Up from last year's 'Acceptable'
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 07:13 | 
AISD ‘Recognized’ by TEA for 2009-10 scores
By BRENDA BEDGOOD BROWN
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Atlanta ISD has been rated “Recognized” by the Texas Education Agency – a step up the accountability ratings ladder from the previous year’s “Academically Acceptable” rating.
Mary Dowd, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said three of the district’s four campuses were “Recognized” and the high school was deemed “Academically Acceptable.”
The annual TEA accountability ratings are based on students’ TAKS scores, the number of students who complete high school in four years and the number of dropouts in the district, but only at the junior high school level, Dowd said.
“Atlanta has a high completion rate and a low dropout rate, plus good TAKS scores,” Dowd said.
TEA rates school at four levels: Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable and Academically Unacceptable. To be Exemplary, Dowd said 90 percent of all students must pass all subjects on the TAKS test.
Atlanta Elementary and Atlanta Middle School campuses were rated “Recognized” based on the test scores; Atlanta Primary was also deemed “Recognized” even though children at the school are not tested. The primary school is considered a “feeder” school to the elementary, where students tested well.
Dowd said students district-wide in 2009-10 showed improvement in 21 of 25 indicators, which are based on five subject areas tested and five student groups evaluated under each of those subjects. The five subject areas are English/Language Arts (ELA), reading in certain grades, math, science and social studies. The five student groups are “all students,” white students, African-American students, Hispanic students and economically disadvantaged students.
In three of the four indicators where students didn’t show improvement, they still met TEA standards at the identical percentage rates as the prior school year, with 92, 95 and 83 percent passing the tests in specific subjects.
“The last area (where students did not improve) dropped only 1 percentage point and still remained in the 90s,” Dowd said. “Overall, we saw tremendous improvement in our scores last year.”
ATLANTA STUDENTS, like many across the state, are strongest in reading and ELA and weaker in math and science. Students are tested in reading and ELA in grades three through 11 and the lowest score was 87 percent passing in the seventh and 10th grades. Ninety-five percent of last year’s eighth graders passed the reading/ELA test and 93 percent in both the third and ninth grades passed the TAKS exam.
In math, students are likewise tested each year from the third to the 11th grades. During last year’s tests, 95 percent of students in the fourth grade mastered the subject; 94 percent in the fifth grade; 92 percent in the third grade; 91 percent in the eighth grade; 88 percent in the 11th grade; 87 percent in the sixth grade and 78 percent in the seventh grade.
Last year’s ninth and 10th graders didn’t fare as well in TAKS math, with 65 percent in the ninth and 63 percent in the 10th mastering the subject. Dowd said that’s a trend across the state and within the district, that students at those two grade levels generally have the lowest TAKS math scores.
Dowd also tracks students’ scores as they go from grade to grade. For example, 91 percent of last year’s 11th graders (this year’s seniors) passed the reading/ELA TAKS test but as 10th graders, only 86 percent passed. When they were in the ninth grade, 90 percent passed; in the eighth grade, 92 percent passed; and as seventh graders, 89 percent passed.
“Any time scores are over 80 percent mastery, that’s good,” Dowd said.
IN MATH, 88 percent of last year’s 11th graders passed the TAKS test, compared to only 71 percent when they were sophomores. As ninth graders, 63 percent passed the math exam. When they tested at the middle school level, 77 percent of those same students passed math when they were eighth graders and 70 percent passed when they were sixth graders.
“So they have grown 18 points through the years,” Dowd explained. “That’s really good.”
Another trend most districts, including Atlanta, often see is higher scores at certain grade levels because if they don’t pass they don’t advance or graduate. Dowd said students in the fifth and eighth grades must pass reading and math to be promoted to the next grades. By the time they are juniors, they must pass every TAKS subject in order to graduate from high school.
“Ninth and 10th graders generally drop but then rise again by 11th grade. It’s a consistent pattern year after year,” Dowd said, but it has more to do with when and what subjects they are taught in the classroom at those two grade levels.
“In the ninth, 10th and 11th grades, algebra and geometry are tested in the same test. But ninth graders are generally taking algebra that year and 10th graders are taking geometry, so teachers must prepare the students for a test that covers both algebra and geometry,” Dowd explained.
Students are tested in science when they are in the fifth, eighth, 10th and 11th grades. In 2009-10, 90 percent of juniors passed the science test, compared to 69 percent of sophomores. Eighty-seven percent of AISD’s fifth graders passed the test and 84 percent of the eighth graders passed.
Social studies is tested in the eighth, 10th and 11th grades. Ninety-eight percent of AISD’s eighth graders passed the test, with 92 percent of the 10th graders and 96 percent of the 11th graders passing.
Writing is tested at only two grade levels, fourth and seventh. Ninety-six percent of last year’s fourth graders passed the test and 95 percent of the seventh graders passed.
