Derby Middle School highlights intervention gains, civic award and staff service recognitions

Clint Shipley, principal of Derby Middle School, presented a summary of building initiatives and results at the Dec. 8 Derby Board of Education meeting, and the board recognized several staff members for years of service.

Shipley told the board the district-funded math intervention position enabled creation of four tier 2 math intervention sections per grade (up from two last year), serving roughly 15 students per section. That change increased access to small-group pre-teaching and gap instruction, he said.

Shipley said parent-teacher conference turnout increased notably after moving many conferences to a centralized format: overall turnout rose to 43.39%, with in-person attendance at 37.8% compared with prior years in the high teens or low 20s.

On student behavior, Shipley described a shift in personal electronic device management and graduated consequences: "Now they come to the office...as it moves on, it gets into parent pickup," he said. He reported an increase in logged device infractions from 29 to 54 this year and attributed part of the jump to enhanced enforcement; vaping incidents this semester were low but detectable, he said, aided by vape detectors and a security officer.

Shipley also highlighted that Derby Middle School earned a Civic Advocacy Network award from KSDE for demonstrating six proven practices in civic instruction, community service and student voice. Student representatives accepted recognition on behalf of student council and honor societies, and the board commended a PrimeFit partnership that provides mentoring and fitness programming.

The board presented years-of-service awards to multiple staff members across 10-, 20-, 25- and 30-year milestones and praised their leadership and contributions.