Travis Ford

The Riverview Gardens School District's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan aims to collaboratively educate and empower scholars to thrive in challenging environments. The plan envisions a district with high expectations, healthy relationships, student-centered decisions, support for grade-level readiness, transparency, accountability, clear communication, high customer service, stakeholder voice, and a focus on college and career readiness. Key strategic pillars include Staffing & Workforce, Student Performance, College & Career Readiness, Collaborative Climate & Culture, and Attendance. Initiatives involve implementing Professional Learning Communities, improving Tier I instruction, developing tiered interventions for social-emotional and behavioral support, enhancing staff wellness, increasing parental and community engagement, expanding college partnerships, and improving attendance.

The Riverview Gardens School District's 2023-2026 Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP) addresses four key strategic priorities: improving student performance on local and state assessments; enhancing school climate and culture for both staff and students; increasing student attendance; and decreasing staff turnover and filling vacancies. The plan uses a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) model and focuses on improving core instruction through professional learning communities (PLCs), implementing evidence-based practices in science, math, and ELA, and enhancing early childhood literacy. It also aims to improve climate and culture through surveys, staff wellness programs, and increased parent and community engagement. Finally, it seeks to improve staffing and workforce by implementing wellness programs, providing staff feedback opportunities, offering training support, recognizing and incentivizing employees, and increasing salaries and benefits.

This Facebook Live replay of a special Board of Education meeting focuses on the findings of a demographic study conducted by Cordogan Clark. The study analyzed enrollment trends, population growth, and projections over the next 10 years for nine elementary schools. Key findings indicate unequal district boundaries, underutilized elementary buildings, declining enrollment over the past 15 years (projected to continue for the next 10 years), and a projected 1,000-student decrease by 2035. The board is considering various options to address declining enrollment, budget reductions, and building utilization, including the possibility of closing an elementary school. Community input is being gathered through surveys and meetings to inform the board's decision-making process.

The meeting included announcements, patron participation, a superintendent's report, and several items for information and discussion. Discussion topics included additional vendors for leveled book room and classroom library resources, budget variables, Title I Crate, supplemental services for non-public schools, facilities use management software, summer programs, and the Missouri Reading Initiative. Consent agenda items covered meeting minutes, out-of-area travel, AVID system continuation, a Parent University program, the 2016-2017 school calendar, payment of bills, a budget transaction report, and a staffing plan adjustment.

The meeting included recognitions for spelling bee winners, the high school boys' basketball team, and History Fair participants. Discussions covered the condition of the high school track, concerns about student treatment, and the cleanliness of football equipment. The Superintendent's report mentioned on-site interviews by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A significant portion of the meeting focused on policy recommendations, E-Rate contract updates, and the 2016-2017 staffing plan, including discussions on various technology contracts (Charter Fiberlink/Spectrum WAN, AT&T T1s and local phone lines, Charter Spectrum Business Telecommunications), and the need for additional teachers at the high school. The meeting also addressed the certification of NEA representation for support staff, an ACE Learning Center contract, and a First Stem Equity Community Innovation Grant. Consent agenda items included meeting minutes, software program renewals, supplemental services for non-public schools, facilities use management software, summer programs, the Missouri Reading Initiative, a budget transaction report, and payment of bills.