Board highlights student success, 'real life' budgeting program and Sher College CTE campus plans

Board members used the April 13 meeting to recognize student programs and to highlight career and technical education opportunities. Rose, an adviser and education teacher, described her FFA chapter’s trip to the state convention and the chapter’s designation as a gold chapter; she said 22 students are members and 21 attended state competition.

For instructional programming, Carrie Graves and Terra (Terry) Berry presented a "real life" budgeting simulation for 9th–10th graders that paired students with staff-run stations to simulate housing, transportation and entertainment choices. Presenters said the activity took only a portion of a morning but prompted meaningful student reflection: many students were surprised by actual living costs and the exercise informed narrative reflections for language arts coursework.

Administrators also updated trustees about plans with Sher College to develop a CTE-focused campus on an 11-acre site near Buffalo High School; district representatives said Sher College is funding the facility and that the initial focus is on CTE programs (welding, automotive, CNA and flexible shop/lab space) with cross-district student access. The district reported a target of first classes in September 2020 and emphasized that the partnership is being planned collaboratively rather than imposed.

Trustees praised staff for PLC work, performance assessments and student growth metrics (the alternative school's attendance improvement from 83% to 93% was singled out). The board encouraged continued use of performance assessments and PLC data to inform instruction.

No formal action was required for the program highlights; trustees acknowledged successes and encouraged follow-up reporting on student outcomes and Sher College project milestones.