At the January Committee of the Whole meeting, board members heard updates from administration on professional learning communities, strategies to improve district climate, and data on keeping secondary students on-track to graduate. 

After these presentations from district administrators, the board continued its practice of hearing from school leaders. The schools represented on Tuesday were from Anthony Middle School, Anwatin Middle School, Dowling Community School, Hall STEM Academy, Bethune Community School, Kenny Elementary School, Justice Page Middle School, and Wellstone International High School. The principal presentations start around 1:09:00 in the recording of the meeting.

From left to right: Principal Mai Chang Vue (standing second from left) and Assistant Principal Dempsey Miller III from Anthony Middle School, and Principal Nate Hampton and teacher Ben Sonquist from Anwatin Middle School, share their school chants at the Committee of the Whole meeting on January 24.

Upcoming school board meetings

The board will meet again on Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. at Davis Center for a special business meeting related to the search for a new superintendent. At this meeting, the board is expected to officially vote on whether to extend Rochelle Cox’s contract as interim superintendent for another year, until June 30, 2024.

On Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Davis Center, the board will meet for its regular business meeting, which will include a time for public comments. 

The finance committee will meet on Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. at Davis Center. This meeting will likely include an update on the budget process. 

And, on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Davis Center, the board will have its Committee of the Whole meeting. The theme for this meeting is “Review and Adjust: Progress Monitoring of Impact of Instruction,” which should include data on the winter math and reading assessments given to all MPS K-8 grade students.

All of these meetings are available for live streaming or recordings except the Finance Committee meeting.