The Goodrich School Board’s regular meeting for February reviewed mid-year testing results, heard updates on grants, and approved next year’s academic calendar.
The board was able to see comparisons for mid-year testing for this year and last for most grade levels.
Elementary reading stats are up this year. Principal Brenda Langley felt the numbers were good for this time of year. Math numbers were up in third and fifth grade, but down in fourth grade. Langley also felt the elementary needs improvement in students who have mastered subjects, and felt that science scores were low overall.
Principal Aubrey Vaughan said junior high math had solid scores except for the seventh grade, while social studies continues to be a difficult area. He felt reading was strong and wants to push for more students who have mastered the subject.
For the high school, Vaughan said most of the scores were strong, especially biology. Like the other grade levels, he mentioned a need to acquire more masters scores.
Goodrich Superintendent Daniel Barton said for the past eight or nine months, the school district has tried to get its dual credit program off the ground with Lamar University for welding. The school has received a grant for equipment worth around $60,000.
Finance manager Sarah Bacica said the school was also awarded a LASSO 4 grant. It is for a residency program, a “grow your own” that helps teachers obtain teaching certificates, and a mentorship program.
A grant for a new bus was attempted, but the district did not meet the requirements. They would qualify next year, so if the funds are offered once again, they plan to apply.
Five bids were opened to upgrade the athletic complex, but all came in over what the school district was expecting. They chose to take no action on the current bids.
The 2026-27 academic calendar was approved. Bacica said it is almost identical to the current year’s calendar, with the only change being a Monday off after the Christmas break. Teachers would return on a Tuesday the first week of January, while students would return on that Wednesday. The school year would end just before Memorial Day. All but two staff members voted in favor of the calendar.
Also approved was an interlocal agreement with Polk County that would partner with the county if the school needed an election for school board members.
With a short presentation prepared, a compensation plan board workshop will occur the same day as the regular board meeting next month, which was moved to March 23.
