Board of Education
-
Supporting Our Mavericks
A really encouraging story in today’s Traverse City Record-Eagle about Traverse City High School. Over the past three years, the school’s on-time graduation rate has nearly doubled, from 23.9% in 2023 to 46.7% in 2025, while the dropout rate fell from 23.9% to 13.0%. That’s what can happen when we build pathways around students’ needs.…
-
TCAPS Board Committee Meeting Agendas for Week of August 31
Another busy week ahead for your school board before school starts next week: Curriculum Committee (today – August 31 at 8:15a) – 2026/27 TCAPS District Course Catalog update – Summer school at Traverse Heights Elementary and Traverse City High School updates – Traverse City High School update – Sex Education Advisory Board Co-Chair recommendations Finance…
-
Assessments Should Help Us Teach, Not Just Tell Us What Happened
I appreciate the Traverse City Record-Eagle‘s willingness to put education and Michigan’s literacy challenges in the spotlight in today’s paper.* It’s an important conversation, and one I think all of us – educators, parents, school board members, legislators and community members – need to be willing to have honestly. Michigan’s literacy outcomes are not where…
-
Our Libraries Are More Than Libraries: Creating Connection in a Device-Heavy World
At last week’s school board meeting, we discussed changes to our student cell phone and wireless communication device policy. Part of the reason for the update is a new Michigan requirement that limits students’ use of wireless communication devices during instructional time. The state law establishes a baseline for districts, including specific exceptions for things…
-
August Newsletter
August’s newsletter is out – have a great rest of the summer, everyone! • 2026 elementary school math/literacy outcomes • 2026 secondary school math/literacy outcomes • Looking beyond the classroom: Lessons from the Kids Count report • Community partnerships: Creating the conditions for student success • More than buildings: Investing in student success • How…
-
Keeping Our Promise: Reporting on the Outcomes We’ve Chosen to Prioritize
One of the promises we made as a Board was to be transparent about the outcomes we’ve chosen to prioritize—and to report our progress along the way. At last week’s Curriculum Committee meeting, we reviewed several of our secondary strategic plan goals, including literacy and math outcomes for 8th graders (PSAT) and 11th graders (SAT).…
-
Learning to Lead: Why School Board Governance Requires Continuous Learning
One thing I’ve come to appreciate during my short time on the school board is that effective governance is something you have to learn. Serving on a school board isn’t just about showing up for meetings. It’s about understanding school finance, student achievement, board governance, legal responsibilities, strategic planning, and the role a board plays…
-
Measuring What Matters: A First Look at TCAPS’ Progress Toward the 2030 Vision
One of the commitments we made in our new 2030 Vision* was to measure what matters—and to share our progress along the way. At yesterday’s Curriculum Committee meeting, we reviewed our latest elementary reading and math outcomes using the NWEA, our district’s benchmark assessment. Unlike the state assessment (M-STEP), which won’t be publicly released until…
-
Serving Students, Supporting Community: Four TCAPS Board Seats on the Ballot
Relentlessly. I keep this word written on my notebook because it’s part of our district vision: “An educational community providing opportunities and resources to relentlessly support all learners in achieving their full potential.” This November, four seats on the TCAPS Board of Education will be on the ballot. It will also be the only local…
-
School Board Meetings for the Week of May 25th, 2026
Have a great holiday weekend! Next week is another busy week for your school board. Curriculum Committee (May 26 at 8:15a): 1) Middle School Science Curriculum 2) AP Research 3) Evidenced-Based Reporting 4) K-12 Technology Usage Finance Committee (May 28 at 8:15a): 1) Extension of 31aa (Mental Health/Safety Funds) Resolution 2) Middle School Science Curriculum…
TY FOR TCAPS 