One of the most discussions revolved around the introduction of a new collaborative honors class for middle school students, combining science and social studies. Spearheaded by Lean Gford and Ashley Evans, this innovative program aims to increase student engagement through activities like mock trials, investigations, and guest speakers. The initiative will be funded by the gifted and talented fund and was met with cautious optimism. “If it doesn’t work it doesn’t work, but we want to try it,” noted one of the board members.

The middle school report also highlighted the development of an outdoor classroom for the eighth-grade social studies program, supported by a $50,000 grant from the United Prairie Foundation. This project involves gathering seeds and incorporating various classes into outdoor activities. Alongside this, a new social-emotional learning curriculum is being implemented for grades five through eight, designed to foster emotional intelligence and delivered twice a month by rotating teachers and counselors.

Concerns about student attendance at parent-teacher conferences were raised, with suggestions to offer extra credit to students whose parents attend. The middle school is expanding student-led conferences to seventh and eighth grades, a practice previously only for sixth graders, to enhance student ownership of their education and ensure consistent information for parents.

The Lake Agy special education cooperative is experiencing some initial challenges but remains optimistic about the introduction of the EdClimber tool. This tool compiles data on student performance, attendance, and discipline, facilitating more effective intervention strategies. The growing student population has led to a shortage of lockers, but this was seen as a positive indicator of increased student engagement.

In the high school report, the recent homecoming event was noted as a success, and a new phone policy was acknowledged for its positive impact on classroom management. The high school is also supporting over 20 full-time students in an alternative learning program, with positive engagement and completion rates.

The administration is focused on managing classroom sizes, which can reach up to 32 students due to the needs of those in credit recovery programs. The school has also conducted two fire drills and a lockdown drill to educate staff and students on different protocols.

A new staff member is expected to start soon, which should alleviate some workload on current staff regarding case management. The transition period has been described as “extremely overwhelming,” with ongoing adjustments in communication and task management. The administration is making efforts to clarify roles and responsibilities as they settle into the academic year.

High school site teams have scheduled one open house in October and another in November to allow for student invitations. Informal classroom observations are being conducted to engage with staff and students, with a particular emphasis on building relationships with ninth graders. The administration is also fostering a partnership with Concordia, planning to bring eight students into the school’s teaching program for immersion experiences and mentorship from teachers.

There was a discussion about future-proofing the school’s approach to education, particularly with regard to online options. The administration is exploring in-house online educational pathways to retain students who might otherwise leave for outside online education. The need for flexibility in programs to accommodate student preferences while ensuring they remain enrolled was emphasized, along with the implications of state statutes on student enrollment and funding.

The board also acknowledged the recent passing of a staff member, Brian, who had served the district for ten years before moving to Arizona. The emotional impact on staff and students was recognized, with a local service scheduled for November.

The district leadership team is set to meet soon with new students and parents to ensure student voices are included in school improvement discussions.

Finally, the upcoming Foundation meeting was discussed, where officer elections are scheduled. The Country Service Cooperative administrative forum highlighted discussions about the fiscal year levy sheets. The administration also expressed concerns about ensuring correct administration of state funding processes, noting that grants are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.