The Superintendent highlighted the Comprehensive Improvement Plan, which aims to enhance academic outcomes in English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science. The district’s current scores fell short of state expectations, with only 51% passing in ELA and 39% in math. The ambitious targets set include increasing ELA passing rates to 56% by 2025 and 61% by 2026, while math aims to rise to 47% by 2025 and 56% by 2026. Science scores, slightly below state averages, are also targeted for improvement, with a goal to reach 24% next year and 30% by 2026. These objectives align with the Every Student Succeeds Act and involve implementing professional development for teachers, targeted interventions, and small group tutoring programs.

Chronic absenteeism, an issue, was addressed with innovative strategies. The district aims to reduce absenteeism from 26% to 7%, attributing success to engagement initiatives such as family nights and a “golden clock” award for best classroom attendance. Daily attendance calls and tracking systems have been implemented to maintain student engagement and support those at risk of falling behind. Regular administrative meetings focus on evaluating absenteeism and student performance.

In the public comment section, fiscal management and personnel changes sparked debate. Resident Donna Duran questioned the mid-year job title change and salary increase for a data management specialist, which rose from $47,000 to $65,000. She criticized the decision as excessive and untimely, advocating for such changes to coincide with the budget cycle, as done during her board tenure. Duran emphasized the need for transparency in job description changes and budget adjustments, expressing concerns about fiscal responsibility and fairness, especially when long-serving employees have not received similar raises.

The board faced further scrutiny as Duran inquired about the management of remaining budget funds following a departing employee and the implications for other positions, such as a part-time behavior specialist. Her comments highlighted a broader community concern over financial prudence and equitable treatment across district employees, pressing the board to consider the community’s perspective in its decisions.

Amidst these discussions, the board approved several resolutions without notable dissent.

The meeting also covered updates on facilities and food services. Plans to issue a bid for unit ventilators and potential kitchen renovations were discussed, reflecting ongoing improvements in infrastructure. Meal counts showed a significant increase, with Washington School serving 5,497 meals in October 2024 compared to 3,725 in 2023, and the Middle School rising from 3,259 to 4,631 meals.

The finance section recommended returning $2.033 million to the capital reserve, previously utilized for various projects. The completion of a district report on transported students, essential for securing transportation aid, was noted alongside a 30-student increase in enrollment from the previous year. This enrollment boost is expected to positively impact state aid, providing additional resources for district initiatives.

The board received updates on a new special education program for autism, slated to launch in September 2025, offering applied behavioral analysis and specialized services. The transition of a current math coach to another position prompted discussions on finding a suitable replacement.