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Eastpointe superintendent, high‑school principal outline K–5 reconfiguration, unified 6–12 visioning and early academic gains
Summary
Superintendent Gibson and Principal Todd Yarch presented district plans to shift elementary grades to a K–5 model, convene a visioning session for a unified 6–12 campus and highlighted curricular and student‑achievement updates, including use of iReady reading curriculum and early growth signals.
Superintendent Gibson and Principal Todd Yarch used the Nov. 11 board meeting to outline a multi‑year facilities and program plan that would shift Eastpointe Community Schools to one early learning center, four K–5 elementary schools and a unified 6–12 campus, with initial phases beginning in the 2025–26 school year.
Gibson said the long‑term facilities master plan — developed with consultant Wolpert using state 11x grant funds and guided by the district’s 2023 strategic plan — will be the basis for future bond-funded investments. He announced a 6–12 visioning session for Nov. 27 at East Point High School from 9 a.m. to noon and said the district will assemble a 40‑person team of staff and community members to guide the visioning work. The superintendent invited residents to participate and provided the district office phone for interested community members.
Principal Yarch described changes at the high‑school campus intended to improve school identity and security, including reestablishing the original front entrance and consolidating grade levels in the building to concentrate staff and safety resources. He reported early academic indicators, including 149 students in grades 9–12 attaining a 3.0 GPA or better for the first quarter and 39 students in grades 8–12 earning all As on first‑quarter report cards; he also said summer credit‑recovery work yielded 96 credits toward graduation for students who needed them.
The administration said the district is implementing the iReady magnetic‑letters reading curriculum at Crescentwood and continuing library and media‑center efforts at Bellevue and Pleasantview. Gibson and Yarch cited partnerships with the Macomb Intermediate School District and Macomb Community College and noted extracurricular and CTE activities — including a manufacturing‑day visit to Dana Industries and a student talent show — as part of broader efforts to increase engagement and pathways to graduation.
Board members asked about enrollment and proficiency: Principal Yarch said grades 9–12 enrollment is just over 500 students, with total enrollment for grades 8–12 roughly 633; he identified math as the area with the largest proficiency gaps and said the new curriculum and teacher supports are aimed at accelerating growth.
What’s next: the district will hold the Nov. 27 visioning session and proceed with program‑to‑facilities alignment before finalizing any bond‑funded construction or renovation plans.
