District showcases Bunger ISL gains and expands career, partner programs

District leaders used the Dec. 9 meeting to spotlight instructional and partnership successes and planned program expansions.

At Bunger Middle School, Principal Zach O’Brien and instructional coach Justin Nazish described the building’s implementation of an ISL (skills and diagnostic) platform that staff update biweekly. Justin said the school set a target growth of 25 points per diagnostic checkpoint and is averaging about 55.5 points this cycle — an outcome he attributed to teacher use of data boards, leaderboards and targeted interventions. A student demonstrating the platform described how the system shows recommended skills and leaderboards that encourage engagement.

The board also recognized several new community partners. The Waterloo alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority pledged to partner with Cunningham School for Excellence and Kit Elementary (Cassandra Hart, principal, thanked the chapter). Other community partners and principals described ongoing collaborations at multiple buildings.

Amy Mii, associate director of K–12 career development, outlined a planned expansion of the Waterloo Career Center’s plumbing technician program to add an HVAC track. She said current plumbing enrollment is 21 this semester with a projected 34 next semester, and that the addition responds to employer demand and offers students pathways into well-paying trades, referencing local postsecondary connections for HVAC training.

Board members celebrated student council projects, music and Esports achievements and asked staff to include participation data on future dashboards. Administrators said they will follow up with additional details and work sessions on the ISL program and career-center planning.