Vea la versión en español del Informe de la Junta Directiva aqui.

This is a summary of the Pasco School District Board Meeting on March 12, 2024.

We recognized Davina Ward-Pink, Instructional Coach at Edwin Markham Elementary School, for being selected as the recipient of PSD's 2024 Crystal Apple Award.

Davina has devoted 32 years of her career to serving Pasco students in various roles. Her passion for teaching stems from her deep love for children. Recognizing herself not only as an educator but also as a role model, Davina is dedicated to instilling moral values and setting high expectations for her students to achieve their fullest potential.

Davina was presented with the Crystal Apple Award and prizes during a celebratory event held at the Educational Service District (ESD) 123 in Pasco on March 7th. Join us in congratulating Davina on this well-deserved recognition!

We celebrated School Retiree Appreciation Week, which occurs from March 18-24, by extending gratitude to retiring school staff members, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to our schools and community.

At the board meeting, members of the Benton Franklin School Retirees Association (BFSRA), including Victoria Russell, Diana Baker, Don Parks, Elaine Banks, Lou Edmond, and Dottie Stevens, the President of the BFSRA, were in attendance to commemorate School Retiree Appreciation Week. These esteemed individuals were honored with thank-you gifts from the district.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all retiring school staff members for their unwavering support of our staff, students, schools, and community. Thank you for your dedicated service!

During a study session, Carla Lobos, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services, provided insights into the district’s adoption process of the American Reading Company (ARC) CORE for literacy in grades K-5.

Ms. Lobos presented an overview of the district's progress in implementing ARC, discussing data related to assessment gains and comparisons for the 2023-2024 academic year. The data indicated positive trends, with an overall increase in students reading at proficient levels in IRLA and ENIL (formative assessments used with the ARC program) as of December 15th. Additionally, Kristen Antonnucio, a representative from ARC, presented an overview of the curriculum and shared data summaries highlighting the overall progress of students since the implementation of the ARC curriculum.

During the session, board members participated in table group discussions with principals and staff. They discussed successful aspects of ARC implementation, the program's benefits for students, and challenges faced during implementation.

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Seth Johnson, Planning Principal for Orion High School, introduced branding concepts for the new high school during a board report. He began by providing an overview of the naming process, followed by presenting the primary colors, logo, and color selections developed in collaboration with DLR Group, our branding consultants. Additionally, Mr. Johnson showcased various school theme and tagline options, explaining how the propellers of the plane will complement the educational pathways offered at the school.

Mr. Johnson will present an update on educational programming for Orion High School in May 2024.

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John Steach, CEO of the Center for Educational Effectiveness, provided a progress report on monitoring the district’s goal of ensuring 100% of 9th graders are on track for graduation, as outlined in Outrageous Outcome 3.

During the presentation, Mr. Steach discussed historical data trends, benchmark and stretch targets, and data comparisons related to this goal. Following his presentation, Mira Gobel, Assistant Superintendent of Schools & Social Emotional Learning, outlined the district’s current strategies for improving 9th grade on-track numbers. These strategies include enhancing tier-1 instruction, addressing attendance issues, fostering a culture of belonging, implementing intervention teams, providing targeted support and intervention, and offering additional resources such as Saturday School, extended trimesters, and tutoring.

Moving forward, the district plans to continue aligning its strategic plans, school improvement plans, and state of the school reviews, while consistently monitoring data. Additionally, there will be a focus on strengthening the district’s multi-tier systems of support for academics and addressing chronic absenteeism districtwide.

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