to the board, highlighting enrollment, staffing, attendance work, community partnerships and behavioral supports.

Newman said Giffen serves 371 students (pre-K through fifth grade) with a student body that is roughly 54% Black and 27% Hispanic; she described hiring successes, one ongoing vacancy in first grade, and a new behavior specialist and returning community school site coordinator.

Dr. Little described four key strategies embedded in the school's SEP: a curriculum-focused instructional strategy (external consultant support for writing and lesson targets), an integrated MTSS approach combining academic and behavior teams, expanded family engagement through a rebuilt PTA that saw high attendance at a recent meeting, and distributed leadership supports including a district mentor working with building leadership.

School staff reported an overall attendance rate of about 90% and chronic absenteeism around 30% (both highlighted as receivership indicators the school must track). Newman said the school now operates a full pantry — with a newly provided freezer and refrigerator through a partnership with AFE — and offers a free laundry sign-up for families. The pantry serves roughly 15 families and has replaced a prior backpack program.

On behavior supports, Newman described 'reset' rooms and 'refocus' (ISS) as restorative options so students can decompress and return to class with TA support; staff collect data via Google forms to inform interventions. The presenters said they plan a targeted 'tier 1 reboot' to strengthen universal classroom practices where needed.

The board thanked staff for the work and recognized partnerships (including Regeneron and the Italian American Community Center for unified athletics practice space). No formal action was taken; this was a highlights and monitoring presentation.