High school launches mentor program, schedules academic-support period and reports attendance gains

In an administrative report, High School Principal Christina Liss described the building's focus on three district goals: relationships, scholastic achievement, and postsecondary/career readiness. She introduced a mentor program that aims to recruit about 20 mentors to work with two scholars each on targeted academic and social-emotional goals.

Liss said the district adopted a new bell schedule for the 2024 25 school year that includes an academic-support period during the school day. She said the change is intended to increase equity and access by allowing students who cannot stay after school for transportation or work reasons to attend review classes and extracurriculars during the school day.

She reported data showing September daily attendance at 90.66%, up from 88.53% earlier, and said the district's target should be roughly 92—3% to reduce chronic absenteeism. Liss also said approximately 60 students were receiving targeted literacy instruction at the secondary level and that departments are implementing data protocols and PLC-driven reviews to align instruction and assessments with Regents-style expectations.

Liss framed the schedule change and mentor program as complementary efforts to improve engagement and outcomes ahead of upcoming Regents examinations.

The board asked follow-up questions about timelines for mentor staffing and early results from data-alignment efforts; Liss said MOAs and training would be completed prior to bringing mentor positions to the board for final approval.