Principals highlight student success, behavior supports and college pathway programs

Several principals used the board meeting to highlight student activities and program successes. Talent Middle School Principal Casey Olmstead reported 25 students attended the Black Youth Leadership Summit at Southern Oregon University and described the Pirates to Raiders program, which provides a pathway for Latino/a/x students to gain direct admission to SOU beginning in eighth grade. Olmstead also noted 115 student-athletes competing in track and named eighth-grader Liam Pemble as "currently second in the nation for eighth graders in javelin."

Orchard Hill Elementary Principal Kent Vallier reported expanding a halftime behavior specialist to a full-time role and cited a reduction in visits to the building's regulation station from 94 visits during a past week to 60 visits for the comparable week this year, which he said kept more students in class and learning. Other principals updated the board on forecasting and testing schedules, and PHS praised staff who led band and color guard work at the Pear Blossom parade.