Board approves three-year district plan after Calhoun previews changes to TISA reporting

The Sullivan County School Board voted to approve its district plan for submission to the state after a brief presentation by Dr. Calhoun, who explained the state's shift from an annual TISA accountability report to a three-year district plan.

Dr. Calhoun told board members, "I just sent that presentation to your Sullivan County emails," and described the change: "So every 3 years, we have to approve a plan." He said the longer cycle allows the district to set three-year targets, measure cohort outcomes, and adjust strategies rather than rewriting the plan each year.

Calhoun listed six district goals that will guide benchmarks and strategies, including grade 3 ELA, K–12 ELA and math, CCR (college/career readiness) status, graduation rate, and reducing chronic absenteeism. He said schools will inherit district goals but retain flexibility on how to implement them: "We give them the floor, but they can create the ceiling."

On funding, Calhoun acknowledged the plan includes a TISA funding line but said he placed zero dollars there: "TISA is not gonna pay for anything we're talking about doing." He said most schools had already submitted school-level plans on the ePlan platform and that the district plan had been posted for at least one week for public comment with no responses.

Mr. Carter recommended approval, and the motion to adopt the plan (moved by Mr. Hughes and seconded by Mr. Vickers) carried after verbal assent from board members. The approved plan will be posted on ePlan and can be revised during the three-year cycle as the district monitors benchmark indicators.

Board members were told a fuller review will occur at an upcoming all-day retreat planned for October 23, where the leadership team will work with the board on a longer-term strategic plan.