District staff briefed the Nelson County Board of Education on the 'Parents in the Know' engagement sessions during the Dec. 16 meeting.

Staff said they held multi‑meeting sessions with site‑based parents (roughly 14–15 participants at points) that produced two next steps: (1) local teams at each school to develop parent partnership plans to improve community and culture, and (2) a district team to draft K–12 power programs and pathways. Topics raised included community and culture, building K–12 program progression, and a discussion of accelerated access for eighth graders — an idea that drew mixed reactions among parents.

District staff proposed a timeline in which principals and community teams present 2026–27 plans in May 2026 and a district draft of K–12 programming recommendations would be presented in June. Board members requested a clearer feeder‑pattern report to understand which elementary schools feed specific middle schools and the potential travel‑time impacts of any accelerated transition for eighth graders.

The board discussed the need to involve students in the conversation; staff said there will be student 'in the know' groups at each high school as part of the engagement process.