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Superintendent announces Bridges appointment and cites gains from Waterford Upstart program
Summary
Superintendent Rasmussen introduced Shawn Voyles as the new administrator for the Bridges program and reported early-learning results from Waterford Upstart: 211 sign-ups with 187 active users who improved reading by about 1.9 grade levels, which staff said supports kindergarten readiness efforts.
Superintendent Rasmussen introduced Shawn Voyles as the district’s new administrator over Bridges, outlining Voyles’s experience as a teacher and instructional coach across multiple district schools and welcoming his stated commitment to serving students with significant needs.
Rasmussen also highlighted early-learning engagement through the Waterford Upstart program. Staff reported 211 families signed up for Waterford and 187 students were actively engaged; the superintendent said those 187 students increased their reading levels by about 1.9 grade levels. "Those 187 students who were actively engaged actually increased their reading level by like 1.9 grade levels," Rasmussen said, noting the gains are starting to show up in kindergarten-readiness indicators. Staff added that the district provided devices and could supply internet hotspots on request, and that Waterford participation included a high percent of households below the poverty line.
On summer school, Rasmussen said the district’s programs are leaner since ESSER funding ended but continue to focus on learning loss and credit recovery; the district has shifted its online credit recovery platform from Odysseyware to Edgenuity. The superintendent said summer staffing and transportation costs are roughly $160,000 and that the district runs a summer lunch program with about 54 staff supporting meals.
The board congratulated Voyles on his appointment and expressed support for continued early-learning efforts tied to parent engagement and the state literacy requirements that call for individual reading plans.
