Forbes Middle School spotlight: district outlines three improvement goals and family-engagement push

Elena, identified to the board as the district director for multilingual services, presented Forbes Middle School’s improvement plan and three central goals: expand two‑way family engagement, implement social‑skills instruction and behavior supports, and increase the share of students meeting grade‑level standards in English language arts and math. She told the board the staff has documented 273 two‑way communications with families this year and reported 93% attendance at recent parent‑teacher conferences.

Why it matters: the district emphasized family engagement and classroom consistency as levers for student success. Elena said Forbes is at or above state average in science and is leaning on professional development (classroom‑management training using the CHAMPS model), learning coaches, and targeted interventions for students with multiple failing grades. She also described a pilot of new math curriculum options that teachers will bring to families for review in January or February.

Elena described the family‑engagement work as both logistically tracked and person‑to‑person: teachers use a Google Sheet to log calls, emails and home visits so staff can follow up when a family has not connected. She said the school is expanding afternoon and in‑school academic supports and that every middle‑school student now has a learning plan developed with staff support. "We are working on 3 main goals," Elena said, summarizing the pitch to the board.

The board did not debate the plan at length and moved the district’s consent items forward after the presentation. Staff said some curriculum pilots will return for family review before final adoption, and additional trainings are scheduled for December and beyond.