MISD Board hears report on Pre-K scores
The Marlin ISD School Board of Managers met Monday, Oct. 16, at the Marlin Middle School Library with Vice President Byrleen Terry presiding.
Board Managers present were Billy Johnson, Misty Ehlers, Byrleen Terry, and Dr. Darryl Henson, Superintendent of Schools. Conservator Dr. Cynthia Wilson was on site.
The Long Star Governance Student of the Month was 11th grader Edgar Benitez and Teacher of the Month, Etoshia Butler. In recognition of Principal Appreciation Month, Pamela Thomas and Nicola Gardere were recognized as Campus Principals. Asst. Principals Ortega McDavid and Lesley Sanders, Secondary and Elementary Deans Rhonda Milton and Dr. Sharon DeLoach.
Having returned from closed session re: Pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.074, deliberation of personnel matters, Superintendent Reports followed.
Bond 2022 Update was presented by J Adam LeJeune. The completion of the track will start in November and pending Board approval, Baseball & Softball Field cosmetic upgrades are proposed to begin by the end of October. Design options continues for the Legion Field Press Box. Pending Board approval, advertisements will be released re: MHS Interior Spaces, new Competition Gym, and Site-Work. Competitive sealed proposals will be accepted.
Annual Evaluation of ESL/Bilingual Program was presented by Dr. Sharon DeLoach. MISD serves 183 students in the English as a Second Language students (ESL) program, which is 18 percent District Sub-Population.
MISD has seven Certified ESL Teachers. To meet the criteria, the 2023-24 required waiver is due November 2023 with the expected ESL Certification date as July 2024. All districts are required to implement the ESL evaluation. A full range of data was collected to determine the program effectiveness to insure student academic success.
Academic Facilitator Tamika Washington presented strategic measures for Pre-K and first grade.
The May 2025 Pre-K projection was students will read on track by the end of Pre-K from 36 percent to 80 percent. Presently, PreK scored 95 percent in overall Phonological Awareness and 76 percent in Rapid Vocabulary.
Needs to be addressed are continued explicit phonics instruction and creation of home connections to reinforce skills to insure PreK students are Kindergarten ready.
First grade goal progress measures are off-track. Teachers will continue to implement ongoing foundational skills that result in an increase in building efficient and fluent readers.
Jewelisha Jefferson, Academic Facilitator, reported 48 percent of the projected 80 percent by May 2025 are on track in mathematics grades 4th and 5th. Including secondary grade levels, instructional delivery support on Algebraic thinking, numbers/operations and problem solving need to be addressed.
As projected, 80 precent of teacher lesson plans should be aligned to the district curriculum based on walkthrough data. Mathematics lesson plans will be checked three times monthly.
Copperhead Solar 313 Agreement Amendment was presented by Dr. Stacy Parker Knight, Chief Operating Officer, beginning tax year 2024, amendments include annual supplemental payments, revenue protection payments estimated at $1.2 million and full taxable value accessible to MISD’s interest and sinking tax rate.
Dr. Knight proposed the $27,500 purchase of Imagine Learning, a curriculum resource for the Marlin Opportunity Center, serving Falls County Coop member districts.
A New Attendance Track for Seniors was reviewed. The district set ADA (average daily attendance) time is 2nd period (no later than 9:30 a.m). The policy allows for campuses to choose an alternative attendance-taking time for Certain Student Populations. Due to shifts in master schedule, attendance taking time for a group of students will be from 2nd to 4th period.
District ADA time will remain the same for other students. Monthly financial reports were presented for review of the financial activity for the month of September 2023. A budget amendment was submitted transferring funds to the appropriate function to address any over-extended accounts and/or accurately align finances to achieve goals.
“To prepare students with the academic and skills necessary to ensure that their potential turns into performance,” Jewelisha Jefferson shared the MISD Vision 2025 Strategic Plan.
Core values are students first, transparency, fiscally responsible, communication, goal-oriented, self-accountability, and excellence in performance. Problem statements identifying district culture and climate needs were loss of instructional time due to student conflicts, low parents involvement, and struggle hiring teachers in critical needs areas..
Campus Improvement Plan-Goals were presented for both schools. Among numerous, school climate and establishing a culture of high expectations to improve the quality of instruction and implementation of action steps outlined in the campus’ comprehensive counseling plan addressing student crisis support were highlighted; 100 percent of MHS grads will obtain a (CCMR) College, Career and Military Readiness
The Podcast Architects- Dr. Henson noted for the second consecutive year, MISD was recognized by the Texas School Public Relations Association with 24 awards. Podcast includes four areas of telling our story, Co-Curricular, Academic Achievement and Community Happenings. Projected to exceed the $25,000 threshold but not to exceed $50,000, Dr. Henson proposed the 3-year funded grant.
Dr. Henson presented a revised board policy for local leaves and absences. Due to the changes that became effective September 1 requiring school districts with commissioned peace officers to provide certain type of leave. ( HB 1486). It was recommended the district not extend the leave of absence, but the police office can use accumulated leave (state, local, comp time or vacation leave if applicable) if necessary.
J Adam LeJeune introduced core displays related to Bond 2022 projects. He reported details for the $560, 311 Legion Field 32’ x 50’ HD edge to edge Video Scoreboard which will have a five-year warranty with Lifetime Tech Support and on-site parts store. TIPS USA Cooperative was the proposed contractor.
In addition, the $97,064 Legion Field Audio and Video project will include press box, pole, and bleacher mounted speakers for both sides. The proposed vendor selected is Waco-based TFE. This company has 25+ years’ experience designing A/V systems for large venues. The projected cost of the cosmetic upgrades for the baseball & softball field is $83,050.
Byrleen Terry moved to approve the agenda consent items. Second by Billy Johnson the motion carried. Misty Ehlers moved to approve the Sept. 11 and Oct. 2, 2023, Board meeting minutes. Seconded by Billy Johnson, motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.
11th grader Edgar Benitez poses with his parents and
Dr. Henson as he was awarded the October Long Star
Governance Student of the Month.
Etoshia Butler was selected October Lone Star Governance Teacher of the Month. Pictured is Dr. Henson and Dr. Stacy Parker Knight.