Bryant principal reports steady reading gains, raises concern over unfinished construction

Principal Jason Kalin told the Superior School District Board of Education on March 16 that Bryant School’s winter benchmark data show progress toward literacy goals, but that school staff are still working to close gaps and finish building repairs.

Kalin said the school’s target is to have 83% of students above the low-risk reading benchmark; winter results showed 72% currently meeting that level. He described the assessment as a multi-grade early literacy measure and said the school typically sees larger gains from winter to spring. "The winter benchmark test is pretty difficult," he said, adding that staff use targeted interventions such as RTI and EMLSS supports for students in yellow or red bands.

Kalin credited family engagement efforts—led by family engagement coordinator Sarah Burquist—with events such as reading bingo and author visits that encourage out-of-school reading. He said teachers have adopted components of a new literacy curriculum with fidelity, including a renewed emphasis on phonics and vertical teaming among grade levels.

Kalin also raised facility concerns stemming from an ongoing construction project. He said work that occurred over spring break left some tasks undone or caused damage—"we lost several of our blinds," he said—and that he planned a walkthrough with the project supervisor to seek remediation.

Board members asked to schedule site visits so they could observe the new curriculum and interventions in action. Kalin said he expects measurable gains over the next three to five years as the curriculum and interventions mature.

The superintendent accepted the principal’s report and the board took no formal vote on the update; Kalin’s next steps include the walkthrough with the contractor and continued progress monitoring.