The Superintendent, alongside the Director of Special Services, presented the midyear goals which included several initiatives targeting mental health and wellness. The district is expanding mentor programs, incorporating trauma-informed teaching, and developing suicide prevention programs to address mental health at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Staff wellness initiatives, parent workshops, and the planning of a Wellness Symposium were also highlighted.

To further support this initiative, Dr. Moore mentioned the implementation of a social-emotional universal screener to better assess students’ sense of culture, climate, and belonging. These measures aim to create a more inclusive and supportive school environment where every student’s needs are recognized and addressed.

Additionally, the district’s outreach efforts were boosted by the “Everyone by name by strength by story” campaign, which seeks to foster a sense of belonging for every student and family. Improving communication with the diverse community was also a focus, as evidenced by the implementation of “Pocket Talks,” two-way translation devices offering over 40 languages, to facilitate better understanding and engagement with non-English speaking families.

Initiatives such as coding training for elementary teachers, the introduction of a hovercraft project for fifth graders, and the ongoing curriculum development for STEAM courses at the middle and high school levels were discussed. The superintendent underscored the importance of data literacy and the application of data analysis to provide rigorous learning opportunities and targeted interventions for all learners. An event at Lincoln Hubbard Elementary School demonstrated this approach, with staff observing and documenting students’ perspectives, interests, and learning styles to tailor instructional practices.

This, coupled with the superintendent’s emphasis on understanding students comprehensively, shows a commitment to enhancing the educational support system.

Facility improvements were also on the agenda, with the Operations Committee confirming that major projects for the high school and district building are on schedule and within budget. The approval of a contractor bid for the lower high school field upgrade and the preparation of request for proposal documents for the Tatlock Fieldhouse renovation were among the topics of discussion. Financially, the district is experiencing positive developments, with a reported year-to-date interest income and the acceptance of Rod grants totaling over $5 million.

The Policy Committee brought up various policy changes, while the Communication Committee provided updates on wellness initiatives and events like Coffee with the Board of Education and kindergarten registration. The Summit Education Foundation (SEF) is preparing for the Spring for Excellence event and reported changes to the ticket sales platform and an increase in donations.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, individuals addressed the board on agenda items and other topics. However, no issues or debates were reported. The board subsequently approved minutes from the previous meeting, curriculum and instruction programs, finance agenda items, school board operations, personnel agenda items, and policies and regulations.