Janice L. Collison

The board approved a variety of administrative and operational items, including a treasurer's report for expenditures, an out-of-state field trip for the Heritage DECA club, and a contract for athletic field maintenance at White Pine and Heritage for upcoming sports seasons. Board recognition was given to the Unified Hawks basketball team and drama participants. The Superintendent provided updates regarding staff transitions in the Buildings and Grounds department, the opening of the Sherwood Pool, various district programs, upcoming appreciation events, and bond-related furniture initiatives. The board also convened a closed session to discuss exempt material.

The meeting featured a presentation from the White Pine Middle School Principal, board recognition for student athletes and art students, and reports from student board members regarding various school events and extracurricular achievements. The superintendent provided updates on facility maintenance, including field preparations, inspections, and roof repairs. Furthermore, the district discussed upcoming funding topics, recent community outreach initiatives such as Kindergarten Information Night, and preparations for a bond Town Hall event.

The board discussed and approved an energy performance contract, authorizing the superintendent to proceed. Additionally, the board approved a letter of agreement regarding the distribution of State School Aid Act Section 27L funds among several employee unions.

Key discussions during the meeting included the approval of the agenda and financial reports, specifically approving total checks, transfers, and wires amounting to $5,365,114.93 covering invoices paid between January 22, 2026, and February 18, 2026, and the January 2026 payroll. Committee reports highlighted the District Improvement Team meeting from January. Student Board Members reported on various student achievements, including state championships for the Pom team and upcoming Unified Pledge Spirit Week activities. The Superintendent provided updates on facility issues, such as a roof and bathroom ceiling collapse at Hemmeter and barricade research following an incident at Westdale. Further updates covered the sharing of L2 information, upcoming Kindergarten Information Night, and legal fact-checking regarding shared rumors based on a Lifetouch statement. The Board also reviewed the status of the community-reviewed bond proposal. Under business reports, the Board adopted the General Appropriation Resolution for the 2025-2026 Operating Budgets. The session also included closed sessions to address student discipline, resulting in the expulsion of Student A for a Level III violation and the expulsion of Student B and Student C for Level IV violations.

This Annual Education Report for Westdale Elementary School provides an overview of the 2024-25 educational progress, accountability, student assessment, and teacher quality. The school is not identified with any federal support labels. The report highlights a comprehensive 3-5 year school improvement plan focusing on English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social-Emotional Learning. Key goals include ensuring all students achieve proficiency in reading and writing, mathematics, and social skills/emotional intelligence, emphasizing a well-rounded education through continuous efforts in academic and behavioral best practices, including explicit phonics, reading comprehension, early numeracy, and Positive Behavior Supports.