Troy Area SD highlights new student programs, AI training and revised discipline tracking

At a Troy Area SD board meeting, district administrators described a series of new student supports and instructional changes intended to boost engagement and improve classroom outcomes. The presenter, identified by the board as Mrs. Codle, detailed quarterly "Trojan" spirit days, expanded professional learning communities and teacher-facing AI training linked to benchmark data.

"We started doing Georgian spirit days, four days a year this year, one at the end of every quarter," the presenter said, describing in-school events, teacher-led activities and a work-room option for students in danger of failing. She also described new student rewards funded through PBIS and the addition of six televisions in school hallways to display schedules and student recognitions.

The district has adjusted its professional learning community schedule to a three-day rotation and added discipline- and assessment-focused PLCs, the presenter said. Beth Ward has launched short "Spark" professional-development sessions for staff. The district also ran AI-in-classroom training and used Firefly benchmark results to show teachers how AI prompts could help tailor assignments and target student needs.

Administrators said they had revised how student incidents are tracked, creating a shared spreadsheet and systems to pull attendance and tardy reports out of PowerSchool to reduce the administrative burden on classroom teachers. "We're being firm, fair, and consistent with our consequences," the presenter said, describing an effort to close the loop between referrals, parent contact and follow-up communication with teachers.

The report noted stronger ties with the Northern Tier Career Center (NTCC), student participation in technical and health-care showcases, and growth in dual- or concurrent-enrollment opportunities; administrators said they are seeking to add courses for the fall term. The presenter also announced a Troy student-mentoring program with more than 20 mentors and mentees to date and listed recent student recognitions at NTCC.

Why it matters: the district framed these changes as ways to keep students engaged, reduce teacher workload for routine reporting, and expand postsecondary opportunities. Board members responded with questions about career-center capacity and new instructional equipment; administrators said they will continue refining schedules and partnerships.

The board took no formal votes related to programs or discipline during the report; the business portion of the meeting proceeded to separate motions on minutes, financials and consent items.