THIS SCHOOL YEAR, 2010-11, will be the last year for TAKS tests. The next year will see the implementation of the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests for students in the third through eighth grades. Those tests will be more rigorous than the TAKS tests, Dowd said.
Students at the high school level will have end-of-course exams in all core areas – English, math, science and social studies – which, like the TAKS, will be identical tests given to students at all Texas high schools.
Dowd said she credits the AISD’s success to the hard work and dedication of the entire staff and the students.
“We utilize every intervention strategy that we possibly can during the school day and during the BLAST program, which is an after-school program for tutorials and enrichment, and strong campus leadership,” she said.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 August 2010 07:18 )
There's still more cuts to come Tuesday, 17 August 2010 07:10 |
Jobs will be lost with county budget cuts By ANGELA GUILLORY This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Commissioners cut an estimated $156,000 from their 2010-11 budget during a lengthy budget workshop held Aug. 9, primarily by eliminating several jobs in various departments. Members of the court held their first budget workshop on July 19 and estimated the county would have a $425,000 shortfall for the fiscal year 2011 budget if no cuts were made. Since then commissioners have been meeting weekly to discuss ways to slash expenses for the coming year. County Auditor Tammy Wells started Monday’s budget workshop by saying she has received proposed budgets from department heads for FY 2011 and "some have been able to cut their budgets as requested but others have not." "My estimate at this time is a $226,000 gap or shortfall of what we need in the general fund to balance the budget," said Wells. Commissioners proceeded to go over each department’s budget with a fine tooth comb to find additional ways to make cuts. Any department not meeting the required 5- or 8-percent cuts were slashed until the required amount was met. In the end, the cold hard truth of the matter is that salaries were cut in those departments with budgets of $200,000 or more. Those departments were required by commissioners to cut their budgets a total of 8 percent. The fact that salaries were cut in order to accomplish the commissioners’ goal means departments will lose employees. The number of jobs cut and how the cutbacks will affect each department in the county won’t be known until after the budget is approved in September. The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. Eight percent cuts were made in the following departments: county clerk,
district clerk, tax assessor/collector, district attorney, sheriff’s department and county jail. Commissioners said there was no choice in the matter as they went from one department to the next cutting whatever was necessary to accomplish their goal. Department heads with budgets below $200,000 had to reduce their budgets by 5 percent. Most were able to do so without making cuts in salaries or employees. Wells said with $226,000 in the general fund, calculating projected property tax revenues with a 98 percent collection rate leaves the county $236,000 short. After two and a half grueling hours of discussion, commissioners managed to cut the budget shortfall from $226,000 to $70,000. Wells said on Friday morning she feels confident commissioners will be able to wrap up budget deliberations next week and she is hopeful they will find the additional $70,000 in cuts they need to balance the budget. The next budget workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at the Cass County Law Enforcement and Justice Center Building, Justice of the Peace courtroom located on the second floor of the north building, 604 Highway 8 North. Public hearings have been set for the budget at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, and for the tax rate at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. A special session to adopt the budget and the tax rate is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 23. These meeting will all take place in the Justice of the Peace courtroom where commissioners regularly meet. Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 August 2010 07:13 ) Commissioners review county's taxable values Thursday, 12 August 2010 16:23 |
Commissioners eye $425,000 deficit Commissioners started their most recent budget workshop by reviewing the county’s certified taxable values. County officials are looking at an estimated deficit for the current year of $425,000. Based on the taxable value of $1,437,265,012, County Auditor Tammy Wells explained to commissioners the effective tax rate is 0.415381 per $100 property valuation. This year’s total rollback rate is 0.447976. The total current rate is 0.476926. Last year’s tax rate is the actual rate the taxing unit used to determine property taxes last year. This year’s effective tax rate would impose the same total taxes as last year if one compares properties taxed in both years. Any new improvements on properties are removed from calculation; it has to be based on properties taxed in both years. This year’s rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate the taxing unit can set before taxpayers can start tax rollback procedures. "Keep in mind values are up so tax rates will decrease," Wells said during the Aug. 2 workshop. Cass County Judge Charles McMichael said, "Forty-seven cents to 44 cents is about a 3-cent rollback." Wells said the current budget shortfall is $425,645.27. "This is the difference in estimated revenue and estimated expenses less $82,000 in the software