Article 27
It started out with a vision and a group of concerned citizens made up of engineers, plant managers and others that we refer to as the Capital Improvement Program Committee (CIP). This group of individuals toured campuses, reviewed documentation, and made strong recommendations that were not always easy to hear. The CIP committee took the stance that it was their responsibility to make recommendations that were in the best interest of the district and the entire community. The work of the Capital Improvement Committee resulted in the birth of the Facility Planning and Funding Steering Committee. This committee accepted their charge with the passion and conviction necessary for making a difference in the lives of children.
The future is bright for the Port Arthur Independent School District. If you have not yet heard, the citizens of Port Arthur passed an $189,499,996 bond package, once again proving that the education of the children is a priority. The building of two elementary campuses, the conversion of the current Stilwell Technical Center to a full-service Educational Support Center, renovations to all other campuses, and additions to the new Memorial High School are the result of strategic planning within the district.
I am excited about the future of the Visual and Performing Arts and Technology Center at the former Wilson building. Following Tuesday’s vote, the vision for the kindergarten through college (K-16) program designed to correlate academics with concentrated training in visual/performing arts and technology is even clearer. It will not only restore a beautiful building back into the community, but it will also create a bond within the region as a result of common usage. The program will focus on the arts, adding value to the quality of life in the community. In addition to classes within the school day, there will be after-school programs for youth and adults as well as special programs for public attendance.
When I visited Washington School last week, it was encouraging to know that this old building would soon be replaced. Knowing that the children would no longer have to battle the heat of summer, the cold of winner, or the rainy season each time they have to walk outside of their classroom to go to the restroom, the cafeteria, the library, or the gym gave me a sense of comfort. It is exciting to know that millions of dollars will be allocated to building a new Washington Elementary School that will meet the needs of our young people.
I want to personally thank every one who took an active role in ensuring the success of this 2007 bond. From the planners to the voters, we salute all of you for a job well done. I assure you that we do not take lightly the confidence that the community has placed in our hands. We want you to continue to hold us accountable for making sure that every thing we said we were going to do comes to pass. We want you to continue to ask questions, tour sites and watch for complete reports as we start the selling of bonds. We also want you to continue to be involved in the building of a new tomorrow for the children of Port Arthur.
Our vision continues to be that the PAISD will lead Texas in continuous school improvement. As ever, we will be true to our mission statement:
Our mission, as the primary source of the public education in the community, is to meet the unique educational needs of our diverse population by providing a comprehensive quality education for students of the Port Arthur Independent School District.
On behalf of the Port Arthur Independent School District Board of Trustees, staff, students and parents, we want to again thank the entire community for the confidence you have placed in this district. We will not let you down.
Article 25
This past week we were treated to crisp, clear fall weather. Awaking to such beautiful weather, it was easy to feel a sense of appreciation for all the beauty of nature. It seems as though it has been a really long time since we’ve had such perfect weather.
On behalf of the Port Arthur Independent School District family we are elated to once again congratulate our very own Mr. Dwight Wagner, Principal of Dick Dowling Elementary School, who was named 2007 Citizen of the year by the Port Arthur News. Mr. Wagner is an example of a true educator. He is dedicated to the children and the community of Port Arthur. He has devoted his life to working with young people and contributing to his city. He shares his talent, and uses his gift of singing to inspire and entertain others. We want him to know that we are truly proud to have him as a part our district, our city and our lives.
Several students representing Memorial High School presented Student Voices on Curriculum and Instruction at this past Thursday’s PAISD Board of Trustees meeting. Angela Guerrero, Adelene Seville, and Mereby Green eloquently shared their thoughts on the status of Memorial High School. The young ladies spoke about their teachers and how they are preparing them for the future by ensuring that they receive the resources needed to be successful. The students made it very clear that they appreciate the rigor placed in the district’s curriculum and the attention they are receiving from the entire staff. These young ladies are excellent ambassadors for Memorial High School. We applaud Mrs. Sharon Dozier-Davis, principal, and her staff for the positive changes taking place at MHS.
It is important for all of us to remember that Southeast Texas, particularly Port Arthur is an industrial town. Port Arthur is the birthplace of the Texas Company which later became Texaco and Guffy Oil which became Gulf Oil. At one time the city’s slogan was Port Arthur: The City That Oils the World. Pipelines have always and continue to play an important role in making that slogan ring true by transporting products from Port Arthur to many destinations. These pipelines are located throughout the city and the area. For a great number of years we have all benefited from the success of the petrochemical industry. Once again the city and the entire area will benefit from the expansions that area refining corporations are about to embark upon. Speaking on behalf of the Port Arthur Independent School District, we welcome the continuing partnership between education and industry.
