McVey Elementary principal highlights attendance gains, tiered interventions and family engagement

Tanya Brener, principal at McVey Elementary, told the Williston Public School District board the school is “fully staffed” and is seeing improving attendance and academic progress.

Brener said McVey has 87 staff and about 467 enrolled students (roughly 500 when pre-kindergarten is included). She told the board the building serves 103 students with individualized education programs and 52 English-language learners, and that about 41 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. “We are a Title I school,” she said, and described three tiers of intervention—small block, big block and a Community Connect team—for identifying and supporting students who need more intensive help.

The principal highlighted attendance incentives and family engagement as key drivers of improvement. McVey increased its attendance goal to align with the district’s 95 percent target and runs a quarterly “perfect attendance” reward; staff reported that 18 of 20 classrooms had already earned an initial reward and several classes had reached a second tier. Brener also described weekly U-time lessons designed to build social and relationship skills and a postcard program to send positive notes home to nearly every student in the first quarter.

Board members praised the school’s climate and improvements. One member said the “culture is really cool,” and another commended the PTO’s role in enhancing the building’s curb appeal. In response to questions from board members, Brener confirmed teacher staffing was in place at the start of the year and that paraeducator staffing had recently been filled.

The presentation concluded with board appreciation for the school team’s work and a reminder that McVey staff and students will continue targeted interventions and family-engagement nights through the academic year.