budget," she said. When asked, Tax Assessor/Collector Becky Watson said the collection rate for the county is 100 percent. Wells explained the estimated shortfall in the general fund was $378,000 in 2009-10. Thus far the county has an estimated shortfall total of $425,000. The main road and bridge fund’s revenue is $827,381.19; plus other revenue sources are $1,060,500. With no further questions regarding tax rates, McMichael then asked Wells to move on. There was discussion about the information technology (IT) maintenance contract with Shawn Bryan of Kaybro Computer Technology. After talking with department heads present at the workshop, commissioners agreed to continue the contract as it is at one day per week with no changes. Wells reminded commissioners of where they left off during the previous budget workshop, saying Precinct 1 Commissioner Brett Fitts suggested asking department heads with budgets of $200,000 and more to cut their budgets a total of 8 percent and department heads with budgets below $200,000 to reduce their budgets by 5 percent. Fitts said he was still in favor of this proposal. The county began the current fiscal year with a $378,000 deficit and has already spent $93,000 more "on contingencies" than officials projected for the year. "Contingencies" are unexpected expenses that were not budgeted. Fitts suggested the county pay its 2009-10 deficit – $93,000 – with "tobacco funds," which is money awarded to the county several years ago because of a class action lawsuit involving several states and all Texas counties. "Zero this year out," McMichael said. "That’s right and then we will be even par. Then we will look at the $372, 000," Fitts said referring to the estimated shortfall in the proposed budget. Cothren expressed his concern about what Fitts was proposing, saying the county projected a shortfall of $375,000 but is looking at an estimated $425,000 shortfall instead. He said he is concerned "contingencies" could drive the amount of the county’s shortfall even higher. McMichael responded by saying, "We may need to go with the rollback rate this year and rollback rate next year to get us back on keel here." Commissioners continued to discuss budget cuts. Wells asked, "So this is what you want to do?" referring to asking department heads cutting their budgets by either 8 percent or 5 percent. "That gets us headed in the direction we need to go," responded Cothren. Wells said the next step is to get the worksheets back to the departments. She explained the posted budget has to be on file for two weeks before any public hearings, saying, "We are running out of time." Watson then explained the proposed tax rate must be published seven days before commissioners meet to approve it. Watson then asked the judge if she could speak. She stood up and said 8 percent of her budget is the salary of one staff person, adding she is sure it is the same for other department heads. "I am not prepared to make that decision; you gentlemen are going to have to do that for me because I fought tooth and nail for several years to get a staff person, which you gave me two years ago, and that is what you are asking me to give up. That is a service we provide to your constituents so when they’re standing in line in my office and I can’t put your money in the bank, I’m not taking the heat by myself, guys. In due respect, that is where we are at," Watson said. "I understand what you’re saying but I’m not going to tell an elected official how to spend their money because if I come in there pointing around saying ‘you need to spend it like this and like this’ and y’all get mad. So I’m taking the heat for cutting 8 percent but I’m not taking the rest," Fitts said. "There’s not anything that is going to change the situation that we are in – it’s where we are," Cothren responded. "I tend to agree with Fitts. There are some alternatives to be made and none of them is what any of us would prefer but it would give the elected official the opportunity to make reductions in time. It could either be a full position or they could move it around and make it different hours for different employees and try to make it work out that way, so I agree. "But if it comes down to we are going to be required to say one layer of employees. Then that’s what it is, as it is being presented. It may not be a full employee position as it is being presented. But if it comes back to where we’re on a time crunch to clarify then it maybe a complete full position to get to the numbers," Cothren said. "If you could do it through attrition that would be nice but I don’t think we have the numbers," McMichael said. Cothren said to Wells, "I am not sure it is where we need to be. We may need more." "I guess the sovereign state of Texas has added some things on to us that is beyond our control," McMichael said. Cothren voiced his concern to Wells about the computer equipment the county clerk’s office still needs, which is estimated to cost approximately $32,000. "If we blanket her like everyone else (with an 8 percent budget cut), we aren’t taking care of her real needs," Cothren said. Cothren tried to explain by saying the 8 and 5 percent cuts as a uniform reduction may not work for everybody. Mitchell said she will lose a position with an 8 percent cut in her department. Cothren stressed to Mitchell that her real need, a new computer system, would be addressed. Commissioners then moved on to their departmental budgets. Precinct 2 Commissioner Danny Joe Shaddix said he has been operating with his reserve fund account for several months, and the fiscal year does not end until Sept. 30. Commissioners agreed to take an 8 percent cut across the board in their departments. "It’s only fair to take 8 percent