Board Meeting: January 12, 2021

BOARD NOTES – January 12, 2021

Workshop Items

 

Public Hearing for the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)

Marcia Kellum and Carmen Lipscomb provided the 2019-2020 assessments results for Early Literacy Inventory (ELI) and Spanish Early Literacy Inventory (SELI) for Kindergarten, First and Second Grade students. 

 

Early Literacy Inventory The report highlights that 88% of the kindergarten students, 86% of the first graders and 85% of the second graders were Stage 2-3 (Developing / Meets Standard) at the end of January 2020. The outcomes show the children were on track to meet or exceed the performance goals on all the literacy measures. End-of-Year ELI assessments were not administered due to COVID-19 school closure. 

 

Spanish Early Literacy Inventory The report highlights that 78% of the bilingual kindergarten students, 92% of the first graders and 88% of the second graders were Stage 2-3 (Developing / Meets Standard) at the end of January 2020.The outcomes show the children were on track to meet or exceed the performance goals on all the literacy measures. End-of-Year SELI assessments were not administered due to COVID-19 school closure. 

 

Lyneille Meza, Director of Data and Assessment conducted a Public Hearing on the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR), which replaced the AEIS report. The Texas Education Agency did not rate schools or school districts in 2020 due to Covid-19. Given the impact of COVID-19, all districts and schools received a label of Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster for their 2020 accountability ratings. Lyneille Meza gave an overview of student performance for Denton ISD, the class of 2019 had a total of 1931 graduates and the credit for College, Career & Military Readiness (CCMR) credit was up to 75% or 9.3%. The District’s graduation rate for 2019 was 96.9%

 

COVID-19 Update

Denton County Health Department reported 3321 Covid cases this week which is a 11.14% increase in cases from the report week of 12/27/20- 1/2/2021. There were 15 COVID related deaths for the week of 1/3-1/9 with a total of 23 so far in 2021. 4,600 vaccines have been given to Denton County Public Health to date and the State of Texas has now identified DCPH as a “hub” for vaccines

 

Discussion of High School Course Planning Guide 2021-2022

Lisa Thibodeaux, Director of Secondary Curriculum presented the 2021- 2022 High School Course Planning Guide. Updates are made to the planning guide each year to reflect changes in course offerings and other related policies and practices (e.g., GPA guidelines, college planning information, dual credit offerings). The purpose of this report is to share with the Board of Trustees the changes that have been made to the 2021-2022 Denton ISD Course Planning Guide. 

Course changes recommended by the course committee: 

- Mexican American Studies, African American Studies 

- Honors Spanish for Spanish Speakers VI and VII 

- IPC 

- AVID I-IV 

- Art II (broader study) 

- Musical Theatre II 

- Technical Theatre Costume Construction 

- AP Computer Science Principles 

- CTE Updates 

- Course “sunset” – Spanish I Honors 

 

The High School course planning guide provides parents, students, administrators, counselors, teachers, and district personnel with a readily available, accurate source of information related to district courses, course planning, and related policies and practices.

 

Discussion of Middle School Course Planning Guide 2021-2022

Lisa Thibodeaux, Director of Secondary Curriculum presented the 2021- 2022 Middle School Course Planning Guide. The purpose of this report is to present to the Board new/inaugural Middle School Course Planning Guide, for use beginning in 2021-2022. To provide parents, students, administrators, counselors, teachers, and district personnel with a readily available, accurate source of information related to district courses, course planning, and related policies and practices. The Middle School Course Planning Guide is in its inaugural year of publication. Course changes recommended by course committee are: 

- Dual Language and Honors Spanish for Spanish Speakers Pathways 

- Middle School Tips

 

Discussion of Legislative Updates for the 87th Legislative Session

Dr. Gwen Perkin, Area Superintendent and Deron Robinson, General Counsel will keep the Board updated on legislation that is filed. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Monday provided a better glimpse into the economic future facing the Texas Legislature as it gears up for session. He estimates that the state will generate $119.58 billion in various revenue and that, after required set-asides, the incoming legislature should have $112.53 billion to craft the upcoming twoyear budget. In July Mr. Hegar thought Texas would have a $4.6 billion shortfall in the state’s budget for the current biennium but looks to be only a $950 million deficit after stronger-than-anticipated revenue generated from sales taxes.

 

Discussion of TASB XG Summit

Trustees Doug Chadwick and Mia Price discussed the TASB XG Summit sessions they attended virtually. Mr. Chadwick stated that well-done governance for school districts makes an impact with student achievement and best practices Boards can use. Mrs. Price suggested a book The Governance Core for all the trustees to read and felt it would be a good Team of 8 as it was a great motivator. Mrs. Price took away that governance should be data driven and a board should always ask for the bad along with the good. Also, she stated trustees should do what they are elected to do and as a trustee you model how students should act. 

 

Report Items

 

Communications and Community Relations Annual Report

The Communications and Community Relations Department exists to support all campuses and departments in creating an environment that fosters excellence for all students and staff. We work to share information from internal and external sources in an effort to build public trust and understanding. Though the technology and methodology of communicating has changed through the years, our commitment to excellence in school communications has not wavered. 

The most viewed Facebook post/story of all time was the post of Cody Moore, Head Football Coach for Braswell High School stating he was not leaving Braswell was viewed more than 8 million times.  

 

Property Tax Activity Report for Tax Year 2019-2020

Mr. Mark Burroughs, Sawko & Burroughs, P.C presented the 2019-2020 property tax year ended September 30, 2020 delinquent ad valorem property tax collections year-end report. For the eighth year running, the current year delinquent tax (2019) collection rate exceeded 99%, at 99.62% this year. The total amount now outstanding out of an original 2019 levy of $286,482,348 stands at on $1,095,643. The collections rate for 2018 and prior tax years stands at 33.32% due to a large number of taxpayers that take advantage of the “over 65 deferral/abatement” provided as a taxpayer relief measure under the Texas Property Tax Code.

 

Recognitions

 

  • Savannah Elementary School was recently identified as a Professional Learning Community Model School by Solution Tree. The campus is one of only 26 elementary schools in the state of Texas and 182 elementary schools nationwide to receive this distinction. Schools that achieve Model PLC status must show three years of significant student improvement data based on collaboration efforts. Examples of improvement can be shown through state assessment data, graduation and/or promotion rates, universal screener scores, and other measures that build a case that more students are learning based on the practices taking place on your campus.  Model PLC schools demonstrate work in collaborative teams, monitor student learning on a timely basis, create systems of intervention and extension to provide students with additional time and learning support and build teacher capacity to work collaboratively with a focus on improved learning for all students.