Midyear PM2 shows gains; board moves to negotiate permanent contract with Interim Superintendent Dr. Brewer
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Summary
Midyear PM2 results presented to the board showed districtwide ELA on-grade-level at 41% (up 4 points) and math at 27% (up 4 points); after discussing the data and district momentum, the board agreed to stop Phase 1 of the external search and proceed to contract negotiations to make Dr. Brewer the permanent superintendent, with a Jan. 8 work session to hammer out contract terms.
District leaders presented midyear PM2 assessment results and used that data as part of a broader discussion on leadership. The assessment update and subsequent deliberations led the board to direct staff to negotiate a permanent contract with Interim Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer.
Mr. Whitehouse summarized PM2 performance: districtwide, 41 percent of students in tested grades are on grade level in English language arts (up from 37 percent at the same point last year), and 27 percent are on grade level in math (also up 4 points). He said cohort comparisons show gains for most grade bands and highlighted several schools outperforming last year’s PM3 results halfway through the year. He also identified fourth-grade math (fractions) and parts of the primary grades as opportunities requiring concentrated second‑semester work.
Board members noted the steady, district-wide momentum — improvements in cohort growth, stronger results at many schools, and projected increases in the graduation rate — and tied those outcomes to operational changes and community partnerships. Multiple board members expressed concern about academic “jumps” between grades (notably second to third and fourth to fifth) and urged expanded parent-facing summer or holiday resources to reduce slide.
Against that backdrop, the board discussed the superintendent search and how to proceed. Several members said the data and internal stability supported consolidating current leadership rather than continuing a broader national search. The board reached consensus to end Phase 1 of the HYA search process and begin contract negotiations to transition Dr. Brewer from interim to permanent superintendent; Dr. Brewer responded affirmatively when the board asked whether she would accept. The board scheduled a Jan. 8 work session to identify contract priorities (compensation ranges, vehicle and other contractual elements) and asked legal counsel and the superintendent’s representation to be involved in negotiations.
The board also directed staff to finalize the job description (clean copy to appear on Jan. 13 agenda) and to prepare comparative salary-range information for appointed superintendents so members could consider appropriate compensation consistent with Marion County’s governance model.
