Superintendent: strong iRead results and state letter grades will return; trustee warns of lost local control

Superintendent Dr. Jackson told trustees March 12 that preliminary iRead assessment results are encouraging and that the district expects to receive embargoed scores in June. He said the district saw high participation during a recent synchronous e‑learning day and that the district’s reading work over several years under the science‑of‑reading approach has contributed to gains.

"We're about 6 or 7% of where we were last year above at this time," Dr. Jackson said when describing recent assessment gains, adding that final iRead scores will be released in June.

Dr. Jackson also warned that statewide letter grades for schools are returning after the State Board adopted a final rule. He said the district will present more information at the April board meeting about how letter grades will be calculated and how they rely heavily on iLearn and SAT metrics.

During board comments, trustee Mr. Gafford criticized what he described as an erosion of local control, referencing recent state actions including Senate Bill 78. "They are now gonna ban cell phones bell to bell all day," he said, arguing the state is limiting local discretion and expressing concern about emergency communication options for students.

No formal board action on state policy occurred at the meeting; trustees said they will receive additional information about the letter‑grade rules at the next meeting.