001that you know every year in the fall we always come back and um share kind of a um progress report if you will on how the district has done over the past year and over the past few years we've been really using our strategic plan to kind of guide us in that report. So um I'mma follow my script here. So good afternoon board members. Today I'm pleased to present our annual state of the district presentation. It's a tradition every fall to share with you in our community strategic plan that highlights the highlights from each year. You should have a copy of the presentation in front of you. I would ask that you please hold any questions until the end of the presentation. At the heart of everything we do, uhoh, there it is. At the
002heart of everything we do is a simple but powerful truth. We are proud to be PCSD, a district unified around students, our mission and our community. Our mission and our vision revolve around one focus, that's our students. Every initiative, every message, and every decision is guided by ensuring that all students across Putham County have access to quality education and opportunities. This past year included the release of our district's new brand video, which you just saw. This in-house project showcases all of our PCSD campuses and the variety of learning opportunities available to our students. Most importantly, it highlights the positive student and staff relationships throughout our district and the amazing potential of our students. Our strategic plan plans course of action outlines five areas of focus along with the long-term strategies for each area. Since 2022,
003we have been publishing strategic plan action reports each fall documenting accomplishments from the prior year. This year's 2024 25 report includes the actions from year four of our five-year plan and can be found on our district website. I will now share with you a few highlights from the report for each of our areas of focus. So in the area of district grade data under academic excellence, our 2025 district grade showed improvement achievement in all four content areas. This improvement is evidence of our f of our focus on improving achievement by strengthening tier 1 core instruction. Our 2025 district grade showed an increase in 10 of the 12 components and the highest percent of total possible points since the modern calculation began in 2015. So you can see an increase in all those areas. Along with
004our focus on achievement, we invested additional funding, time, and support into reading and math interventions in grades kindergarten through six. This past year saw the adoption and purchase of even more instructional materials to better meet the needs of our students. In the area of career and technical education, we now offer 14 different programs across our four secondary schools. Recent additions to our programs include aerospace technologies, which we just talked about, and building construction technologies. We also continue to invest in legacy programs like advanced manufacturing, agrocience, allied health, automotive maintenance, and welding. These career programs provide our students with job skills needed right here in Putnham County, in the whole child area. And if you notice up in the right corner are the different uh emblems of our areas of focus in the whole child area
005of focus. We were grateful to partner last year with the nonprofit organization who we play for. We provided 673 free electroc cardiogram heart screenings to students in grades 7 through 12 across our district. in our district's mental health mental wellness team started a new resilience roots program focused on strengthening families through therapy and mental health. We were honored to receive the funding from the United Way to support our resilient roots family therapy program and trauma focused services. Focusing on the whole child includes making sure our students are supported during and after the school day. Rounding out the highlights of our support for the whole child is Jazzy and Bouncy. Jazzy is our district's therapy dog who I think you've met here before. And Bouncy is an animatronic dog introduced to our district's youngest students to
006promote resilience. One of our greatest accomplishments in the area of premier workforce was a ribbon cutting ceremony for our PCSD wellness center powered by Marathon Health. Our new wellness center provides no cost care to employees on district health insurance plans. Our goal of having a premier workforce was supported this past year with raises for all instructional, classified, and support staff. Additionally, we reached a starting we reached a starting salary of $48,000 for new teachers. Negotiations also resulted in new supplements and other financial benefits for our employees. We are known for we are known throughout the region for our district-wide learning communities and collaborative approach to professional learning. Our district invests significant funding in growing the knowledge and expertise of our teachers, leaders, and staff in an effort to be the premier workforce in Northeast Florida.
007Our ongoing revitalization plan is foundational to our safety and modernization areas area of focus. This plan represents a once in a generation investment in our students, our schools, our community, and our future. We currently have three campuses under construction. Crescent City Junior Senior High School, Paka Intermediate, and the new Middleton Bernie Elementary School. Crescent City Junior Senior High School is being built in phases on the current site. The junior high in the CTE wings just opened in November, and students and staff are already utilizing those spaces. The new gymnasium is set to be completed in 2026. This rebuilt campus is being constructed with special facilities funding appropriated by appropriated by the state legislature. This upcoming year will be especially transformative for our central area as we open the new Palatka Intermediate School. Palaca Intermediate will
008welcome its first class of students in grades 3 through six this coming August. The new Middleton Bernie Elementary School in Crescent City will also welcome students and staff in August the 26th. Similar to Palaca Intermediate, it is being built with with the general obligation bond funds. When it comes to community collaboration, our farm-toschool program reflects not only our commitment to healthy meals for our students, but also our support for local farmers in Northeast Florida. A state grant of almost $800,000 help make these purchases of local produce possible. We are committed to celebrating our district and highlighting the incredible people who make it special. Our district's podcast, known as the pulse, gives students, teachers, staff, and community partners a platform to share their stories. It has helped us strengthen relationships and brings awareness to the great
009things happening in PCSD in our community. We are also committed to meeting our community's desire for choice. And this past year, we added even more district choices for families. In addition to adding Putinham Flex and Putnham Flex for homeschool students, we developed contracted services for families that are now being offered in the current school year. The highlights I've shared with you this afternoon reflect some of the progress we made during the past year. As our district enters the fifth and final year of our current strategic plan, I want to share what the year ahead will bring. The new Palaca Primary School serving grades kindergarten through 2nd is set to rise in the heart of our district central area. This new campus will streamline our Palaca feeder pattern and build a more connected and consistent learning
010experience for all of our students. And that is uh if you're not sure, that's where the current Kelly Smith Elementary is located. On the west end of the county, we are beginning the Melrose Elementary project. These construction projects in phase two of our revitalization plan seek to unify learning, create consistency in the student experience, and bring safe and modern schools to all communities in West, Central, and South Putham County. Our goal is simple. Every student deserves the same excellent learning environment. PCSD is in an incredible period of growth, modernizing our schools, strengthening communication, expanding opportunities, and centering everything we do around students. In January, we will kick off strategic planning for a new three-year plan that will guide our district through the 2029 school year. We will begin this work with a presentation during the
011January 20th board meeting outlining the timeline and the process. In the year ahead, our stakeholders will have opportunities to help shape the future with our next strategic plan. As superintendent, my team and I are committed to continuing to strengthen our school district, and we appreciate your support.