February 28, 2026 at 8:30 AM - Workshop

Discussion:  Mr Catrell led pledge

Discussion:  None

Discussion:  None

Discussion:  Stephanie - Star benchmarks some growth in readings.  Percentage of fall compared to winter of 26. 
math - 2 of 8 groups declined.  Other 6 increased in percentage of growth
reading - 3 or 9 groups declined in percentage

reading - 2nd grade test changed a little.  points for sounds and points for words.  In middle of year the test becomes a little more challenging. 

mid year tends to dip with lower elementary grades.  need some conversations on does it seems to be payoff later? 
new curriculum - students are engaged in new curriculum and teachers have been engaged but has been challenging as the curriculum is new. 
CKLA teachers are getting some training directly from CKLA coaches. 

coach here 2 days this week.

Math - fluency continues to be a concern. 

Curriculum concerns is still the writing piece of CKLA.  What they are writing in the upper elem. Students are not able to do at the higher grade levels. They will see gaps as the older kids did not have the background of CKLA at the younger years. 

had a district come and visit that was looking at adapting CKLA.  Had a document created with positive and challenges. 
Looking at future PD with CKLA in the next few years.  Purchased 8 coaching days in original purchase of curriculum. 

State of MI and the Governor budget has been very pointed at currculum.  

Mississippi miracle - did not happen over night.  need to stick with a curriculum and not jump around from program to program. 
Parent engagement - how do we build more relationships with parents on the importance of reading to your kids at home. 

Mississippi is retaining 3rd grade students and Michigan repealed it two years ago.  Can we up the game on intervention for those students who are low and under grade level proficient. 
Our intervention program 
what works and what doesn't work with US and Norway regions
they evaluate their programs and stop using them if they do not work.  US evaluates a program and asks how to make the programs work.
Title I funds reading interventions.  Diving into data to see what needs to be changed vs what can we do more of with the same programs. 

HOw many kindergartners come into Kindergarten with no preschool experience at all?  
GSRP wants to expand into our district.  Full day model has cut numbers in half.  GSRP wishes to add another class that they lost after they went full time. 
What would it take to start our own preschool?  Would that stop the gap as the child gets older.  Can we put the funds into a preschool and cut the need for support at the older grade levels in Elementary. 

How many students do we retain in 3rd grade - None
How many students overall do we retain -  maybe 1 or 2

Use Lights retention scale -  have found it more detrimental to the students and have been linked to higher drop out rates in high school. 
Start to build a culture of expectations for each grade level.  what we expect from students and what we expect from parents. 
WE need to build a culture of pride and success

The absentee rate is higher than expected in the younger grades.  Young 5 kids

CAn we make contact with our daycare providers to give them resources to help get our young kids prepared for school.  ARe there online tools or packets that we could share with them?  Bus drivers know the daycare providers

Special Ed populations Tier 3 kids.  coordination between gen ed and special ed kids.  How does one student get special ed resource help, time in core class, and intervention help in math? 

ISD in Mississppi providing literacy coaches that move from school to school that help provide support to teachers and students with literacy. 
Can we build this into the budget?  Do we need more intervention support.  Tier 3 students need the additional support. 

What support do we have for kids who are above grade level?  The kids who are higher.  The system is built for the students who need more help can be pulled out and work in small group and the teachers who have the high students or at grade level students can be focused on them and help push them higher. 
Barriers - we don't have the resources to help push the kids higher than grade level. 
 

Discussion:   Athletic committee request some information on athletics
spending - 24/25 budget - spent $278,073.71
25/26 spent so far - increase is in people (coaches and AD)  

What do we spend on athletics compared to other schools compared to other schools
legue and county schools.  athletic budget, general fund and % of total athletic expense. 
bath pays significant more for their coaches than we do. 
Is there an upside to the level of education on our athletes?   If they are in sports do they have more invested in athletics. 
Participation numbers of all our sports.  
Sign up sheets in the office.  Coaches meeting 

How many students per grade that also play sports per season?  

What did you see from a comparison standpoint?
Athletics students tend to do better in school academically.
What are the considerations to add to athletics?  Facility vs more sports
The facility wants: are another gym or a field house like Fowler has. 
Could the board set 10% of capital funds and then fund raise the rest? 
Community center that the school uses?   

What is the plan for the old gym at the Harker MIddle School?  Could we buy that gym back?  Could we contract with parking lot? Could we 

First priority is looking at facilities?  How do we lay out investment points.  eartag some funds for this?
Adding two coaches back - middle school wrestling and basketball cheer as paid coaches. 

track resurfacing -  It is not regulation distance.  in the bond to get an assessment done to see if there is a need to get the track re-done.  Can we add to the bond to see if we can make the track regulation? 

Talking AD - Interim right now as Diana Smith
AD Options — 1. just post AD    2. Post alongside student SVC coordinator    3.  Tag with a teacher        4.  Tag along with someone who is professionally certified





 

Discussion:  Board transition - meet with MASB 
Take board transition materials and allow the board to promote people becoming a board member. 

Get on Board flyers for board members

 

Discussion:  None

Discussion:  Budget Recommendation for FY 2027

Can not meet all the needs and wants without dipping into our fund balance. 

Can we put dollar amounts and priority on our budget list and also where funds come from?
 Curriculum process.  

Needs appear to be higher than in past years. 
Need to look at potential people postings sooner than later.
Need to post for our one retired teacher.  Hopefully by mid march, early april

Cookies from the Elementary staff as a Thank you and appreciation 
JSH signed certificate from the staff

Speaker of the House proposed to roll back property tax.  Replace it with a luxury tax.  Property tax partially funds public schools. 
not a lot of support
amount of focus of funds going to higher education coming from the school aid fund.


 

Discussion:  10:53 am adjornment.