A key highlight was Erica Tyle’s presentation on the district’s ongoing communication project. This initiative aims to improve how schools connect with families, offering a more personalized approach to updating parents on student progress. Tyle detailed three main achievements: the creation of year-long communication plans for each school, the introduction of new communication tools, and improvements in academic progress reporting. The year-long plans were part of a dedicated effort to strengthen school-home connections. A notable addition is the “Talking Points” tool, which enables two-way text communication between staff and families, offering real-time translation to support non-English-speaking families.

The discussion then transitioned to the district’s plan to upgrade its website, a project described as pivotal in the district’s operational plan. The current website, operational since 2011, is due for a technical upgrade to improve user experience and accessibility. The redesign process involves a thorough three-phase approach: discover, design, and deliver. In the discovery phase, the district collected feedback through surveys and analyzed website traffic to understand user behavior and areas requiring improvement. The design phase includes developing a new site map and refining content presentation, with input from best practice research and technical guidance from the district’s hosting partner. The final phase, deliver, focuses on implementing these changes by April.

The meeting also touched on the district’s efforts to enhance student and community engagement. The “Start Your Engines” event, supported by the Panther Foundation, was highlighted as a successful community initiative. The board recognized the importance of such events in fostering community spirit and engagement.

In other business, the board approved a resolution to designate November 18th through 23rd as American Education Week. Unanimous approval was also given to acknowledge gifts to the district.

Student representatives provided updates on extracurricular activities, underscoring high participation rates and detailing upcoming events like the play “Puffs,” which aligns with the Halloween season. The board also discussed recent adjustments to event scheduling, such as the timing of a school dance, which was initially surprising but ultimately well-received for its positive impact on the atmosphere leading up to homecoming.