After more than two years of waiting, Dublin ISD received the best score of any district in Erath County and in its UIL district on its 2022-23 A-F Texas Education Agency Accountability ratings.
The district received a ‘B’ with an 87, Superintendent Melissa Summers shared at the Monday, April 28 school board meeting.
In comparison, Early and Lingleville ISDs made an 86, Huckabay, Millsap and Stephenville received an 85, Breckenridge, Comanche and Eastland made 83, Brady and Peaster earned 78, Tolar made an 86, Morgan Mill earned a 75, Bluff Dale made a 72 and Three Way ISD made a 60 based on information released at the board meeting.
“Were we pleased with that? It wasn’t the worst thing but our leadership team knows we want an ‘A.’ We want to be an ‘A’ school all the time and we will be an ‘A’ school,” Summers said.
Summers explained the accountability ratings were based on STAAR results from when the test was taken completely online for the first time, a completely redesigned exam and when students and educators were making up learning gaps related to COVID-19.
The ratings are based on student achievement, student progress, and how well districts are closing gaps in academic performance for certain groups of students.
Overall, the district averaged 85 in student achievement, 87 in school progress, and closing the gaps 87.
Per campus, Dublin Elementary School received a ‘B’ with an 83 with a 77 in student achievement, 85 in school progress and a 79 on closing the gaps.
Dublin High School earned an 87 with an 85 in student achievement, an 85 in school progress and a 92 in closing the gaps.
Dublin Intermediate School received an 87 with an 88 in student achievement, a 91 in school progress and a 79 in closing the gap.
The delay, in part, was due to a lawsuit that was first filed by Kingsville ISD and eventually joined by more than 120 school districts. School districts argued the new rating system made it harder to achieve an A, and the TEA did not give schools enough notice about the new ‘measures, methods and procedures.’ On April 3, the state’s 15th Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the TEA.
Summers praised the Intemediate School for being named on the Educational Results Partnership’s 2024 Honor Roll of top performing schools in Texas.
“There are only 12% of schools across the state that have received this award, which is very, very impressive,” she said. The award is based in part due to test scores over the past three years and a higher number of low socioeconomic students. “Congratulations to the Intermediate School. Under Mrs. [Amanda] Lisso’s leadership you guys have just really taken off and you really have just led that school in such a positive direction.”
“The teachers are really at the heart of it and we have such wonderful teachers,” Lisso said.
Secretary Glenna Ricks reported that all board members had met their yearly requirements for training with most of them having more hours than what was required.
“It is awesome to say not only did everyone meet their required hours but we have a number of hours that supersede that,” Board President Bob Cervetto said. “We are trying to learn more and enhance our district to be one of the best in the state.”
Board members Blanca Martineau and Ryan Mitchell exceeded the required yearly continuing education training by 24.75 hours.
Cervetto exceeded the required yearly continuing education training by 17.75 hours, Anjelica Salyer earned 12 additional hours, Pat Leatherwood had 9.75 hours, Raymond Salinas had 9.25 hours and James Moore had three additional hours.
During the consent agenda, the board approved the district drug testing policy for extracurricular participants, a resolution regarding the extracurricular status of 4-H, and the adjunct faculty agreement with 4-H.
In the student drug testing policy, a change was made where a mouth swab can be utilized if a student is not able to give a urine sample within an hour.
Mitchell questioned the differences between drug use penalties and vaping penalties.
“I just think that the repercussions for using a drug, whether it’s at school or not, is just a slap on the hand. That’s just my opinion,” he said. Mitchell said he understood the state regulations regarding a vape on campus.
The district’s drug policy states on first offense of testing positive for drugs, the student is suspended from participation in extracurricular activities until 20 miles is completed (or 20 hours of community service for non-athletes.) They are also mandated to get counseling from district counselors and further testing will occur during the next three regularly scheduled drug screenings.
During the period of suspension, the student can participate in practice, but not in any competitive activities or performances.
The drug policy passed unanimously.