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Superintendent reports: special education gains, gifted program updates and Alpha Academy highlights
Summary
District officials reported improved special‑education outcomes (68% of evaluated students now qualifying), gifted program updates (about 71 elementary and 76 secondary students and work to create online screeners), and an Alpha Academy update including STEP enrollment and expanded Operation Backpack support.
District staff briefed the board on student services and alternative‑program developments, highlighting measurable gains in special education and several program updates across the district.
The special services presenter said the office is focusing on data to guide decisions and reported stable staffing and process improvements. "We are still focusing our work around data and making sure that we are using that to inform our decisions around student services," the Special Services Director said. The presenter reported that, of students evaluated for special services, about 68% now qualify — a change the presenter attributed to earlier building‑level interventions. The presenter also said the office met a goal of 100% on‑time DESIE reporting and cited a prior file‑review accuracy of 99.4% with a goal of 100% on the next review.
Gifted program staff reported roughly 71 elementary and about 76 secondary gifted students, including some students from Holy Rosary. Staff described plans for online screeners, an Infinite Campus storage solution for testing, and secondary projects aligned to Missouri gifted learner outcomes to streamline programming.
An Alpha Academy representative, presenting their final report before retirement, described Alpha as a nontraditional setting offering credit recovery and alternative pathways. The presenter said the Missouri Options program had zero participating students this year (reducing district cost), and the STEP program had 17 students enrolled across middle and high school. The report noted wraparound partnerships — including Preferred Family Health and Youth in Need — and student‑led elements of Operation Backpack, which served 15 families this year (up from 11 last year).
What’s next: Board members asked follow‑up questions about program delivery (for example, whether gifted services are pull‑out or daily at the middle school) and commended staff for the reported improvements. The presenters said staffing and building interventions are key to continuing the trend.
