Whitney Ridge update: high attendance and volunteer support; board hears request to install donated gym audio and cameras

Miss McCormick (S7) told the board the community rallied after the loss of student Riley Combs and described recent academic and engagement wins at Whitney Ridge, including iReady growth, grade-level competitions and an average daily attendance rate the presentation cited as about 94.32% for 2024–25.

She outlined intervention work (Title I interventionists, PSPs, small-group instruction), partnerships for social-emotional supports (CIS, guidance counselors, a local health partner referenced as "Mountaineer"), volunteer reading programs and plans for an outdoor classroom and career day.

A community member and local business owner (S8) said teachers and volunteers have a donated passive audio system for the gym that "literally, we just need someone to say, yes, please hang it up." The business owner said the system is low-voltage and ready for installation for curricular and extracurricular use.

Superintendent (S2) and maintenance staff discussed liability and insurance limits for volunteers using lifts and running wires. S2 said maintenance could meet with the volunteer installer, run wires high on a lift, and then let the volunteer connect equipment once those safety steps are completed: "We're gonna put them up high ... we're gonna bring one cord down to wherever your controls need to be. We're gonna meet with you." He emphasized the need to coordinate lifts and insurance before installation.

The board also discussed soundproofing concerns for an art classroom and the prospect of installing gym cameras. Miss McCormick asked for maintenance and administrative follow-up; S2 said his maintenance team planned to meet volunteers and schedule work after the holiday backlog.

The discussion ended with administration and maintenance agreeing to coordinate timelines and liability checks before installation; no formal vote was required.

The board's next step is for maintenance and the superintendent to meet the volunteer installer and provide a timeline for safe installation of donated equipment and for the district to confirm insurance and lift arrangements.