In light of the recent pipeline explosion, questions have been posed concerning pipelines near the site of the new high school. We clearly understood that the existing property, which was already owned by the district, had a pipeline easement, a document that legally grants a company the use of a portion of the property. The school board and staff did a complete evaluation of several sites and in the end the current property on which the high school is being built was selected. The pipeline located under the existing property was moved to the north end of the property. There are no pipelines that run underneath the site on which the new facilities will be constructed. The topic of pipelines on the site was discussed with pipeline companies in order to make the best decision for building. During those meetings the pipeline companies requested, as part of their industry standards, that any new construction be limited to thirty foot (30’) clear of the existing pipelines. The layout and construction of the new Memorial High School allows for a safe distance of four hundred and eighty-five feet (485’) clear of the existing pipelines. This is over 16 times longer than what was requested by the gas pipeline companies.
In 2004 after many years of just making do, the Port Arthur Independent School District along with the community saw a need to pass a $110 million dollar bond. It was clear at that time, as it is now, that $110 million was not enough to take care of all of the existing needs of the district. The board along with the community could have asked for a $400 million dollar bond but would that have been in the best interest of the community? The decision was no, it would not be the best thing to do at that time. Some ask what we spent the $110 million dollars on. The answer to that question is $32 million was spent on the building of the new DeQueen, Wheatley, and Lee Elementary schools, $57 million is being spent on the new High School, $10 million on bond indebtedness, and that leaves approximately $11 million dollars to spread among all of the other schools and departments. This is clearly not enough.
I want to once again extend an invitation for you to tour each of the new campuses to see exactly what our children are now becoming accustomed to and continue the tour by visiting other schools to observe the current conditions of most campuses.
It is mandated that bond money must be spent for its intended purpose. USING BOND MONEY FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS SALARIES IS PROHIBITED! The Port Arthur Independent School District is spending the 2004 bond money on the purposes stated in the bond. The upcoming 2007 bond election seeks to obtain voter approval to secure the funds needed to complete the projects that were identified by the community when the district called the 2004 bond election. If this bond issue should pass the district anticipates calling another bond election in several years in order to finally complete all of the projects which were identified by the community as needed for the district.
Let me thank the community for another successful clean-up initiative that was held on Saturday, October 18, at Edison Middle, and Tyrrell Elementary Schools. We will continue to have pride and do our very best to ensure a quality education for all students.
Article 24
This has been a great week for learning new things and meeting new people in the Port Arthur Independent School District. We are proud to announce the introduction of a research-based learning strategy call Thinking Maps. Thinking Maps is based on scientific research that indicates that the brain is primarily visual and that humans are more likely to remember what they have seen and heard than they are to remember what is heard only. Directly related to specific thought processes, Thinking Maps provide students with graphic tools to help guide and organize thinking. The strategies of Thinking Maps are appropriate for all teachers in all curriculum areas and at all grade levels. Consistent instruction that is based on (1) the importance of a visual image, (2) the relationship between the relevance of the content being taught and the student’s emotional connection to it, and (3) the development of patterns in the brain to help insure that the content will be remembered are all vital components of Thinking Maps.
Eighteen of our teachers and staff had four days of intensive training in Thinking Maps research and strategies in order to prepare them to train the teachers on each of our campuses. Campus training took place on Friday, October 12th and teacher response was great. Teachers are enthusiastic about the program and cannot wait to get started.
We want our community to assist us by looking for examples of students’ learning and using Thinking Maps. Following is the Implementation Schedule for 2007-2008
Maps Type of Use Beginning Date
Circle Map Defining in Context Oct. 22
Bubble Map Describing Using Adjectives Oct. 29
Double Bubble Map Comparing/Contrasting Nov. 5
Tree Map Classifying/Grouping Nov. 12
Flow Map Sequencing/Ordering Nov. 15
Multi-Flow Map Causes/Effects Nov. 26
Brace Map Analyzing Whole/Parts Dec. 3
Bridge Map Seeing Analogies Dec. 10
Please mark these dates on your calendar so that you can talk with your young people about the map they learn each week. This is an excellent way to help your child know that you are interested in what they are learning at school and that you want to be involved in their education.
