Goal Setting, Property Insurance, and Touch Screen Boards Highlight Board of Education Retreat

On Saturday, June 28, the Russell County USD 407 Board of Education had their annual retreat to talk about lots of different topics.

The first topic of importance was the building administrators detailing their portions of the 2024-2025 School Year Needs Assessment for the 2025-2026 school year. The Board worked to fill out the district part of the assessment. 

Next was the KESA update, to which they announced that the district is fully accredited for the 2025-2026 school year. A key focus of the accreditation cycle is structured literacy, which focuses on enhancing students' reading and writing skills. To support this, all staff members will be enrolled in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training. Attendance and graduation rates will serve as critical indicators for USD 407.

They then announced that there are eleven career and technical pathways in place for the 2025-2026 school year at Russell Junior-Senior High School. 

A new goal focused on student achievement has been officially added to the Strategic Plan, set to begin with the 2025-2026 school year.  The Strategic Plan outlines district objectives for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

The next item of importance regarded Superintendent Perez recalling a meeting he had with Russell City Manager Kayla Schneider to discuss making collaboration meetings between the Board of Education and the City Council an annual occurance. 

The board motioned to stay with the current property insurance company, EMC Insurance, and it was passed unanimously.

A motion was made to update the District Handbook language for livestreaming as presented. This was passed unanimously.

Another motion was made to purchase three additional touch screens utilizing CAPS funds for $11,083.14 This was passed unanimously.