District reports mixed academic gains and flags new state accountability model

At the Oct. 1 meeting, Doctor Watkins delivered the district's monthly school improvement update, reporting mixed yet notable changes in student outcomes and attendance. Key metrics cited included math proficiency at 34%, science (or biology) proficiency at 42.6%, overall daily attendance of 93%, and chronic absenteeism recorded at 24.58%.

Watkins said reading growth and some early‑grade indices have improved; the district’s bottom‑25% growth in reading and math were reported in the packet and staff emphasized collaborative instructional strategies across schools to support further gains. Board members asked whether recent increases in absenteeism reflected illness; staff said a flu outbreak contributed but that teacher attendance remained high at about 97%.

Trustees pressed about the state's revised accountability model and whether the district would know how prior results map to the new system. Watkins said the state will apply the new model retroactively and provide the district with what last year's results would have been under the new metrics. One trustee summarized the change bluntly: “They are moving the goal post,” reflecting concern about higher cut scores and district cutoffs on the district‑level standard.

Board members asked about targeted initiatives to accelerate math gains (the district identified math as the current focus after ELA the prior year) and whether additional board action was needed; staff replied the district's teachers are collaborating across buildings and that consistent math curriculum and instructional language are being used to improve outcomes. No new funding requests were approved at the meeting; trustees asked for continued progress reports and data under the new state model.