Staff and I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with the Parents in Action Group, a Hispanic parent organization whose goal is to improve student achievement, parent involvement, and cultural relations. We want to thank the group for inviting us to attend and also thank them for the questions they posed. We shared the objectives that we are trying to accomplish in order to improve over-all condition of the school district’s facilities and as well as the academic achievement of all students. I want to thank staff who was in attendance and who spoke to the group about ensuring academic success for all.
The district is still moving forward with the development of its mentoring program. We have approximately160 students that will be identified as in need of a mentor and we need the community to be a part of this initiative. Please contact Mrs. Shannon Woods-Richard at 983-7472 or Mrs. Melissa Oliva and Mr. Brant Graham at 962-8451 if you are interested in being part of this important program.
Please remember that we will host our third town hall meeting on Monday, October 29, at Our Lady of Guadeloupe Church, 3648 Staff Sgt. Lucian Adams Dr. We look forward to sharing with the status of our district with you and to talking about what we can do together for the benefit of our children.
Article 23
The Port Arthur Independent School District has had an exciting week filled with exhilarating activities. Homecoming was in the air for the Memorial High School students, faculty and the entire community. Students had a wonderful time participating in various activities such college t-shirt day, hat and sock day, and 70’s day as well as voting for the 2008 homecoming queen. I attended the pep rally and it brought back happy memories of my high school days. The excitement and of course the enthusiasm of the students strengthened the unity that already exists among the entire student body. Congratulations to the Memorial High School staff for a job well done!
I also had an opportunity to be a part of the Travis Elementary School’s reading kick off on Thursday, October 11th. I know that the staff and students of Travis Elementary will join me in once again in thanking Chevron-Phillips Chemical Company for their support of the reading program. Chevron-Phillips has been the corporate sponsor at Travis for over 20 years. In attendance at the kick off ceremony were Jim Becker, plant manager; Vicki Dereese, chairperson for Travis-Chevron Partnership; Annie Carter, Chevron-Phillips Engineer; and very special guest Buddy Bear as well as other Chevron-Phillips employees. Chevron-Phillips hosted lunch for the students and staff.
The program included the fourth grade choir directed by Cathy Tucker, music teacher, and the Travis Stars directed by Vivian Jones and Barbara Williams, Travis teachers. Thanks again Chevron Phillips for supporting our students.
We have also had an opportunity to meet with the community in two town hall informational meetings. Both meetings have been very enlightening and we feel the community has a better sense of the status of the district. Some very important questions have been raised and answers have been given. For the past year district personnel and representatives from the community have met to discuss and develop strategies on ways we might best utilize our facilities to insure student success.
The first committee developed was the Capital Improvement Committee. These individuals had a wide range of knowledge and skills that were invaluable. Committee members included engineers, plant managers, craftsmen, and staff. They took a theoretical view of our facilities and were able to make recommendations on how best to bring our facilities up to standard. These individuals made suggestions that were based on their knowledge and expertise in the field. A second committee, the Facility Planning and Funding Steering Committee was made up of representatives of the Capital Improvement Committee and others from the community. The committee members toured facilities, reviewed documentation, and asked questions that lead them to develop a plan that was submitted to me and the Board of Trustees.
The town hall meetings have afforded the opportunity to all members of the community to view the plans suggested by these committees and acquire the knowledge necessary to make the best decision for the future of our facilities and the district.
We would like to once again express our appreciation to Saint Paul United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church for providing meeting places for the community to learn about and discuss future plans. Our next town hall meeting will be held on Monday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on 9th Ave. and Staff Sgt. Lucian Adams Drive.
We want to remind parents that elementary report cards were sent home with students this past Thursday, October 11th. Parents of students in grades 6-12 had the opportunity to pick up their child’s report card on Friday, October 12th. Students of parents who choose not pick up the report cards on Friday will receive their report cards on Monday, October 15th during their fourth period class. Please review your child’s progress and if need be, schedule an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher. The educational success of students depends on the cooperation between the parent/guardian and the student’s teacher.
Article 22
On last Friday, October 5, the district completed the first six weeks of school. We want to congratulate each campus for an exciting beginning and we look forward to the remainder of the school year. Elementary schools will issue Report Cards to all prekindergarten through fifth grade students on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at the end of the school day. Secondary schools will issue report cards to sixth through twelfth graders as follows:
After reviewing your child’s/children’s progress during this first six weeks of school, we urge you to schedule an appointment with your child’s teacher if your have any questions or concerns. Remember, it is better to investigate early than waiting until the end of the year.
