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PISD board approves 2012-2013 initiatives
By Conner Hammett, chammett@starlocalnews.com
The Plano ISD Board of Trustees approved Tuesday the district's 2012-13 proposed initiatives, which call for continued development of the district's new academies and the development of a new accountability system.
Superintendent Richard Matkin started the discussion leading up to the board's vote with a reminder of how much the district has to accomplish this year.
"This is a very, very busy year," he said, "... and we certainly have many things on our plate with the Legislature and with budget issues and also with some of the new programs we're going to have."
The Plano ISD Academy High School -- which will focus on problem-based learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math -- will see its curriculum development process begin this year.
The International Baccalaureate Academy, located at Plano East Senior High School and intended for students in grades 9-12, is still in its initial design phases, said Jim Hirsch, associate superintendent of academic and technology services. The Medical Careers Academy, the most recently conceived of the academies, is still in the "early conversation stages," he said.
"We do intend to continue to bring quarterly reports to the board to bring you updated information," he said. "As we get communication pieces ready you'll have an opportunity to see those as well before they go off to the public."
Another initiative revolves around the district's technology plan, which districts are required to revise every three years under federal and state law.
"We first give our stakeholders an opportunity to educate themselves, and that means going back and reviewing what our current technology plan has provided to us, both in a document form and a form that's available on the website," Hirsch said. "Within those stakeholder groups will be face-to-face focus groups that will be meeting ... That input will be gathered by January, then our technology steering committee is tasked with taking that input and delegating that into a plan update, and the board will receive that in April for your consideration and hopefully adoption."
The district will also work with the Western States Benchmarking Consortium, a group of three districts including Plano, to develop common policies and practices regarding system leadership, instructional quality and campus leadership.
"We had talked last spring at the retreat about the principals and the leadership that they had to demonstrate on the campus, and we're really going to see that as the fulcrum, really, as that leverage point on the campus to really make sure the instruction is taking place and what that needs to look like," said Patty Meyer, associate superintendent for campus services.
The fourth approved initiative is the Community Based Assessment System, an effort by TASB Region 10 to develop local standards of accountability -- something of a self-evaluation for school districts.
"It's very clear what our federal accountability standards are," Hirsch said. "It's very clear what our state accountability standards are ... but there seems to be that missing link with our community and how important that is to this board. So it makes sense for us to be involved with this particular initiative, and that's looking at what are those accountability measures that we should be moving forward, that you should feel confident in that you are meeting most standards as well as those provided by the state and federal governments?"
The region is working to determine what metrics of accountability will be used for the system and has partnered with University of North Texas to run data to provide models to the districts. Ten districts are involved in the development of the system, though implementation will take place in all Region 10 districts, Hirsch said.
"This gives us the opportunity to say what we're for," said Missy Bender, Trustee Place 7. "It's the kind of accountability we support and we advocate for. People say, 'public schools don't want to be accountable,' and that's not the case. We do want to be accountable. We want to be accountable for the things that really represent student learning, and this research we're a part of, using our data and the data of other districts in this area, I'm really thrilled about."
The district will also focus on its STAAR end-of-course exam acceleration program. Such a program must be offered to students who do not meet the "satisfactory" standard on their end-of-course exams and is being developed by district staff members.
"What our staff is working on -- in fact we'll be meeting on Thursday with high school principals -- is to determine what programs make the most sense to students during the school year to accelerate their learning and get them prepared to meet that satisfactory level on these end-of-course assessments," Hirsch said.
As with most Texas school districts, PISD will make the development of a clear agenda for the 2013 Legislative Session a priority. Last year's legislative session left the district with $59 million less in state funding over two years, prompting hundreds of layoffs.
The district will make assessment and accountability, adequate funding, college and career readiness and local control its highest priorities during the session. It will also communicate with the Legislature using the district's corporate and parent community and has already selected a group of parents to go to Austin on the district's behalf in January.
Bender suggested the district also send a message to the federal government regarding its accountability systems and mandates. More than 30 percent of PISD's campuses failed to meet the progress standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act last year, a trend that was reflected in many districts statewide due to increasing passing standards for campuses.
"I think from an information point of view, sharing the initiative Jim just talked about regarding assessment and accountability with our federal counterparts and helping them understand we want to be accountable," she said. "These are the kinds of things that we think represent quality. If you want to measure something, measure these. It's less expensive and it's more indicative of what's happening in the school system."
With the district's strategic plan adopted in 2007 ready to expire, the district must also develop a new plan this year, a process which is already underway at the board level. Focus and community groups will begin to meet and work on the strategic plan in November with work continuing into January. The plan is set to be finalized in April 2013, with approval and implementation set for a May-September 2013 timeline.
With regard to the district budget, Steve Fortenberry, associate superintendent of business services, said problems presented by last year's funding cuts will continue to impact the district through the 2013-2015 biennium. The district has advocated for relief from legislators and will likely include a two-year outlook with its 2013-2014 budget.
"The other part of that is paying attention and working closely with the legislators to see what kind of relief we can get in Austin," Fortenberry said.
The district will also continue its $490 million 2008 bond program, of which $76 million still has not been issued. More than $56.7 million will be approved in the summer of 2013 for the expansion at Plano West Senior High, construction of the new PISD Academy High School and renovations at Mitchell and Rasor elementary schools. The remaining $19.2 million in funds will be set aside for a future new campus project.
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