Post Detail

As we move through the first few weeks of the school year, I remain proud of what I am seeing across Pulaski County Schools.

We have had a great start to the year, and I want to take a moment to recognize our administrators and our central office team. Our new administrators have already dealt with their share of challenges and handled them well. I have also been very impressed with the collaboration between our schools and central office. Good things happen when people work together, and I am thankful for the team we have in place.

Looking at Where Our Students Are

Our fall diagnostic testing is now largely complete. While testing is never the most exciting part of the school year, the information it gives us is important.

Our schools are looking at the data in two ways. First, we want to identify individual students who may need additional support. We are also looking at the bigger picture to identify areas where our Tier 1 instruction may have gaps. This helps give our teachers direction and allows them to focus on the areas where students need the most support.

The goal is to collect the data and use it appropriately. The results give our teachers and schools a clearer picture of where students are and where we need to focus our efforts moving forward.

All 13 Schools Earn PBIS Recognition

One of the highlights of the meeting was sharing some good news about our schools.

All 13 Pulaski County Schools that applied for PBIS Fidelity Recognition met the criteria.

PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, provides a framework for helping students understand expectations, build positive behavior, and contribute to a strong school climate. Having every school that applied meet the recognition criteria is something our district should be proud of.

Each qualifying school will receive a banner to display, and the district will receive one as well.

This recognition reflects the work of our principals, teachers, staff, and students. It is another example of people across our district working together to create positive environments for kids.

Moving Projects Forward

The Board also approved several steps related to our baseball and softball field project. RossTarrant Architects was approved for the project, along with the necessary site survey and BG-1 submission. These are important first steps as we move the project forward.

The Board also approved the design development plans for the Southwestern High School fieldhouse. The plans provide a more detailed look at the project as we continue through the design process.

These projects are part of our continued effort to improve facilities and provide better opportunities for our students and communities.

A Conversation About Our Employees

The Board also approved proceeding with a future discussion on potential employee salary increases. There is no final decision at this point, but the Board will have an opportunity to discuss the issue in more detail at a future working session.

Our employees are the heart of Pulaski County Schools, and conversations about how we support and compensate our staff are important ones.

A Good Start

There is always plenty happening in a school district, especially at the beginning of a new school year. But when I look across our schools right now, I see many people doing good work.

Our administrators are settling into their roles. Our central office team is working together. Our teachers and staff are working with students every day. And our schools are using information and data to figure out how we can do things better.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am proud of the start we have had.

UPDATE: Employee Salary Increase

Since the September 8 Board meeting, the Board held a special-called meeting to continue the discussion regarding employee compensation. At that meeting, the Board approved a 2% across-the-board salary increase for all district employees.

I appreciate the Board taking the time to have this discussion and recognizing the work of the people who serve our students every day. Our teachers, administrators, transportation staff, maintenance crews, cooks, custodians, office staff, and all of our support personnel play an important role in making Pulaski County Schools what it is.