The meeting began with an in-depth presentation on Wit and Wisdom, a newly adopted literacy program designed to build comprehension and critical thinking skills for K-5 students. This curriculum integrates subjects such as science and social studies with literacy to help students synthesize information across disciplines. The foundational skills component, Really Great Reading, emphasizes language development and aims to prevent future reading difficulties. However, the implementation has not been without challenges. Teachers initially struggled with pacing, as lessons intended to be completed in one day often stretched to three. Efforts are underway to condense these to two days as educators become more adept with the curriculum.

Principal Larson shared insights from Haverson Elementary. Students showed high engagement levels, with examples including kindergarteners participating in a creative tap dance parade to complement their learning. Additionally, the program’s influence on writing skills was highlighted, with students across grades developing increasingly complex writing capabilities. Despite these achievements, the curriculum’s implementation remains a work in progress, with ongoing adjustments needed to optimize its effectiveness.

Educators expressed concerns about adapting to new instructional methods like Socratic seminars and gallery walks, which are unfamiliar to some. The transition to the science of reading, mandated by the READ Act, requires shifts in teaching and classroom management. These adjustments, compounded by time constraints, present challenges in lesson pacing and planning. The local literacy team is working to address these issues through coaching models, guided observations, and collaboration among grade-level teams.

While the curriculum aims to engage students at varying reading levels, concerns about text complexity persist. The core instruction lacks differentiated text materials, though supplementary resources like Geodes and Defit are being explored to cater to individual reading levels while maintaining grade-level vocabulary. Additionally, a new handwriting component has been introduced to enhance students’ handwriting skills systematically. However, integrating the theoretical aspects of the program with practical applications requires careful coordination.

As the board shifted focus to budgetary matters, the implications of changing enrollment trends were discussed. Federal aid, particularly COVID-19 recovery funds, is expected to decrease, influencing budgetary changes. A revised budget was presented, highlighting the introduction of new class codes for tracking restricted funds to enhance financial transparency. Notably, the average daily membership increased by 141 students, resulting in approximately $1.7 million in additional revenue. However, this revenue increase aligns with higher expenditures, leading to a net fiscal wash.

The revised budget outlines over $60 million in expenditures. Administrative costs, elementary and secondary instruction expenses, and pupil support costs have all risen, exacerbated by hiring challenges for substitutes and additional licensed staff. The overall increase in expenditures outpaces revenue growth, indicating a potential shortfall of about $66,667.

A specific concern was raised regarding food service expenditures, with the fund balance approaching a critical threshold. To address this, a plan to spend down the excess balance by increasing capital expenditure for new cafeteria furniture and equipment was initiated. This aligns the fund balance more closely with operational needs.

The community service fund remains stable at approximately $1.7 million, with expenditures closely matching revenues. Future discussions on the revised budget are slated for the March 17 board meeting, where the anticipated shortfall and adjustments will be further addressed. The revised budget projects an unassigned fund balance of 11% by the fiscal year’s end.

The meeting also acknowledged broader concerns of declining enrollment affecting many schools in the area, impacting long-term funding sustainability. Underfunded mandates, rising operational costs, and uncertainties in compensatory funding pose ongoing challenges. The governor’s funding proposals and their potential impact on future budget negotiations remain uncertain. The finance committee’s ongoing efforts to navigate these complexities and the need for further discussions with board members about potential budget reductions were highlighted as critical next steps.