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Local elementary schools highlight gains; committee recommends CTE and wellness textbook adoptions
Summary
Buckley‑Carpenter reported a return to Level 5 and strong family engagement; LaGrange‑Moscow cited improved attendance and targeted tutoring. The Textbook Committee recommended Lifetime Wellness and CTE materials (including CodeHS for cybersecurity) to the full board.
Two elementary schools presented program and performance updates during the Education Committee, and the Textbook and Curriculum Committee recommended textbook adoptions for board approval.
Courtney Breeden told the Education Committee that Buckley‑Carpenter Elementary serves about 465 students, achieved Level 5 status this year and fell one‑tenth of a point short of Reward School designation. Breeden described the school’s schedule and supports—45‑minute RTI² intervention blocks, 90 minutes of reading, 75 minutes of math, a school counselor contracted through Professional Care Services, and an on‑site School Resource Officer—and highlighted family engagement events and community partnerships. Dr. McPherson and board members credited sustained stability, consistency and accountability for the school’s improvement.
Arcinko Kirkland reported LaGrange–Moscow Elementary’s enrollment of 144 students and highlighted a reduction in chronic absenteeism from 13.9% to 7.2%, bringing overall attendance to 92%. Kirkland described instructional interventions, data‑driven instruction, subgroup targeting and after‑school tutoring focused on fourth grade, and noted grant support including a $10,000 TVA energy grant and a $3,500 community garden grant. Two students spoke about extracurricular activities such as Girls on the Run and 4‑H.
Separately, the Textbook and Curriculum Committee reviewed recommendations for Lifetime Wellness and a suite of Career & Technical Education materials, including web design, robotics, engineering technology and CodeHS for cybersecurity. Dr. McPherson summarized cost estimates (Lifetime Wellness consumables estimated at roughly $4,500 per year for four teachers; approximately $36,000 across an eight‑year adoption cycle) and recommended board authorization to purchase materials as budgeted. Committee members supported forwarding the textbook adoptions to the full board.
Field trips and exchange student approvals originating from the Education Committee were also forwarded to the full board for approval.
