Samantha Cook

The 2024-2025 Comprehensive District Improvement Plan for Williamstown Independent focuses on improving student performance through collaborative efforts and addressing achievement gaps. Key priorities include aligning standards, learning targets, and assessments, ensuring clarity of standards for teachers, and reducing barriers for economically disadvantaged students. The plan aims to enhance English language acquisition for EL students, improve school climate and safety, and increase postsecondary readiness and graduation rates. Strategies involve implementing vetted HQIRs, providing professional learning, utilizing data-driven decision-making, and fostering community partnerships.

The Board of Education meeting included recognition of student achievements such as participation in the KUNA conference, selection for the Washington D.C. Youth Tour, Students of the Month, and recognition at KMEA District 6. Staff and volunteers were also acknowledged for their contributions. The board discussed the Lau Plan, CDIP, CSIP progress notes, NTI plan, and PD Plan. Approvals were considered for fuel and towing bids, bus maintenance and inspection bids, and the second official offer of assistance for FY 25 from the School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC) for KETS Education Technology funding. Additionally, the board addressed change order #2 for replacing existing pumps for newly installed boilers, the 24-25 CDIP and CSIP progress notes, the 25-26 Phase IV professional development plan, the 25-26 Non-Traditional Instruction Plan, and the 25-26 Lau Plan. The board also considered the approval of Teachtown as a K-12 Special Education curriculum resource, coverage of onboarding fees for staff members, the purchase of Apptegy as the primary communication tool, and the MOA between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Education and Williamstown Independent Schools establishing an agreement for an Educational Recovery Leader position. Finally, the board addressed the approval of certified and classified salary schedules, extended service and extra service salary schedules, certified and classified staff allocation guidelines, and discussion about investing a portion of carry forward funds with a financial institution.

The agenda includes opening business (agenda and minutes approval, good news report, public comment), a student achievement report and data analysis, school improvement planning (review of continuous improvement diagnostic for CSIP), a budget report (review and approval), new business (approval of field trips and fundraisers, approval of the school report card overview and educational opportunity, welcome to new members), upcoming deadlines, and adjournment. Specific items under new business include legal requirements for school report card overview and educational opportunity.

The council meeting agenda includes a student achievement report and data assessment, school improvement planning with monthly review and gap targets, and a budget report review and approval. New business items involve approving field trips and fundraisers, consulting on JH ELA/dual certification and instructional assistant positions, and providing information on hybrid learning. Upcoming deadlines include progress monitoring and gap target submissions.

The council meeting covered various topics including student achievement reports, interim junior high STAR test results, senior high certification testing results, and state assessment previews. The meeting also included discussions on the school improvement plan, budget reports (activity fund and current budgets), approval of field trips and fundraisers, and the use of Title and ESSER funds. Discussions also included final exams/exam policies, election organization, and upcoming deadlines. A decision was made to hire a math coach using Title funds and to table the hiring of another position using ESSER funds until after spring break. The council also approved replacing final exams with unit tests or final projects.