Dr. Candace Wilmore, district special education supervisor, presented Feb. 20 on special education staffing, disability counts and district work with the Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) framework.

Wilmore said the district’s CKH work includes leadership training for administrators, a premium online resource library for teachers and targeted student leadership activities called Lead Worthy Local. She reported teachers and staff have downloaded 10,743 CKH resources this school year.

On discipline metrics Wilmore presented state data for 2023–24 showing Warren County’s major referral rate (students who received a major referral) at 6.3%, compared with a state average of 9.8%. She said the district’s out‑of‑school suspension rate is 1.6% versus the state’s 5.2%.

Wilmore also reported an increase in identified autism cases — about 20 more students this school year than the previous year — and provided a breakdown of IEP and 504 students across school sites. She told the board the district is emphasizing training and coaching for staff and recognizing teachers who implement the CKH tools well.

Board members asked whether disciplinary referrals skew male or female; Wilmore said referrals remain higher for males but that female referrals have increased, echoing other presenters’ observations about rising mental‑health pressures on teenage girls.

The presentation was informational; Wilmore asked staff and the board to continue supporting CKH training and to publicize the work.