Kahaba Elementary team presents ASIP with targets to cut chronic absenteeism and boost reading

Kahaba Elementary School’s leadership team outlined a multipronged continuous-improvement plan at the Trussville City Schools board meeting, presenting measurable targets and classroom-level supports aimed at raising the school’s state-report-card standing.

Principal Joy Tiner introduced the Alabama Continuous Improvement Plan (ASIP) and said the school’s current state-report-card components — academic achievement, academic growth and chronic absenteeism — were the basis for the plan. Miss Pricket, the school’s media specialist, led the presentation by noting Kahaba’s recent gains and framing the plan’s three pillars: student achievement, staff growth and leadership, and school climate. ‘‘We love data and we love a good story,’’ she said, previewing the evidence that underpins the targets.

The student-achievement actions include regular AAP (state test) summative sessions led by reading and math coaches, routine use of benchmark tools (Amesweb and Exact Path) for progress monitoring, attendance incentives and targeted professional development. The team listed predicted outcomes that include a 10% reduction in high-risk Amesweb reading scores, a 10% increase in students at or above the 50th percentile on reading benchmarks and a target to lower chronic absenteeism to 5% or below.

On staff growth, presenters described initiatives to expand job-embedded professional development, institute instructional rounds where teachers observe each other, protect collaborative planning time and increase teacher leadership opportunities. The team reported current teacher participation in professional learning at or above their short-term targets and set measurable goals for teacher-led PD and instructional-round participation.

For school climate, Kahaba described MTSS implementation and a LEAD initiative (Leadership, Empowerment, Awareness, Dependability) to create consistent expectations across common areas. Behavioral supports, monthly counselor lessons, recognition programs (‘‘husky paws,’’ influencer-of-the-month and quarter celebrations) and a ‘‘wall of fame’’ were highlighted as strategies to improve student engagement and social-emotional supports.

The ASIP team described the plan as a ‘‘living document’’ and said administrators will track the listed metrics and return progress updates. The meeting also noted that Jennifer Bruno, present in the audience, has been approved for a one-year probationary contract as principal at Kahaba.

Next steps: administrators will implement the ASIP initiatives at Kahaba, track benchmark and attendance data and report progress to the board as part of routine updates.