Superintendent: teacher academy smaller, enrollment up by 140; storm shelter and parking lot work progressing

The district superintendent reported that this year—s new-teacher academy included about 40 teachers, a decline from roughly 120 two years ago and 80 in recent prior years, and described the current cohort as strong.

The superintendent said district enrollment grew by 140 students compared with the same point last year. "As of today, we were at 5,507, so a 140 more students than we had a year ago," the superintendent said during the meeting.

Financial and facilities updates included a new parking lot at the football stadium where concrete stops were being installed; the superintendent said the lot will have lights installed in the coming weeks and estimated roughly 300 spaces (the speaker cautioned the count as approximate). The superintendent also said a new storm shelter at Stoneridge would double as classroom space, holding six classrooms when finished, and that the district expects every school to have a storm shelter by spring.

In other highlights the district noted a community contribution from F&M Bank of $750 tied to a convocation half-court-shot activity and that Stoneridge Elementary received a "promising practices" recognition after submitting data about professional learning-community work. The superintendent praised staff who organized the convocation and said the district is seeing positive momentum in staffing and enrollment.

The superintendent—s report was informational; no formal board action was required.