COLMESNEIL – Colmesneil ISD superintendent Sharon Tule presented the district’s TAPR (Texas Academic Performance Report ) at Monday night’s regular board meeting.
Tule began by saying, “by doing this we are meeting the requirements that we publish an annual report and hold a public meeting.”
The only thing I want to point out here is that we are meeting our special education determination status. We have met all the requirements for that. that is very very big, when we can say that we have met all of the requirements….we have lost 52 students over the last three years, and we are holding at around 400 enrollment. Our special education is climbing, it has increased because over the last school year we added dyslexic students to the mix to be considered under the special education umbrella. So, our 13% enrollment for special education is going to reach approximately 18% with those additional students when we get next year’s data. Our at-risk numbers have gone down also.”
Tule added, ‘we are lucky to have a lot of experience with our staff. We have 11-20 years’ experience as having the most, and that is quite a feat, to have that many experienced teachers here at this small district. We are above the state average with our experience.”
Monday night’s meeting saw the introduction of Becky Yates, who was appointed Interim JH/HS Principal, effective immediately. Yates and her husband, Artie joined the district this year as teachers/coaches.
In her monthly report to the board, Superintendent Tule reported, in summary, that, “our cafeteria audit went amazingly well. TEA checked more than 2,000 items and only tagged four that needed follow-up. A comprehensive board policy review is scheduled for May 2, TASB is coming to look at all of our policies. Also, a new Special Ed Co-op Director with Polk County has been hired; Emily Wilson, formerly with Woodville ISD is coming on board. We are excited to announce that Pre-K teacher Vicki Jones is the CISD teacher of the year, and she will be honored at the Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, May 1.”
One of the open agenda items was moved to executive session for discussion at the suggestion of Tule; item H- discuss and consider for approval professional contracts for 2025-26.
After Tule’s report, she was excited to announce that, with Yates’ help, and board approval, the district is excited to bring back some of the traditions, beginning with eighth grade promotion in May.
Beginning in the fall, more pep rallies have been scheduled, only if they do not interfere with other school activities.
Tule then asked Yates to say a few words. Yates said “we have a large group of seniors at the end of the day who are finished with their curriculum. They are either in an elective class or they are in a PE group with Mrs. Squier and that group of seniors they get bored, and roam in the parking lot and hang out in athletics. I asked Mrs. Tule if it was possible if we could have those seniors get permission to go ahead and get checked out to go on to either their jobs or be released. We were able to allow them to do that because they are at school for so long during the day, that they are covered with their credits and attendance. It was set up as a privilege for the seniors. They don’t qualify if they are in credit recovery or if they are in trouble in any way, we have a list of criteria they have to meet. They have to have a form signed by a parent/guardian, even if they are 18. Once they leave campus at 3:29, we are not responsible for them.”
