The Stillwater School Board received a comprehensive update on the district's gifted and talented programming review during its July 15 meeting, following months of community committee work aimed at improving services for all identified gifted students.

A 21-member committee comprised of parents, staff members, and teachers met five times this spring to evaluate the district's current programming model, which includes cluster programs at elementary schools, the self-contained GATE program at Stillwater Middle School for grades four and five, and various accelerated options at the high school level. The committee identified several areas for improvement, including inconsistent identification processes, unequal access across demographic groups, and varying levels of differentiation support.

According to the presentation by administrators Carissa and Elsa, the district currently serves approximately 70 to 80 identified gifted students at each grade level in elementary school, with one-third participating in the GATE program and two-thirds spread throughout elementary schools in cluster programs. The committee found that identification currently occurs only in third grade using two standardized tests, creating barriers for students of color, multilingual learners, and low-income students.

The board also approved contract terms and conditions for three employee groups during the meeting. The agreements include step advancement and 2% salary schedule increases for both years, updated insurance language requiring the district to pay the first 6.5% of renewal increases, and implementation of paid family medical leave benefits starting in January.

Dr. Funk announced that an internal team led by Dr. Abamu will develop programming recommendations based on the committee's feedback, with a preliminary update scheduled for January 2026. The superintendent also reported that Tom Ridley, the new transportation supervisor, will provide an update to the board in August as the district prepares for the upcoming school year.