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Teachers, staff and students spotlighted as schools report test gains and lower chronic absenteeism
Summary
Presentations at the May 27 meeting highlighted teacher and staff awards, student publishing and events, a classroom 'pumpkin jack' science experiment, and reported declines in chronic absenteeism to 23.33 percent along with new grant support for summer reading.
Board members and school representatives used the May 27 meeting to showcase student work, celebrate staff and report academic and attendance data from local schools.
The board recognized Hannah Kinsey of Henry Elementary as Teacher of the Year; Greg Vandell, president of the Hinton Area Foundation, presented a $500 check to the honoree. The board also recognized Regina Trout as Service Person of the Year and noted a staff award for Nathan Smith (technology integration specialist). "My name is Greg Vandell. I'm president of the Hinton Area Foundation," Vandell said as he described the local foundation’s support.
Members of the local school improvement council described student projects and family engagement activities that included a student‑published book series, field trips, a carnival that raised about $16,000, and extra programs such as Battle of the Books and math competitions. Presenters described a classroom science project called the "pumpkin jack" experiment, in which students tracked pumpkin decomposition and seed germination as part of descriptive writing and hypothesis work.
School presenters also reviewed benchmark and state testing trends. The LSSC chair reported gains in multiple grades and noted math outcomes above the national average in several grade bands; presenters said ELA remains the area for improvement. On chronic absenteeism the presentation cited a decline from roughly 42.5 percent (baseline in 2021–22) to 23.33 percent in the most recent reporting period. "So currently, we are at 23.33 for chronic absence," the LSSC chair reported.
The district’s Community in Schools facilitator described direct supports that accompanied improved attendance: weekly attendance incentives, case work for families (food and clothing), sponsorships for camps, and technology/communication assistance for families in crisis. The facilitator also noted recent grant awards, including a $750 grant (Hinton Area Foundation) and a $2,500 Dollar General literacy grant to support a summer reading program and a take‑home reading kit for students.
Parents and community members praised staff for going "above and beyond," and one parent speaker urged the board not to remove a support position at a small school, saying such a change would be detrimental to student supports and community engagement. The comment was entered into the record during the presentations/public comment portion of the meeting.
The presentations closed after questions from board members; the chair thanked students, staff and community partners for their work.