On last Thursday, October 3rd Martin Luther King, III visited Memorial High School and delivered a powerful message. We must acknowledge just how proud the staff and I were of the students. The behavior of the students and the respect they exhibited was exemplary. The entire atmosphere of the campus was conducive to learning and once again, we want to express our thanks to the principal and her staff for an excellent showing.
Last Thursday evening we were proud to host our first informational meeting on facilities and up-coming initiatives that are relevant to our district and community. We want to thank Pastor Patricia Wells and Saint Paul United Methodist Church for the use of their facility. Many questions were answered and a number of people gained information relevant to the growth of the city and the district. We feel that it is important for the community to know and understand the status of PAISD and our plans to move our district to the next level. It is important for the community to ask questions and stay informed. We realize that if you have the information you need, you will be better equipped to make decisions that are best for the district. The next scheduled town hall meetings are as follows:
We invite the public to all the meetings and we look forward to seeing you there.
During our most recent meeting with the Board of Trustees, they secured Property/Windstorm Insurance very similar to the insurance coverage of other coastal school districts in Texas. The Board secured these terms in an effort to control cost. Coastal school districts and other public entities have been forced to purchase windstorm insurance with high deductibles and “loss limits” less that the total value of all buildings and contents. Although higher limits and lower deductible plans are available, the additional premium is cost-prohibitive. Last year, the District purchased insurance from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), as did most coastal commercial property owners. Because TWIA is tax–payer supported and meant to be the insurer of last resort, TWIA has substantially increased their deductible and premium rates. It was determined that the best use of tax-payer dollars was to non-renew coverage with TWIA and to purchase windstorm insurance from a private insurer, as several coastal property owners are now doing. For example, this is the path taken by the City of Port Arthur. We recognize that we are not “fully insured” for loss to a named storm, but we believe that our new insurance coverage can be supplemented by recovery from FEMA, if necessary. I am proud of the Port Arthur ISD Board of Trustees for taking such a stance. This proves that we are still making strong, rational business decisions for our district as well as for the entire community.
As we move further in to the school year, we hope that the community will keep a close watch on what we are doing and will continue to be supportive in our efforts to provide quality education for all our children.
Article 21
We are off to a terrific start for the 2007-2008 school year. We are all focusing on student success. We have completed the first four weeks of school and the overall operation is promising. Parents, you should have received progress reports last week and I am sure that you have taken time to discuss with your children the growth they have made. If you have concerns that your child/children may not be able to answer, please schedule an appointment with their teacher. It is important that any questions be addressed immediately. Please do not wait until the sixth week reporting period to contact the teacher. Children are more successful when parents and teachers are together.
On January 25, 2007, the Port Arthur Independent School District Board of Trustees gave its final approval to an agreement providing for a Limitation on Appraised Value of Property for School District Maintenance and Operations Taxes to Motiva Enterprises LLC on its much discussed new refinery project. Texas Law allows school districts to enter into limitation agreements for qualifying activities such as the Motiva Project. The agreement also provides that the district will receive at least $32 Million in new operations revenue over the agreement’s ten year period. This will also help to lower the district’s debt tax rate by a significant amount.
This past Friday, September 21, 2007, Motiva Enterprises LLC pubically announced authorization to expand its Port Arthur refinery. We congratulate Motiva on this project that will make its Port Arthur refinery the largest in the country. Motiva continues to be a supporter of the Port Arthur Independent School District in many ways, including the Motiva Youth Academy in which many of our students are involved. This expansion will positively affect the lives of everyone in Southeast Texas. We want Motiva to know that we appreciate the partnership that we have established and we look forward to moving forward together in the future.
The last two weeks have been an eye opener for me as I experienced my first hurricane and survived it. I was assured that we would know well in advance if the hurricane would affect our area so that we could make appropriate decisions affecting our schools and our personal well being. We all learned the hard way that hurricanes can approach without any notice. We want to express our gratitude to those workers who went above and beyond the call of duty to get our schools and the district back on line in a timely manner. There have also been questions about whether or not we will have to make up the two lost days. We are currently reviewing policies and will communicate the answer to you once a definite decision is made.
We would like to thank all of the parents and other stakeholders who participated in open house and curriculum night. We hope that you were able to meet the staff and gain an understanding of the expectations for this year. The staff is to be commended for explaining EXCEL PAISD, our district initiative, so that parents and others are current in what is happening in the district. EXCEL is a comprehensive Literacy, Numeracy, and Science Initiative designed to improve student learning outcomes. The purposes of EXCEL PAISD are:
· Building positive relationships and collaboration among community and staff
· Improving student learning for all students
· Improving organizational effectiveness to better support student-teacher relationships
· Providing positive and safe learning environments and facilities
· Strengthening fiscal stability
We are most appreciative of the support of staff, parents and students in the implementation of this initiative. We believe that by the end of the school year we are going to experience success in all subject areas.
