SISD eighth graders do well on TAKS test
San Jacinto News- Times - April 2009

SHEPHERD – Ninety percent of eighth graders in Shepherd Independent School District passed the Reading portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test last month, according to Shepherd Middle School Principal Tammy Jordan. Statewide eighty-nine percent of Texas students who took either the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) or TAKS (Accommodated) reading test passed, which means they have cleared a key promotion requirement. Texas students must pass the state’s third-grade reading TAKS, fi fth-grade reading and math TAKS and eighth-grade reading and math exams in order to be promoted to the next grade under the Texas School Success Initiative requirement. Shepherd Intermediate School third graders had a 77 percent passing score on the TAKS Reading test with 45 students making commended performance, according to Shepherd Intermediate School Principal Charlene Lowe. “Fifth graders had a 68 percent passing score,” she said. Statewide 83 percent had a passing rate on the reading exam.

This test was taken statewide by 322,982 students in March. Thirty percent of these students reached the Commended Performance level. Statewide forty-six percent of the 315,727 students who took the third-grade exam in English received a Commended Performance designation because they earned a scale score of 2,400 or higher. A passing score on TAKS is 2,100. Among the 34,941 thirdgrade students statewide who took the TAKS or TAKS (Accommodated) in Spanish, 83 percent passed the reading test and 29 percent earned Commended Performance. Among the 7,720 fi fth-grade students in Texas who took a Spanish language reading test, 68 percent passed and 18 percent earned the Commended Performance designation. In eighth-grade, 319,292 students took the reading test. This class posted the highest passing rate with 93 percent passing the test. Forty-eight percent reached the Commended Performance level. There is not a Spanish-language test available at this grade. While most students take the TAKS or TAKS-Accommodated, TAKS-M is an alternative assessment available to students receiving special education services who meet participation requirements. It features modifi ed academic achievement standards. At third grade, 85 percent of the 11,308 students who took TAKS-M passed the reading exam and 17 percent earned a Commended Performance designation. At fi fth grade, 79 percent of the 15,050 students tested passed the TAKS-M reading test and 14 percent were recognized for Commended Performance.

At eighth grade, 79 percent of the 14,290 students who were tested on TAKS-M passed the reading assessment and 11 percent received Commended Performance. Students who failed the reading test will have opportunities to pass it on April 29 and July 1 when retests are scheduled. The fi fth and eighth-grade mathematics exams that students must also pass in order to be promoted will be given April 7, with two additional retests available. Under state law, students who fail these exams must be given extra instructional help. If a student is in jeopardy of being retained, parents can appeal the retention to a Grade Placement Committee, which consists of parents, the child’s teacher and the principal. If in unanimous agreement, the committee may promote the child to the next grade but additional instructional help must be provided. Bills now under review by the Texas Legislature propose repealing the promotion requirements tied to testing. Announcing upcoming activities at Shepherd Primary School, during the regular monthly board meeting, Principal Rebecca Smith said that Kindergarten Roundup will be held April 16 and April 24 will be Read All Day. During open forum, Fran Manwaring, Shepherd Middle School Natural Helpers sponsor, presented board members with thank you notes that students had written.

“Students appreciate the board allowing them to attend an overnight retreat at which they were involved in team building and character building activities. The Natural Helpers, with monies raised through the annual lock-in, sponsor names from the Christmas Angel Tree, purchase school supplies for students, recognize teachers during teacher appreciation week and pay for the retreat,” Manwaring said. Pirate Pride Drill Team recognized Jimmy Meekins, High School principal, recognized the Pirate Pride Drill Team and sponsors, Holly Harrison and Jennifer Rudolph. The members of the team shared their accomplishments, awards and trophies, ending the 2008-2009 season with over 30 awards. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Pirate Pride Drill Team and the 2008-2009 team is the fi rst to bring home over 30 awards in one season. On January 31, the team competed in the American Dance Classic in the Woodlands. They competed in three team dances and three offi cer dances and brought home four awards. The second competition was February 21, in Magnolia, Texas.

For this HTE Dance Competition the team brought home eleven awards, including the highest honor of Division State Championship. For the first time in the history of Pirate Pride Drill Team they brought home state. The last competition was at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas on March 7. The girls received 17 awards. “The team has had an impressive season and sponsors, Holly Harrison and Jennifer Rudolph, parents and Shepherd ISD faculty are very proud of them,” Meekins said. Connie Carr, Shepherd High School counselor and Cindy Dillon, Shepherd High School assistant principal, made a presentation for the board to consider an alternative high school for at risk students who are not succeeding in the traditional high school setting. Coordinator of Curriculum and Special Programs Director Laura Redden presented the district Dyslexia Plan, Gifted and Talented Plan and the Parental Involvement Plan.

Mike Courvelle made a motion to approve the application for Appraised Value Limitation on property of East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. Charles Dodd seconded the motion. The motion carried. Darryl Richardson abstained. Mike Courvelle made a motion to accept a donation of personal property. David Smith seconded the motion. The motion carried. Charles Dodd made a motion to waive the building use fees for the Miss San Jacinto County Pageant. John Page seconded the motion. The motion carried. John Page made a motion to approve the district program plans as presented: Dyslexia Plan, Gifted and Talented Plan, Parental Involvement Plan. Darryl Richardson seconded the motion. The motion carried. Mike Courvelle made a motion to approve the purchase of nine sound field systems for the primary campus. Charles Dodd seconded the motion. The motion carried. Board members went into executive session at 9:18 p.m. and exited at 10 p.m.

Following executive session, a motion was made by David Smith and seconded by Darryl Richardson to accept employee resignations and employee contracts as presented with the exception of L. Bridges, L. Courvelle, M. Quick and R. Fernandez. The motion carried. A motion was made by David Smith and seconded by Darryl Richardson to accept the contract of Linda Bridges as presented. The motion carried. John Page abstained. The motion was made by John Page and seconded by Darryl Richardson to accept the contract of Lisa Courvelle as presented. The motion carried. Mike Courvelle abstained. The motion was made by Mike Courvelle and seconded by Charles Dodd to accept the contract of M. Quick as presented. The motion carried. The motion was made by John Page and seconded by David Smith to accept the contract of R. Fernandez as presented. The motion carried. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m.