Microsoft certifications and Cisco network certifications provide employment opportunities for students, too. These networking efforts will continue according to Mr. Gibson and we will see our students continue to benefit by enhanced curricular opportunities. Enrollment exceeds last year and continues to narrow the gap found between this year and our high water mark year of 1996-97 with 3,035 students in the regular school Kindergarten through 12 th grade program. Attendance is trending very well with a smaller gap between this year and 1996-97. Leading the way are our secondary schools with Jerome High School reporting 175 students achieving perfect attendance in the first trimester.
Good things are happening in our schools and our students are there to participate.
Reading improvement continues to be an emphasis in our early grades reported Mr. Layne and Ms. Reynolds. Efforts continue to raise comprehension and recent STAR reading reports indicate our students are improving and not regressing. Levels of improvement are exceeding time in class and are a positive development reported Mr. Layne. Mr. Zumwalt indicated that he and his staff look forward to their meeting with the Board on December 4 th . Accreditation with exemplary program is the goal of Jerome High School as they continue efforts to gain Merit status.