The meeting began with a focus on special education, as new data revealed an unanticipated rise in the number of students requiring services. A speaker highlighted an increase of approximately 25 additional students, stating, “we have more than four cases of kids than what we anticipated.” This trend was particularly evident among early childhood and primary grade students, many of whom were born during the pandemic and experienced delays in language and social skills development due to restricted social environments. The speaker noted, “we’re definitely seeing… a higher percentage of special education overall,” emphasizing the long-term implications for district resources and budgeting.

To address these growing needs, the board discussed funding strategies, including state aid reimbursements and third-party billing options, with assurances that these measures could sustain the district for several years. A motion to approve necessary staffing adjustments to support the increased special education demand was passed without opposition.

Following this, the board turned its attention to the financial planning for the district, approving a levy increase of 7.8% for the 2025 payable 2026 period, setting the final amount at $15,949,795. This increase is aimed at accommodating the heightened demands on district resources, including the rising special education cases.

In another significant report, the board reviewed the comprehensive achievement and civic readiness summary, led by Carol Cop, the district literacy lead. Carol presented data on preschool readiness and highlighted the district’s strategic goals, such as closing achievement gaps and preparing students for careers and college. She also detailed the implementation of screening tools like fast bridge and star assessments to identify student needs early, along with a tiered intervention system designed to provide targeted support.

The district’s graduation rates were also discussed, with Grand Rapids High School achieving a commendable 94.5% rate, surpassing the state average. Questions regarding graduation data calculation were raised, and Carol addressed these by explaining the methodologies used.

Carol emphasized the importance of integrating foundational skills in critical thinking and technology with social and emotional growth. She invited community participation in strategic planning, underscoring the need for diverse representation, including parents, teachers, and community members.

The meeting also included updates on literacy and achievement integration programs. A report highlighted one-on-one check-ins with 62 K-8 literacy teachers, aimed at assessing progress and identifying areas for additional support. The implementation of the “Whit Wisdom” curriculum, supported by a literacy coach, was noted.

A focus was placed on the achievement integration initiatives, particularly for American Indian students. The district aims to increase the percentage of these students pursuing post-secondary education from 25% in spring 2021 to 50% by spring 2025. Progress was reported, with 45% of American Indian students currently engaged in targeted counseling and workshops. The “Zello” program, which helps ninth-grade students explore career options, was also highlighted, with students showing active participation.

Cultural awareness initiatives were reported to have met their goals, with schools providing increased opportunities for cultural learning. The board set goals for kindergarten preparedness. Ongoing data collection and responsiveness through kindergarten round-ups were planned to support this objective.

The meeting also addressed student engagement and teacher-student interaction. It was reported that 86% of observed interactions were effective, though 10% were deemed ineffective. Student engagement in lessons was noted at 82%, and failure rates among students had decreased from 29% to 24% after the first quarter, with a goal of reaching 15% by the end of the semester.

Efforts to communicate with parents about academic performance were discussed, with alternative methods like emails and messaging through the campus system employed to complement phone calls. A custom contact log was mentioned as a tool for tracking communication, with room for improvement noted in its utilization.

Lastly, updates on school resource officers were provided, highlighting necessary training undertaken by the local police department. A student shared positive impressions of the relationship between students and officers, emphasizing their approachability and dedication to supporting students.

The meeting concluded with announcements of administrative retirements and staffing adjustments, including the proposal to hire a 1.0 teacher for the middle school to address a shortage of educational support professionals. The board also reviewed policies and received updates on extracurricular activities and sports participation.