Catoosa County Board explores facility plan for Performance Learning Center

The recent meeting of the Catoosa County Board of Education highlighted significant developments that could impact local students and educational facilities. One of the key discussions centered around the Catoosa Performance Learning Center, which is set to be phased back into the district's facilities plan. This decision aims to enhance educational opportunities for students currently enrolled in the program, which has been operating without its own facility code. The board is seeking a resolution to formally integrate this center into the facilities plan, although it will not be eligible for state capital outlay funds due to its previous phase-out status.

In addition to facility updates, the board addressed the academic performance of Lakeview Middle School (LMS). The school has shown notable improvement in its College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores, rising from 62.2 in 2023 to 69.5 in 2024. Despite narrowly missing the threshold for designation as a "promise school," LMS is expected to benefit from the removal of lower scores in future evaluations, positioning it more favorably for upcoming assessments.

The meeting also touched on the lack of funding for summer tutoring programs, which were previously supported by COVID-related funds. While tutoring will continue during the school year, the absence of summer resources raises concerns about ongoing academic support for students.

Furthermore, the board discussed the adoption of updated instructional materials for world languages and K-12 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), as well as a new curriculum for secondary English Language Arts. These materials were made available for public review, but no feedback was received, indicating community support for the changes.

Lastly, the board introduced a new legislative requirement regarding the estimated rollback rate for property assessments. This new process, stemming from recent legislation, will affect how property tax notices are communicated to residents, although the board emphasized that this is separate from the traditional rollback rate calculations.

As the board moves forward with these initiatives, the focus remains on enhancing educational quality and ensuring that local schools meet the needs of their students. The next steps include finalizing the facilities plan and preparing for the upcoming public hearings related to property tax assessments.