The Erie City SD board recognized multiple staff with BrAVO awards, named Emily Hancock as the district's inaugural historian and heard Superintendent Dr. Natalie Gibbs outline the district's strategic-planning process and partnerships with Panorama Education.
Facilities director presented a 10‑year Phase 2 roadmap (Phase 2a/2b/2c) including full renovations at Grover Cleveland, Strong Vincent and East Middle, a Grover addition with elevator and temporary classrooms, and estimated Phase 2 cost of about $200 million; some funding tied to a $10 million bond and capital reserves.
District administrators told the board the new state law requires parents, staff and the board be notified within 24 hours when a weapon is found on school property; the district will use ParentSquare for communications and plans a policy review in February.
Board member John Harkins asked the superintendent to "contemplate" restoring former high schools or otherwise review grade and building configurations. Members debated costs, disruption and alternatives, and solicited more neutral language for a superintendent review report.
Administrators updated the board on strategic plan development (1,829 survey responses, 1,263 high‑school respondents), Panorama implementation with phase‑5 professional learning, and the long‑awaited eesd.org website relaunch with ADA monitoring and new stakeholder features.
Superintendent Dr. Gibbs told the board the district will begin rolling out the Panorama Education data‑integration system Dec. 15 and continue implementation through February 2026 as part of strategic‑plan work informed by parents, staff and community partners.
A parent described intervening in a violent altercation near Erie High and urged the district to station adult supervisors ('blue coats') in the back area to discourage loitering and improve student safety; staff noted the location described was off school property.
District staff told the board several buses have corrected charging ports and driver/mechanic training is scheduled; a district official said contract payments should not begin until Highlands issues an operational certificate declaring chargers and vehicles operational.
The district will pilot 41 Pocketalk handheld translators as a short‑term measure to improve staff-family communication; devices will be deployed at two per building with additional units at Erie High, and staff said the district already owns software (Guardian) for complaint tracking.
Erie Arts & Culture and Erie Insurance supported a drama club at East Middle School; 25 students performed excerpts from the play 'Box' and performances are scheduled Dec. 12 and 13. Superintendent Dr. Gibbs invited community participation in the district strategic planning sessions.