Cynthia Costanza

The board conducted its reorganization meeting, which included the swearing-in of two reelected members and the election of board leadership. The meeting covered the reading of the annual school election results, the adoption of the public meeting calendar, and the approval of appointments for the upcoming year. Board members participated in a formal recitation of the code of ethics. Additionally, the superintendent provided updates on a student-led social studies project commemorating the 250th anniversary of the country and presented the district's updated website template.

The board meeting included a special recognition for the retiring CEO of Saint Claire's Health, acknowledging his contributions to the school district, particularly regarding mental health support and navigating the covid-19 pandemic. The main discussion focused on the preliminary budget for the upcoming year, highlighting a 5.02% tax levy increase driven by rising healthcare costs, fuel prices, pension liabilities, and special education services. The board reviewed funding for curriculum and building projects, including a 2.9 million dollar HVAC upgrade funded through grants and reserves. Members also discussed the use of remaining federal Esser funds and the impact of banking tax levy cap in previous years on the current budget request.

The Board of Education meeting focused on the district's reopening plan amidst the ongoing pandemic. The administrative team provided details regarding class sizes, safety protocols for student drop-off and pickup, and the use of technology for both in-person and virtual instruction. Principals from various schools presented specific opening procedures, including protocols for classroom cleaning, hallway navigation, bathroom access, and student scheduling. Guidance was also shared regarding student expectations for virtual learning, the distribution of instructional materials, and the criteria for potential school closures in coordination with local health and education departments.

The Board discussed various district initiatives including the 2022 strategic plan, green team projects, and sustainability efforts. Key highlights included classroom lessons on butterfly lifecycles, water conservation projects, and waste reduction efforts. The Board reviewed building-wide initiatives such as air quality programs, marker recycling, and energy conservation contests. Additionally, discussions touched on future project planning, the potential move to Google Drive for document sharing, and staffing/budgeting matters for upcoming summer operations.

The board meeting centered on the presentation of district test score data, specifically focusing on the Start Strong readiness assessment results from the previous year. The discussion covered the district's analysis of support systems, including tiered interventions like pull-out resource rooms, basic skills instruction, reading specialists, and new math support programs such as DreamBox and Math 180. The meeting also addressed demographic and school-level analysis to evaluate student support needs, and the transition of the high school math curriculum, which now requires all students to complete Algebra I within a single year.