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Superintendent reports enrollment decline; board hears plan to expand remediation time and merit pay details
Summary
Superintendent reported a fall in enrollment and outlined plans for a longer remediation period (Jag time), a new eight‑period day with targeted remediation for level‑1/2 students, and merit‑pay awards given this year totaling $9,500.
At the June 15 meeting the superintendent reported year‑end enrollment of 501 students (including 19 pre‑K), down from 540 the prior year; funded projection for next year is about 513.09. He said the district is closing its federal budget and preparing the operating budget for the coming year.
The superintendent flagged an enrollment concern: some families are choosing virtual academies offered through nearby cooperatives. "A lot of people are going to a virtual academy ... we want to keep our kids in," he said, noting the district would evaluate services offered by virtual providers before deciding on participation. He said losing students decreases state funding per pupil and can lead to staffing reductions.
On academics, board members heard a proposal to expand the remediation period (Jag time) from 25 to 45 minutes and keep an eight‑period day, reserving one period for targeted remediation. Under the plan, level‑1 and level‑2 students would work with their core teachers for remediation; higher‑performing students would get ACT prep or enrichment. The superintendent described a new tracking system to monitor interim scores and shift students between groups when appropriate.
The board also discussed merit pay for staff: three teachers received a combined $9,500 this cycle (one received $4,500, two received $2,500 each) for either high‑demand positions or measurable growth. The district discussed refining a merit‑pay formula that could include school performance and attendance as factors in future cycles.
Why it matters: declines in enrollment change funding levels and staffing needs; the remediation plan restructures the school day to concentrate help for struggling students and aims to use interim assessments to measure progress.
Next steps: superintendent will continue budget work, meet with virtual program providers for information and return to the board in July with more details and any recommended policy actions.