Last week we visited with our student, teacher and parent advisory groups. We want to give a huge shout of approval to our students who were candid and clear as to what they wanted to see in their schools. When Dr. Beasley, Deputy Superintendent, asked the student advisory group about using word walls in the classes, all their hands went up. Another question was posed as to whether or not the students were using hands-on math every day and once again the hands went up. Students were also asked if they thought the curriculum was too easy and hands did not go up. At that point we knew that we were on the right track to success. All three committees are asked to go back to their communities and communicate with others the expectations of the district. We want the words to flow throughout Port Arthur that student success is our focus and that it is going to take everyone to make that happen. Committee members should mark their calendars for the date of our next scheduled meetings for student, teacher, and parent advisory committee meetings: students -- Thursday, November 29, at 9:00 a.m. at Stillwell Technical Center; teachers -- Thursday, November 29, at 4:00 p.m., and parents -- Thursday, November 29, at 6:00 p.m.
Thank you for your continued support of the students and staff of the Port Arthur Independent School District.
Article 20
We want to thank all of our supporters for a successful open house on all of the campuses this past week. It was exciting to see all of the parents, guardians and friends who are champions for the children of Port Arthur Independent School District. Open House has always been a time where parents can meet the teacher and receive a quick overview of their children’s classes.
In addition to the traditional Open House sessions, the Port Arthur Independent School District will host a Curriculum Night according to the following schedule: September 11th Elementary School Curriculum Night, September 12th Middle School Curriculum Night, and September 13th High School Curriculum Night. On this night school and district staff members will share information related to the district’s curriculum and instructional initiatives. We will also talk with parents about ways they can help their children at home. This night will provide an opportunity for parents, guardians, and school personnel to plan ways to work as a team in order to insure that our young people receive a quality education.
It is easy to find a opportunities to brag on the successes of the children of the Port Arthur Independent School District. As we walked through the schools over the last couple of weeks it was rewarding to see students on task, participating in classes, and most of all learning. Not only do they look good in their uniform dress, but they are focusing on instruction. It is always inspiring to see students who are engaged in the lessons being delivered. What we also saw this week were students actively taking an part in the lesson being taught. In the past, it was not uncommon to see students taking an active part in the areas of science because of their natural interest and the use of hands-on activities. However, we are seeing students also taking an active role in the other curriculum areas such as language arts, mathematics, and reading.
If students are to be truly engaged in their learning, it is necessary for them to take ownership in what is being presented. Our teachers are moving into what we call a facilitator role. We do not see teachers who are just standing in front of the class lecturing for hours and expecting students to absorb all of the information. Teachers as well as students are having fun as they engage in two- way dialog as opposed to one way communication. Teachers are seeing that students have a greater interest in learning if they are thought of as intellectuals instead of just minds into which knowledge is poured. We take pride in the way our students behave as well as their success.
This week staff and others had a wonderful conversation with Mayor Deloris Prince and Mr. Steve Fitzgibbons, city manager. Our conversation centered on district initiatives as well as student discipline. The topic of discipline is common to most school related discussions. The district intends to maintain student, parent, and teacher focus on the concept of zero tolerance. We will not tolerate any action that will limit the education of our students as well as their safety.
None of us were surprised by the interest and support that Mayor Prince and Mr. Fitzgibbons have taken in the positive movement of our district. We must all remember that in order for our students to be successful, they need the support of everyone. The district and the city understand that a strong partnership between the two entities will ultimately result in success for us all. We all look forward to the city and the school district working together for the benefit all of the children of Port Arthur.
Article 19
The citizens of Port Arthur, Texas should be standing proud! This past week we celebrated excellence in the start of a new school year and the lifting of a 37 year-old court decree.
We want to commend the students and staff of the Port Arthur Independent School District for returning to school with a sense of pride in themselves and an obvious excitement for learning. The first week of the 2007-08 school year was a very successful one. We were not surprised to see the students present themselves in a manner in which we can all be proud; we expected our students to report ready to work and we were not disappointed.
We also want to commend parents and the community for their support of the uniform dress code enacted this school year. On the very first day of school, as we traveled from school to school, we saw the students dressed in their navy, khaki, blue and white attire. To see thousands of children “dressed for success” was just incredible. We would like to thank each and every parent, guardian and community person who supported the children in this effort.
