The Worth County School is looking for a new bookkeeper and a new custodian. Abby Troutwine is leaving the school so she can help Tyson Troutwine run his businesses. She will stay on until a suitable replacement is found. The school is also looking for a custodian.
The board approved Chris Healy as Assistant Boys Basketball Coach and Junior High Assistant Boys Basketball Coach.
Enrollment at the school has risen to over 300 again. It is now at 310, up 15 from last year. This includes PK students.
The audit report for 2024-25 was submitted. It found the district in compliance and in good financial standing.
The Federal Programs were rated as “Excellent.” The district provides Title One services schoolwide, meaning that all students are eligible to receive additional help in communication arts and math. The school is able to create Reading Success Plans for students who need help in that area. Title One events are well attended.
Concerns listed include the fact that all funds are spent on personnel, so all programs that were funded in the last must come from local funds. Title Two and Four funds were appropriated late, so federal funding was difficult to budget. Recommendations include looking for ways to fund the programs that were funded by federal programs previously.
The Parents as Teachers program was rated as Above Average. The Parent Educator is building relationships with families; screenings were increased by 22% last year. Concerns include contacting and communicating with eligible families. Recommendations include continuing to try to reach out to families to provide services, increasing the number of visits, and getting more feedback to improve the program.
The Special Services programs were rated as Above Average. The school now has three Special Education teachers plus a Special Education director in 2025-26. Teachers and paraprofessionals participate in autism training. ACES provides additional support. The school also has a contract with a Speech Language Pathologist for 2025-26.
Concerns include several high needs students who require extra resources, no gifted program, and knowledge and strategies to handle behaviors, autism, and Down’s Syndrome.
Elementary Principal Amber Hawk reported that Picture Day went well for elementary students. Retakes will be done in October.
Coderz Club is in full swing. It consists of third through sixth graders who compete against each other as they complete coding missions. They meet every Thursday throughout the year.
Grandparents Day was held on September 5th. There were 420 grandparents in attendance that day.
Employees from First Interstate Bank came to the school September 10th to bag up 300 bags for the Friday Friends program. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunches or are facing unforeseen circumstances can participate; students receive a sack of food in their backpack each Friday for the weekend. There is no cost to the families; funds are raised through private donations and grants.
Sixth Grade has started the DARE Program with Deputy Sheriff Jason Cain.
The PTO made new signs for the school.
High School Principal Josh Smith reported that students in English II were beginning their VFW essays.
In American Literature, students are reading Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and evaluating the writing. In 8th Grade English/Language Arts, students are taking quotes from stories and turning them into illustrations.
Seventh grade students volunteered at the Mobile Food pantry on September 8th. A suicide prevention presentation will be on September 23rd. Teen mental health first aid training will be starting this month. Manufacturing Awareness Day will be on October 3rd. My Success Event will be on October 14th.
The board set professional development pay rates for approved activities that happen outside of contract time. For preparing and presenting professional development, the pay is $50/hour. Certified teacher professional development is $30 per hour, and paraprofessional professional development is $15 an hour. Pay rate needs to be approved prior to the activity.
The board approved $8,402.82 in changes to the bond project. It will include electrical work to repair conduits and rerouting storm sewer and drainage.
The board approved participation in a second round of the Career Technical Education Enhancement grant. The school is seeking to purchase four new computers for the business department and a skid loader for the ag department. If approved, the grant will fund 75% of the purchases approved. The cost for the district, if approved, will be up to $34,875.
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