School Board praises progress and staff efforts to meet District goals

By Robert Perea

The Lyon County School District Board of Trustees reviewed progress on the eight goals in its District Improvement Plan at its Nov. 18 meeting, hearing updates on student assessments, graduation rates, work‑based learning and chronic absenteeism.

District staff reported that fall testing has established baselines across grade levels. Elementary students completed i‑Ready assessments, ninth and 10th graders finished Measures of Academic Progress testing, and ACT profile data show 74 percent of juniors on a college track meeting the composite benchmark of 16 or higher. Administrators have completed Nevada School Performance Framework training, and preliminary graduation data show 87.6 percent, slightly below the 88.7 percent projected last winter.

“In my scrutinization, I can only speculate that 88.7 percent was what we anticipated during our January workshop, when, indeed, it may not accurately reflect what the cohort graduation percentage is when it comes forward and is validated from the state," Deputy Superintendent Stacey Griffin-Cooper said. “So, I’m just letting you know, we are probably going to recalibrate that 1 percent graduation percentage when we come back to see this in February.”

Work‑based learning drew particular attention. More than 22,000 experiences were logged in the first quarter, surpassing the district’s 10 percent growth target, and 4,222 students have already participated in career exploration activities. 

“That’s a phenomenal growth,” Griffin-Cooper said. 

Trustees noted that exposure to career pathways is resonating with younger students. Trustee Darin Farr recounted a parent’s story of a child who, after seeing older students present projects and hearing professionals discuss their work, “finally clicked” on why math mattered and set a goal for his future.

“So, I think if we can increase and keep going with our opportunities, especially with the work based learning and exposing our kids to positive examples and role models in the industries and things, I think that will really serve,” Farr said.

He also referred to a school trip to the University of Nevada, Reno, where he said students were exposed to education opportunities they didn’t know existed.

“And they were really impressed because the college students were talking to them on their level about, you better be really good in math if you want to pursue this, and you better do this, so I think that helps,” he said.

Trustees also praised creative attendance strategies at the elementary level, such as classrooms highlighting students on “VIP boards” to encourage daily participation. Chronic absenteeism stood at 36.2 percent last year; the district aims to reduce it to 32.2 percent by 2026.

Board members expressed gratitude for staff efforts. 

“I personally thank all of them for the hard work and dedication they put into this,” Trustee James Whisler said. 

Farr added that interventions at the grade school level have been “really critical, especially with some of our ELA successes.” Trustee Kallie Day, speaking as a parent, said recent conferences gave families clearer insight into student progress. Trustee Sherry Parsons called the focus on data “refreshing,” noting a shift from past years.

“This, to me, makes my heart sing,” Parsons said.

In response to a question from Trustee Tom Hendrix about when adjustments to the goals are required, Griffin-Cooper emphasized that the goals are not static. She said the graduation cohort data will be adjusted once the state verifies graduation data, and she said the district would probably recalibrate its goals in a future workshop. 

“Reading and math is always important. Graduation cohort, ACT performance, work‑based learning, college and career readiness, they’re all important,” Cooper said. “We have nowhere else to go but up.”

Following discussion, the board voted unanimously to accept the report.