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District presents five‑year academic plan and school improvement update; staff discuss AI monitoring and expanded AP access
Summary
Principal Winning and district staff briefed the board on school improvement progress, targeted interventions (including ALEKS), CTE growth and a 10‑topic five‑year plan that emphasizes 'Acceleration for All', AI monitoring, and expansion of AP opportunities (22 AP courses districtwide).
District leaders presented a monthly school improvement update and the elements of a five‑year academic plan during the April 9 meeting.
Principal Winning told the board the school earned a Level 3 on state measures and described classroom strategies and targeted interventions that drove growth: “we earned a level 3 for the TCOM and PEDAW scores in the state,” she said, and cited the district’s use of targeted programs such as ALEKS to identify specific student weaknesses. She described weekly goals, common planning, and reward systems aimed at sustaining student growth: “we reward growth and achievement…we do doughnuts, coffee, hot chocolate, popcorn,” she said, describing incentives used to motivate students.
District staff outlined 10 focal areas for the five‑year plan — including student work analysis, early literacy, monitoring and regulating AI, AP access expansion, an academic feedback initiative, and a new academic specialist position. On the “Acceleration for All” initiative, staff said the effort aims to expand access to rigorous coursework and supports for students who might be underserved by traditional acceleration models.
On AI, a board member asked about monitoring and regulation. A district instructional leader said the district follows Tennessee School Boards Association recommendations and uses procedures to vet platforms: “We have some enhanced procedures and policies…in terms of the minimums, all TSBA's recommendations...we obviously follow,” staff said, noting the district also pilots instructional uses of AI and trains teachers on ethical and practical classroom applications. Staff flagged academic integrity as a risk: “the scary part and the frustrating part is…the cheating and the over reliance,” they said, and described efforts to balance instructional uses with safeguards.
Staff also highlighted AP access: the district now offers 22 AP courses and will begin registration next week, a move staff said puts district offerings on par with comparable public and private schools in Tennessee.
What’s next: staff scheduled follow‑up and asked for board feedback on priorities to guide the five‑year plan; they also announced a district budget work session on April 16 to continue financial planning.
Exchange(s) • Questioner (Chair) — Instructional staff: On AI monitoring and classroom uses; staff described vetting practices and flagged cheating and overreliance as concerns. • Board member — Principal Winning: On how targeted interventions and rewards translate to measurable growth; principal described specific programs (ALEKS) and reported increases in student completion and proficiency.
