Notus School District

This document outlines the annual schedule for regular board meetings, special board meetings, and various committee meetings, including curriculum, calendar, continuous improvement, safety, and building, maintenance, and grounds committees. The schedule provides designated times and dates for these sessions throughout the calendar year.

This document provides a comprehensive schedule for regular board meetings, special board meetings, and various committee meetings. It outlines the planned dates, times, and specific hearings, including budget and fee increase proceedings, for the calendar years 2025 and 2026.

The meeting commenced with board organization, including the declaration of a vacancy for Zone One Trustee due to term expiration and the subsequent process to fill it. Key organizational actions included the reorganization of the board for the 2026 school year, the nomination and election of a new Chair, and subsequent nominations for Vice Chair, Clerk, and Treasurer. The board also designated the official publication for legal notices and established the schedule and locations for the 2026 board meetings and official posting sites. Discussions included a review of proposed revisions to the 2026 calendar, involving adjustments to contract reviews and lease agreement timings. A significant portion of the meeting focused on student success and achievement, involving a detailed discussion and presentation of fall-to-winter student data across various grades (K-11) for mathematics, reading, and language usage, noting areas of growth and concern. Further agenda items involved recognizing the efforts of the ABN crew for extra cleaning work over the holiday break following a water-related incident, and an update on recent FFA activities, including spud sales, a Green Hand workshop, and preparations for the upcoming legislative luncheon and a Pearson donation effort.

The meeting included discussions on agenda approval, including an amendment to add curriculum committee notes to agenda item 9A. Updates were provided regarding the trustee vacancy in zone one, with no candidates having applied yet. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the 'Focus on Student Success and Achievement' item, involving a detailed discussion and presentation on student data related to early reading skills for kindergarten through third grade, showing strong overall growth across proficiency tiers, and similar upward trends in fourth through sixth grades for reading and mathematics. Concerns regarding lower spelling performance in sixth grade were addressed, noting a need to revert to more foundational spelling instruction. The board also received blue ribbon recognitions for staff members Sylvia Lance and Mrs. Pulls. Public participation included thanks to the trustees for their openness and updates on fundraising efforts through Child Find and discussions regarding a planned ski trip for sixth or eighth graders. The latter part of the meeting featured a presentation on a sample lesson from Inquiry By Design (IBD), focusing on a Grade 7 poetry unit, emphasizing complex, authentic work, and educator-to-educator collaboration.

The meeting included recognition segments, moving the presentation for guests from CASA to an earlier agenda item (3B), and confirming the agenda approval. Discussions covered Blue Ribbon recognition for a departing board member and appreciation for Thanksgiving basket efforts. A significant portion of the meeting involved a presentation from sixth-grade students and their teacher regarding their annual overnight field trip request to Bruno Sandunes, detailing the itinerary, budget needs (including costs for loop rental, gas, and prizes), and educational components like writing assignments with a local editor. Following this, updates were provided on the CASA Academy alternative program, noting an enrollment increase to 96 students and efforts to build community through small initiatives like providing toiletries. Reports on Special Education services highlighted the distribution of 50 students across various consortium programs, with 77% requiring only mild to moderate support. Financial concerns were raised regarding budget constraints stemming from prior year cuts to paraprofessional and teaching staff, which is increasing referrals to extended resource rooms and TLC programs, leading to discussions about potential funding needs exceeding $300,000 to restore staffing levels.