Natasha Kelly

The board meeting included a superintendent's report highlighting awards for student organizations and staff, an overview of the district's summer nutrition services program, and acknowledgments of retiring staff members. Additionally, a student guest speaker advocated for the integration of youth volunteerism into the school district's core education program to foster student development and empathy.

This Consolidated Continuous Improvement Plan/Turnaround Plan aims to enhance district and school renewal efforts by focusing on specific areas to elevate student achievement and address underperformance. The plan is structured around three primary goals: improving resource equity by ensuring consistent access to high-quality instruction and reducing chronic absenteeism for the Poverty subgroup; increasing student proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) through standard-aligned instruction, collaborative planning, and professional development; and boosting student proficiency in Mathematics via data analysis, an instructional framework, targeted interventions, and specialized programs. The ultimate goal is to improve student progress and ensure the school is no longer identified as underperforming.

The board met to address an agenda item regarding a proposed organizational chart and restructuring plan. The proposal was discussed in executive session, followed by formal approval during the regular session. It was noted that the updated organizational chart would be made available on the district website for public viewing.

The board conducted a regular meeting covering the superintendent's report, which included updates on graduate scholarship totals, student recognition, communications team awards, and summer meal programs. The board held a public hearing for the 2026-2027 general fund budget and subsequently approved the budget's second reading. Consent agenda items included contracts for firewall hardware, painting, food procurement, office equipment, temporary personnel, and school resource officer services. Discussions occurred regarding the cost fluctuations of food procurement and salary adjustments for school resource officers.

This Consolidated Continuous Improvement Plan/Turnaround Plan outlines a roadmap for educational improvement at Pine Grove Elementary School. The plan targets specific areas of improvement through three main goals: addressing resource inequity by increasing Multilingual Learner proficiency on WIDA Access assessments, enhancing ELA academic achievement by improving SC READY ELA scores for 3rd-5th graders, and boosting Math academic achievement by increasing SC READY Math scores. The overarching aim is to improve student achievement, maintain academic ratings, and ensure high-quality learning experiences for all students.