Superintendent and staff report graduations, facility work and a numeracy framework; special‑education supports highlighted

The Bedford County superintendent opened the June 11 meeting with a report celebrating three high school graduation ceremonies that included over 600 seniors and 17 GED completers, and he thanked administrators, faculty and support staff for the school year.

The superintendent reviewed ongoing and planned facility work from the division’s five‑year maintenance plan including completion this July of theater and sidewalk canopy projects at Stanton River and Liberty high schools, roof painting at Montville Elementary, parking lot paving at Huddleston Elementary, painting at Bedford Elementary and mandated wastewater treatment replacements at Otter River and Stewartsville elementaries.

Staff then presented the division’s strategic framework numeracy update. Presenters said the division uses Virginia’s BKRP kindergarten readiness and SOL results to track progress. The data cited in the meeting showed roughly 80 percent of kindergartners meeting the BKRP benchmark and 73 percent proficiency for third grade mathematics (noting that SOL data have a two‑year reporting lag). Presenters said numeracy instructional shifts emphasize conceptual understanding, problem solving and mathematical discourse rather than rote memorization.

Kelly Jennings, who presented special‑education numeracy data, said the division is seeing growth in grades 3 and 8, stable grade 5 performance and a decline in Algebra I proficiency under Virginia’s revised 2023 standards. She described action steps to strengthen Tier‑1 instruction, evidence‑based specially designed instruction, targeted teacher training and collaborative planning across general and special education.

During Q&A board members pressed on whether students with disabilities take the same SOLs (presenters confirmed they do), how digital and print curriculum materials were distributed (digital access earlier; print materials arrived later due to shipping), and how the division balances test preparation with transferable skills. Staff described ongoing professional development and planning sessions for year two of the curriculum adoption.

What happens next: The division will continue year‑two professional development, monitor SOL and BKRP indicators, and align implementation plans with the redistricting and budgeting timelines discussed later in the meeting.