Lively emphasizes attendance, third‑grade reading and a local scholarship plan in superintendent interview

Sean Lively, a middle‑school teacher and finalist for superintendent, presented a data review and three priority areas: attendance, student achievement and graduation. He repeatedly told the board he would pair quantitative metrics with qualitative, observational work.

Lively said a three‑year chronic absenteeism average was approximately 46 percent and that "for that 46% average, we're looking at 690 students out of 1,500 that are chronically absent." He highlighted third‑grade M‑STEP and 11th‑grade SAT/college‑readiness measures showing persistent not‑proficient percentages and argued these trends justify targeted, team‑based interventions.

Among his recommendations were district‑wide climate and culture teams (CLTs), individualized learning plans (ILPs) branded the 'Dragon Journey' from K–12, and regular BOY/MOY/EOY data presentations tied to a Datacom dashboard. Lively also proposed the "Clintondale Promise," a scholarship‑style incentive designed to encourage on‑time graduation and increase enrollment by marketing a postsecondary pathway for students who meet requirements.

During Q&A Lively emphasized being "physically present in the schools," making home visits where allowed, and forming teams that include teachers, support staff and district administrators to address attendance and learning gaps.

If hired, Lively said his early work would include building stakeholder teams, piloting ILPs and using Datacom dashboards to make data actionable at the school level.