Superintendent outlines strategic plan progress, facility projects and safety steps

Superintendent Dr. Smith provided a multi-part update at the Jan. 14 board meeting, asking trustees to review a first-reading draft of the district strategic plan ahead of a planned second reading in February and reporting several operational items.

On facilities, Dr. Smith said a construction walkthrough occurred for a new three-year-old classroom that will be remodeled this summer with funding from an Ann Lilly Endowment grant and a Greene County Community Foundation grant. She said meetings with administration and building-level feedback will inform sequencing and prioritization of facility projects.

Dr. Smith summarized the outcome of a school-nutrition administrative review and said the district will form a wellness committee, with the first meeting scheduled for Jan. 22; the board will be asked to designate a representative. A feasibility study on outsourcing the food-service program was described as forthcoming, and Dr. Smith said the board will be asked to decide whether to put food service out to bid.

On safety, Dr. Smith described attendance at School Safety Specialist training and updated the board on threat-assessment protocols and drills; she said the district is working to secure an anonymous reporting system for the website to capture online threats and concerns. Dr. Smith also outlined the testing calendar for checkpoint and iLearn assessments and announced kindergarten roundup dates for March.

The board did not take final action on the strategic plan at the meeting; members were asked to provide feedback before the February second reading.