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Warren schools: working group models options for growing enrollment; superintendent reports attendance and discipline data
Summary
The district's planning-for-growth working group is modeling solutions (grade configuration, scheduling, temporary spaces and capital expansion) to handle projected enrollment increases; Superintendent Dr. Mingle reported corrective-action plans for two schools after chronic-absenteeism thresholds were marginally exceeded and summarized discipline and suspension counts.
The Warren Township Board of Education received an update March 9 on long-term planning for expected enrollment growth and on current student-discipline and attendance matters.
Superintendent Dr. Mingle told the board that Central and Mount Horb schools exceeded the state's chronic-absenteeism threshold of 10 percent last school year by less than one percentage point and that, as required, corrective-action plans have been developed for both schools. He said a local review found no correlation between the absent students and academic performance in those two schools and credited Mr. Cook and Mrs. Tuja for preparing the plans.
Dr. Mingle also reported three total HIB (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying) investigations—all at Warren Middle School—with zero confirmed findings, one out-of-school suspension at Mount Horb School and one in-school suspension at Woodland School.
Miss Keller summarized the planning-for-growth working group's work: the group has met 10 times since June, commissioned an updated demographic study, and aligned evaluation criteria that include student experience, equity, feasibility and financial implications. The group is now modeling five categories of solution concepts: grade configuration and student assignment, scheduling and instructional model adjustments, program footprint and service delivery, repurposing/temporary space, and capital/system-level expansion.
Mr. Tor reported curriculum and technology committee work, highlighting an analysis indicating a potential writing-instruction time reduction at the middle school that committee members want to address. The committee will bring possible remedies to a future meeting, and a phone-policy review remains exploratory with stakeholder input planned.
The finance committee previewed the FY27 budget timeline tied to the state aid announcement and noted a March 23 public budget presentation is scheduled. Committee members also recommended capital projects for board approval, including resurfacing and crosswalk work.
Board members asked when a planning-for-growth recommendation might be brought to the full board; Miss Keller said the working group aims to model options and expected to present recommendations later in the school year for board consideration.
The meeting included one on-topic public commenter who urged attention to how development tax arrangements have affected district revenues in prior cycles.