off revenue like everyone else," Fitts said. Commissioners of Precincts 3 and 4 all agreed to give Shaddix, in Precinct 2, $25,000 each from there precincts to help his precinct, which is the largest in terms of land and road mileage. Shaddix said he hopes to get some of the money he has spent on repairs back from the National Resource Conservation Service the county requested. NRCS will pay for road repairs in waterways caused by flooding in April 2009. Precinct 4 Commissioner Darrell Godwin, who was recently appointed to the position after Max Bain died in office, voiced his concerns regarding money expected from NRCS, saying his precinct wasn’t even looked at during the first round of funding. McMichael said NRCS representatives assured him they would inspect damage in all of the precincts when they return. The next workshop is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 9, following commissioners court, which starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace courtroom at the Cass County Law Enforcement and Justice Center building. Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 August 2010 16:34 ) |
Pickup pulls into her path Tuesday, 17 August 2010 07:08 |
Woman airlifted after two-car accident on 59 By MARTI ALEXANDER This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it A Texarkana woman was airlifted following an accident Wednesday morning on U.S. 59. Stephanie Rankin, 41, was traveling south on U.S. 59 north of Queen City when a 1992 full-size Chevrolet truck pulled onto 59 from County Road 3661 into the path of her 2004 Infinity passenger car, according to Trooper Daniel Britton, the investigating officer. The truck was driven by 19-year-old Dillon Hefley of Queen City. Rankin was airlifted to Wadley Regional Medical Center and her two children, Emily, 14, and Jake, 11, were transported to Wadley by ambulance. Hefley was transported by ambulance to Christus St. Michael Health Care System in Texarkana. Britton said Hefley was issued a citation for failure to yield the right of way. Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 August 2010 07:09 ) July indictments announced Thursday, 12 August 2010 16:15 |
DA reports 60 new indictments for July During a one-day grand jury session on July 23, Cass County Criminal District Attorney Clint Allen announces 60 new indictments were handed down. Listed below are the names and offenses of those individuals who were indicted and have been arrested. – Jeremy Wayne Holcomb, 29, of Atlanta, burglary of a habitation and burglary of a building. – Jimmy Ray Nix Jr., 35, of Daingerfield, burglary of a building. – Rose Ann Nottingham, 21, of Atlanta, failure to stop and render aid. – Tina Markos, 48, of Atlanta, aggravated assault by use of or exhibiting a deadly weapon. – Thomas Chad Hammond, 29, of McLeod, assault/family violence (enhanced). – Donnie Ozell Mills, 21, of Atlanta, burglary of a building. – Blocker Thomas Neal, 58, of Texarkana, criminal mischief. – Jimmy Chase Wakefield, 21, of Hughes Springs, criminal mischief. – Joshua Bailey Wilson, 26, of Douglassville, criminal mischief. – Henry Thomas Royal, 73, of Naples, theft greater than $1,500 but less than $20,000. – Tracy Monra Royal, 38, of Hughes Springs, stalking. – Jeannie Marie Reaves, 52, of Atlanta, aggravated assault by use of or exhibiting a deadly weapon. – Jason Floyd Smith, 31, of Linden, endangering a child. – Bernice Andrew Richardson, 46, of Texarkana, burglary of a building. – Brandon Earl Martin, 18, of Texarkana, burglary of a building. – Buster White, 46, of Maud, theft greater than $1,500 but less than $20,000. – Eric Lee Smith, 32, of Atlanta, injury to a child. – Johnny Paul McKinney, 35, of Fouke, Ark., unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. – Stephen Craig Vandevender, 25, of Daingerfield, criminal mischief. – Terrence Cornelius Owens, 33, of Douglassville, evading arrest by use of a motor vehicle. – Martel Dejuan Turner, 20, of Linden, sexual assault of a child. – Don Parr Basworth, 53, of Spring, indecency with a child by exposure. – Cadarian Gerra Smith, 21, of Dallas, injury to the disabled. – George Alexander Williams, 27, of Linden, two counts of aggravated assault by use of or exhibiting a deadly weapon. – Brandon Rex Liles, 20, of Hughes Springs, aggravated assault by threatening with a deadly weapon. – Ricky Pleasant, 52, of Hughes Springs, assault/family violence. – Tracy Harold Beaver, 51, of Euless, assault/family violence. – Forrest Clay Kennedy, 59, of Dayton, theft greater than $20,000 but less than $100,000. – David Lynn Gregson, 55, of Hughes Springs, theft greater than $1,500 but less than $20,000. – Robert Randolph Reel, 21, of Daingerfield, retaliation. – Tonya Marie Alexander, 21, of Atlanta, criminal mischief. – Carroll Eugene Jacobs, 48, of Queen City, possession of a controlled substance. – Donald Justin Naron, 28, of Hughes Springs, driving while intoxicated-subsequent. – Dennis Heard, 56, Atlanta, driving while intoxicated-subsequent. – Logan Ryan Madewell, 18, of Atlanta, tampering with/fabricating physical evidence. – Jesse Alton Lansdale, 27, of Linden, aggravated assault on a public servant. – Jack Daniel Davis, 51, of Bloomburg, possession of a controlled substance. – Quincy Bill Jacobs, 68, of Atlanta, possession of a controlled substance. – Charleston Bernard Henderson, 31, of Atlanta, delivery of a controlled substance (two counts), possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. – Patrick Jerome Rocks, 42, of Lone Star, driving while intoxicated-subsequent. – Gwendolyn C. Warlick, 34, of Queen City, driving while intoxicated-subsequent. Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 August 2010 16:23 ) |
Mostly Cloudy 81 oF
