Director reports clean audit and outlines efforts to address rising student behavioral issues

The district director reported a clean audit for the 11th consecutive year and credited finance staff for completing reporting promptly. The director also said investments in building air-conditioning have made classrooms more comfortable amid recent heat and highlighted an upcoming parent-teacher conference and fall break on Oct. 1.

Board members pressed the director and staff about rising disruptive behavior in lower grades. The director acknowledged the problem, described steps taken (behavior plans, training for assistants and teachers, CPI methods) and said hiring licensed behavioralists is costly. He said the district applied for a state grant to fund an on-site behavioralist but was not selected. When asked about class size, staff said kindergarten sections currently have about 22 students (the district allows up to 25). One board member framed the problem as broader and suggested the state consider universal pre-K; staff said progress is gradual but they expect improvement by Christmas if current interventions continue.

"We did have another clean audit," the director said, recognizing finance staff. On behavior, he said, "We're addressing behaviors, looking for solutions," and emphasized staff efforts to train and employ behavior plans. The discussion closed with the board noting the complexity of balancing discipline, instructional time and limited local authority to change statewide early-childhood access.