Richfield Middle School Reports Success with New Academic Support Interventions
Recent school board presentation highlights significant reductions in student tardiness and improved school culture following the implementation of targeted strategies.
Richfield Middle School administrators presented encouraging data to the Richfield School Board recently, demonstrating positive shifts in student behavior and attendance attributed to newly implemented academic support interventions. The report focused on strategies designed to enhance the learning environment for academic courses, including new systems for tardiness tracking and reinforcement of school-wide behavioral expectations.
Among the most notable successes was a reported 51-52% reduction in student tardies, a direct result of a refined tracking system combined with certificate incentives. Principal Erica Barlo, who presented the findings alongside Assistant Principal Amy Hager and Superintendent Steve Yunowski, detailed the criteria for identifying students requiring intervention.
If you have seven or more [tardies] in a week, that's unreasonable. And so, we've kind of listed it as like we've got this unreasonable group.
This focused approach allowed staff to identify and support students struggling with punctuality, thereby maximizing their instructional time within various academic courses.
Fostering a Positive School Culture
Beyond tardiness, the presentation also highlighted the impact of the 'Big Three' student expectations on overall school culture. These behavioral guidelines, reinforced through consistent messaging and practical applications like cafeteria cleanup rotations, were credited by district leadership for fostering a more positive and respectful environment conducive to learning. Principal Barlo underscored the importance of active engagement from staff in shaping student behavior.
The more you pay attention to it and call it out and name what it is, the more our middle schoolers realize the importance of it.
Superintendent Steve Yunowski emphasized that these interventions align with district-wide goals for academic achievement and student well-being, setting clear performance goals for school administrators to implement and monitor.
Board members engaged in a discussion regarding the data presented, seeking to understand the long-term trends and effectiveness of these programs. Director Tim Palace requested more comprehensive historical data to inform future oversight.
Could we get make it a standard of like if we're going to show trend data to get five years or do as best as we can to get five years?
The successful implementation of these interventions is further supported by significant staff retention at Richfield Middle School, with only three new hires this year compared to over 17 in previous years. This stability allows for consistent application of new policies and programs designed to support student success in academic courses and foster a positive school environment.
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Areas of Interest (4)
- Richfield Middle School reports 51-52% reduction in tardies following implementation of new tracking and certificate incentives.
- School board debates whether to require five-year trend data for administrative presentations to improve transparency.
- Middle school sees significant staff retention, with only three new hires this year compared to over 17 in previous years.
- District leadership credits 'Big Three' behavioral expectations and cafeteria cleanup rotations for improving school culture.
Votes (1)
Approval of the agenda
Moved by Director Paul · Seconded by Director Liss
Notable Quotes (2)
If you have seven or more in a week, that's unreasonable. And so, we've kind of listed it as like we've got this unreasonable group.
Could we get make it a standard of like if we're going to show trend data to get five years or do as best as we can to get five years?
People (6)
Eric CarterBoard ChairChairs the Richfield School Board meeting and facilitates discussion.
1 quote
Chairs the Richfield School Board meeting and facilitates discussion.
“Every vote will be done as a resolution or as a roll call vote.”
Explaining the voting procedure due to a remote member.
Steve YunowskiSuperintendentLeads the district and sets performance goals for school administrators.
Leads the district and sets performance goals for school administrators.
Erica BarloPrincipalPresents Middle School performance data and administrative strategies.
1 quote
Presents Middle School performance data and administrative strategies.
“The more you pay attention to it and call it out and name what it is, the more our middle schoolers realize the importance of it.”
Explaining success in reducing student tardiness.
Amy HagerAssistant PrincipalCo-presents Middle School goals and interventions.
Co-presents Middle School goals and interventions.
Laura RamsborgAssistant PrincipalNew hire introduced to the board; background in St. Paul and Bloomington schools.
New hire introduced to the board; background in St. Paul and Bloomington schools.
Tim PalaceDirectorAsks questions regarding data visualization and five-year trend tracking.
Asks questions regarding data visualization and five-year trend tracking.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (3)
- October 6, 2025 - Regular Meeting
- October 27, 2025 - Special Board Meeting
- November 10, 2025 - Regular Meeting
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Other Topics from This Document
Approval of agenda
Superintendent update
Richfield Middle School presentation
Richfield Middle School trend data: attendance, behavior, and course passing rates
Analysis of Big Three student expectations and school culture
Discussion of student tardy and absence data metrics
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