Batavia High School adds daily WIN block, expands special-education options and tightens safety review

Jenny West, principal of Batavia High School, updated the board on academic and safety changes at the high school, including schedule adjustments and new special-education options intended to improve instruction and student supports.

West described a renewed emphasis on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and a new daily 30-minute block called WIN ("What I Need") designed to offer brief, targeted reteaching or extension in small groups. "WIN really just stands for what I need," West said, noting the block is intended for flexible, data-driven support rather than deep intervention for students who need more intensive services.

West said the high school has added PLC coaches (one focused on ELA/social studies, one on math/science) and reallocated portions of teacher FTEs so two teachers serve as coaches. She reported expansion of the special-education continuum, including integrated co-teaching (ICT) for ninth and tenth graders in core subjects and plans to add eleventh grade next year; the school also reintroduced some self-contained ELA and math classes where needed.

Assistant principal Dan Doer described safety and security steps, including regular debriefs after drills, close coordination with maintenance to fix physical issues and a threat-assessment team that meets biweekly. Doer outlined a digital hall-pass system rolled out this year that logs student movement, can limit simultaneous hallway passes for students in conflict, and provides data the school can use to spot patterns.

West highlighted social-emotional learning initiatives, peer mediation training for students under supervision, and extracurricular events that help build school culture. She said teachers will continue to refine WIN and that the school will gather student and teacher voice to adjust the program.

The board thanked the high school administrators for the update and had no further action requests.