A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of the DECA team at Reading Memorial High School. Dr. Milesy expressed enthusiasm for the team’s success, noting the leadership of Ms. Rosenfeld, who was instrumental in revitalizing the program. In her first year as DECA advisor, Ms. Rosenfeld has overseen the club’s growth from 17 to 68 members. This year, the team saw 16 students qualify for the State Career Development Conference, a first in the school’s history. The student president, Justin, discussed the competitive structure of DECA events, which encompass both written presentations and role-play scenarios, and highlighted the team’s impressive performance against 25 other school districts.

Vice President of Finance, Rose, discussed the financial aspects of attending the state conference, highlighting the $300 per student conference fee along with additional expenses for housing and transportation. The total costs for the team amount to nearly $9,000. In light of this, she detailed the club’s ongoing fundraising efforts, such as yard sales and tournaments, and appealed for community sponsorships to alleviate these financial burdens. Rose emphasized how DECA has enriched her personal growth and networking, inviting community involvement and support.

Additionally, the meeting addressed literacy initiatives within the school district, focusing on early literacy screening and intervention systems. Presenters emphasized the critical role of literacy as a foundation for academic success, outlining the use of assessments like the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (F&P).

In a move to enhance support for struggling readers, the district has implemented a structured intervention plan. Students well below benchmark receive 100 minutes of weekly support from literacy specialists, with bi-weekly progress monitoring. If insufficient progress is noted after 16 weeks, referrals to the Student Support Team (SST) may be considered. The SST plays a role in crafting targeted support plans, with the possibility of special education evaluation if challenges persist.

The meeting also highlighted commendations for Karen Hall, the multilingual learner program coordinator, whose innovative model for supporting multilingual students has been adopted in over 40 states. This recognition coincides with substantial growth in the multilingual department, now supporting 80 students, double the previous enrollment.

In other updates, the board discussed the decision to incorporate a geothermal heating system in a new project, opting for a half geothermal option with 44 BR source heat pumps. This choice, made in collaboration with designers and operational managers, reflects confidence in managing the project without a complex bidding process. Further updates included a human resources report, noting steady hiring for teachers and nurses, alongside a decline in administrative hires due to prior recruitment efforts.

The meeting concluded with discussions on leadership roles within the district, particularly the interim director of the Rise program, Alana Shon, who expressed interest in continuing for another year. The board also deliberated on principal and assistant principal positions at Parker, ultimately deciding on internal candidates with strong community support and proven track records.