Dublin ISD was higher than the state average in every category on the STAAR test than the state, except for one.
With a lengthy agenda, DISD discussed the 2025 STAAR test results at its monthly school board meeting Monday, June 23. The noon meeting allowed for regular business to occur, followed by lunch and Team of Eight training.
“I wanted to address some scores that most concerned us at first glance, in comparison to our state and to our region,” Director of Curriculum and Instruction Patricia Thornton said.
One score the district was concerned about was 7th grade math. DISD had a 59% passing rate, while the state had a 52% passing rate and region 11 (which Dublin is a part of) had a 53% passing rate.
“This is much below what our students deserve, what our teachers are capable of, and does not truly reflect our district,” she said.
Another area of concern for the district was 8th grade social studies, which is the only portion of the STAAR/EOC where DISD scored lower than the state.
The district scored 51% passing, the state 53% passing and the region 56%.
“It’s unfortunately about the same as others in our region performed at, but it’s unacceptable and much lower than we as a district would like to see,” Thornton said. Thorton said as curriculum director she has a big part in these scores.
“Please note that alongside the administrator of this campus and most importantly, our superintendent, there have been a lot of sleepless nights over these scores,” she said. “There is already a plan in place and we will certainly address the areas of deficiency.”
STAAR/EOC passing results for 2025 are as follows: 3rd grade reading language arts: 82% Dublin, 78% state and 11% region 3rd grade math: 87% Dublin, 70% state and 71% region 4th grade reading language arts: 94% Dublin, 81% state and 82% region 4th grade math: 90% Dublin, 68% state and 68% region 5th grade reading language arts: 86% Dublin, 77% state and 77% region 5th grade math: 87% Dublin, 73% state and 72% region 5th grade science: 76% Dublin, 64% state and 63% region 6th grade reading language arts: 97% Dublin, 75% state and 77% region 6th grade math: 93% Dublin, 72% state and 74% region 7th grade reading language arts: 84% Dublin, 74% state and 75% region 7th grade math: 59% Dublin, 52% state and 53% region 8th grade reading language arts: 93% Dublin, 80% state and 80% region 8th grade math: 73% Dublin, 69% state and 68% region 8th grade science: 76% Dublin, 72% state and 71% region 8th grade social studies: 51% Dublin, 53% state and 56% region EOC Algebra I: 100% Dublin, 76% state and 73% region EOC Biology: 99% Dublin, 91% state and 91% region EOC English I: 82% Dublin, 66% state and 66% region EOC English II: 82% Dublin, 71% state, 72% region EOC U.S. History: 94% Dublin, 94% state and 95% region “We were above state in all but one, and we still want to do better,” Superintendent Melissa Summers said.
School finance Business manager Kassi Eads discussed extremely preliminary numbers for the upcoming budget year including portions of House Bill 2 recently passed by the legislator.
“We are beginning to work on draft salary increases,” she said.
A portion of the bill – state teacher retention fund – will require DISD to give classroom teachers (defined as those who spend at least four hours per day) with 3-4 years of experience an additional $4,000 a year as a supplement. The state will give the district the money so it is a straight pass through. Dublin has 14 teachers in this category.
Classroom teachers with five or more years of experience will receive an additional $8,000 per year as a supplement. Dublin has 53 teachers in this category.
These have only been funded so far by the state for the next two years.
New teachers up to two years did not receive anything from the state and neither did administration.
In the portion of the support staff bill, out of an allotted $500 million statewide, Dublin ISD is estimating that they will receive $81,250.
This money will be used to give increases to support staff like paraprofessionals or custodians and can also be used for additional pay on counselors, library or new teachers two years or under of experience.
DISD has an estimated 79 support staff.
The state has also given DISD a small increase in basic student allotment raising Dublin’s from $6,160 to $6,215.
Eads said the appraisal district has told them to expect certified property values July 15, which is a major building block for them constructing the district’s budget for the upcoming year.
Another major budgetary concern for the district is having to have completely new roofs on every building in DISD. The estimated insurance deductable on this project will be $750,000 to $1 million. Eads said they are also anticipating a 30% health insurance increase.
Tattoo survey
Teacher Clara Dower spoke during public comments and shared information gathered by the tattoo committee on how students, teachers and 7-12 grade students had about DISD teachers felt about displaying visible tattoos during school hours.
A survey given out stated that 78 parents believed educators should be allowed to display tattoos while working in a school setting around students, 20 were in opposition and eight were undecided. The survey was available for all parents to complete online.
For students in 7th-12th grade, 118 were in favor of letting teachers display tattoos, seven were against and six were undecided for a total of 131 survey participants. There are approximately 550 students in those grade levels.
For educators, 67 are in favor of allowing tattoos, 15 are opposed and 13 were undecided, for a total of 95. There are approximately 200 employees.
Dower also presented a proposed amended tattoo policy for the handbook, if passed by the school board. The proposed policy reads: ““Visible tattoos may not depict derogatory or lewd images and language. Visible tattoos that depict or promote tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, sexual content, hate speech, or gang activity are prohibited.”
“I understand how much everything has changed even since my kids have grown up, which is understandable,” School Board President Bob Cervetto said. “Who will enforce the policy?”
Dower explained just like the current dress and grooming code for staff, their immediate supervisor (principals) will monitor it, and then if a further decision is needed, the superintendent. The principal will determine any ambiguous definitions for language.
“I think that’s why we as a committee decided to come up with a specific list that were deemed inappropriate. Kind of like regulating students t-shirts,” she said. “We thought it was best not to just say inappropriate but also give examples of that to avoid those awkward conversations.”
Board members thanks Dowers for her and the committee for their work on this issue.
“You and your crew who brought this to our attention have handled things very professionally and respectfully, and we appreciate that,” Summers said.
The board will be discussing the dress code at the July school board meeting.
The school board also took action on several other items including new teacher contracts, giving the city of Dublin water line easement and declaring a piece of property surplus so it can be sold.