The Twin Rivers R-X School District improvement plans work from the outside to the inside, according to Superintendent Ben Johnson.
“Now that the COVID risk has lessened, we can turn back full force and work from outside (the building) to inside (the curriculum),” Johnson said.
Johnson explained the district was focused on offering a high quality of learning, where everyone is focused on the students.
A new reading curriculum, Super Kids, has been purchased for grades pre-kindergarten to second grade. The next curriculum to be re-done will be science, reading grades 3-12 and K-12 math.
The students are not the only ones who are learning new things this year.
The building principals have been attending workshops which are part of the National Educator’s Evaluation.
“They need to be the instructional leader in the building. The old model, where the principal’s main role was that of disciplinarian, is no longer relevant,” Johnson said.
Another new program is Positive Behavior Intervention and Support.
Johnson said the school was working to get resources in place, such as interventions, and pull out programs.
“That is so we can give students a little extra help who are struggling,” he said.
The teachers finished a PBIS workshop at Southeast Missouri State University in October and will go back in March.
As far as the buildings go, new HVAC installations are about one-third completed. This will ensure all of the rooms in the buildings will have heating, cooling and proper ventilation.
Plans are also in the works for a green house, where horticulture classes could be offered.