Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Performance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent outlines progress and persistent gaps: attendance steady, some discipline drops and mixed test results
Summary
The superintendent reviewed district goals and data: last year ended with a surplus of over $1 million, current-year projections show a roughly $300,000 deficit; community satisfaction rose from 55% to 67%; discipline incidents and in-school suspensions decreased modestly; algebra/keystone results show gaps in middle grades and will be targeted with interventions and curriculum strategies.
The superintendent presented a district performance update focused on five goals set in August 2024: raising achievement, reducing outside cyber enrollments, improving special education supports, expanding extracurricular programming, and strengthening district climate and culture.
On finances, the superintendent said the district finished FY24–25 with a surplus "of over $1,000,000" but is currently projecting a deficit of about $300,000 for the ongoing year, noting delays in state revenue tied to a state budget impasse. The business officer echoed the revenue timing issue and said interest income year-to-date is roughly $50,000 below last year.
On outcomes, the superintendent highlighted that community satisfaction (survey respondents) rose from 55% to 67% satisfied with district quality. Formal discipline incidents reportable to the state showed reductions: in-school suspensions down by 7 and out-of-school suspensions down by 6 compared with the same period last year. Test-score data was mixed: Millersburg's literature scores were strong (cited as around 81% proficient/advanced in that category), algebra proficiency remained low (around 30%), and district results showed growth in 10 of 15 tested grade/subject areas.
The superintendent outlined specific initiatives: restorative-practices training for staff, purchase of new science curriculum, adoption of a strategic intervention package for K–12 (targeting students well below grade level), a full-time elementary emotional-support teacher, and plans to expand autism support and progress-monitoring systems (AIMSweb full implementation next year). A kindergarten readiness camp pilot and increased partnerships (YMCA, Ned Smith Center for Science and Nature) were also announced as part of efforts to boost engagement and decrease outside cyber enrollment.
Board members pressed on targeted interventions for the "seventh/eighth grade wall" in math and ELA; the superintendent said detailed interventions are being discussed with department leads and additional reporting will follow. The superintendent and board agreed to more detailed milestone reporting (benchmarks) going forward.
The superintendent concluded by thanking staff and community donors and noting planned follow-ups and a more detailed, color-coded report to come in March.
