District leaders used the meeting’s Director’s and principal reports to outline staffing plans, student-support programs and upcoming academic assessments.

The Director reported hiring several staff members in January (names listed in the packet) and provided an update on audit work, saying the district is close to catching up. The Director also noted the packet includes detailed test-data information and suggested board members request a work session if they want deeper discussion.

Principals described returning from winter break, a focus on positive office referrals (more than 100 for one school year-to-date), a revamped advisory/"tribes" model to improve teacher–student relationships, library improvements and I Ready testing scheduled for the coming week with built-in student incentives.

A principal noted plans to induct "46 graders" into the Beta Club (recorded in the transcript as '46 graders' and described as nearly 50 students) and invited board members to attend a ceremony when dates are set. Middle-school staff cited current enrollment near 298 and described plans for coaching cycles, pathway lessons and character-building work.

Speakers highlighted community-support work during the holiday season: coordinated school health and family resource partnerships, collaboration with local churches, a food drive and contributions from the East Tennessee Foundation and the Laura J. Kress grant totaling $10,000 to provide clothing and gifts for students.

Staff also described an expansion of the weekend food backpack program (reported as a 50% increase) and noted plans to send staff to a three-day safety director training in Nashville; district staff said the district’s Evolve visitor-management and weapon-protection systems have been praised by visiting teams.

What happens next: principals will continue implementing planned coaching cycles, testing and student recognition events; the Director suggested board members request a work session for deeper review of test-data materials.