As we visited each school we saw classrooms ready for learning to begin. Both the school and classroom environments were attractive, related to the learning to take place, neat and organized, and appealing to children. Textbooks were on student desks as were other tools of learning. It was obvious that everyone was “ready for business.”
We are excited about and appreciative of Judge Heartfield’s decision to relieve the district of a 37 year-old desegregation decree. Port Arthur ISD and the Department of Justice, representing the United States, have a long history beginning on August 7, 1970 when the United States filed a lawsuit to desegregate the public schools of Port Arthur, Texas. On September 15, 1970, the Court entered an order requiring the district to “develop and maintain a unitary school system” and to implement a desegregation plan. This plan included such district initiatives as:
· the movement of teachers over a period of one week-end to insure that faculty assignments met the Decree’s criteria.
· the implementation of the Summit Magnet Programs at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. The very successful implementation of the magnet programs insured that schools of Franklin, Washington, Wilson, and Lincoln had an integrated student body.
The goal of a school desegregation case is to convert promptly a de jure segregated school system to a system without “white” schools or “black” schools, but just schools. Summit was very instrumental in helping the district achieve this goal while providing a program of excellence for its students.
The standard established by the Supreme Court for determining whether a school district has achieved unitary status, thus warranting termination of judicial supervision, is:
(1) whether the school district has fully and satisfactorily complied with the court’s desegregation orders for a reasonable period of time;
(2) whether the school district has eliminated the vestiges of past de jure discrimination to the extent practicable; and
(3) whether the school district has demonstrated a good faith commitment to the whole of the court’s order and to those provisions of the law and the Constitution that were the predicate for judicial intervention in the first instance.
The Supreme Court has also identified several areas that must be addressed as part of the determination of whether a school district has fulfilled its duties and eliminated vestiges of a prior dual school system to the extent practicable. These areas, commonly known as the “Green factors”, named for a 1968 court case, are:
(1) student assignment;
(2) faculty;
(3) staff;
(4) transportation;
(5) extracurricular activities; and
(6) facilities.
On August 27, 2007, the Court concluded that the Port Arthur Independent School District has met the legal standards for a declaration of unitary status, and that it is entitled to dismissal of the court order.
Judge Thad Heartfield’s order has placed the authority and the responsibility for the Port Arthur Independent School District back into the hands of your elected Board of Trustees and their administrative representatives. We are in charge of “our own house” once again and we are very thankful to all people of good faith through the years who have brought us to this point.
I am continually impressed with and grateful to the parents, business leaders, community members, district staff, the Board of Trustees and others for their consistent support of district initiatives and the children whom we serve. Please continue to be an active part of the Port Arthur Independent School District.
Article 18
Employees are in place, buildings are shiny, students are registering, textbooks are ready to be distributed and we are looking forward to seeing students dressed uniformly. WE ARE READY TO GO! We had a wonderful week preparing for the start of school. We kicked off the week at Memorial High School at the Opening of School Convocation. Picture in your minds one thousand plus employees sitting together focused on strategies we are going use to ensure success for all students. It was one of the most beautiful sights I have seen in quite a while. Our speaker, Mr. Dennis Brown, eloquently addressed the topic The Only Difference Between a Good Day and a Bad Day is Your Attitude. He encouraged all of us to start early in the morning feeling good about ourselves. He first encouraged everyone to begin the day by looking in the mirror and acknowledging something positive about ourselves. Mr. Dennis Brown’s message was not only about success in school, but also in life. Dr. Morcease Beasley spoke on strategies that will ensure that the curriculum is delivered to students in an appropriate manner. The atmosphere was positive and we are off to a great start!
As I moved around the district this week I saw many great staff development programs taking place. Teachers were involved in sessions centered on our newest district initiative EXCEL PAISD: Literacy, Numeracy, and Science. As part of this initiative teachers received training in all components of EXCEL PAISD. These components are:
· Lesson Flow Design--an instructional deliver format
· A Balanced Approach to Reading and Writing--a plan for focusing on all areas of reading and writing
· Differentiated Instruction--strategies for addressing the needs of all students
· Rigor in the Classroom--stressing high expectations and higher order thinking skills
· Connecting Research and Writing--teaching students the use of research and writing skills to help them become life-long learners
· Authentic Assessment and Vocabulary Portfolios--evaluating student knowledge by using real-world tasks and examples of student work
· Building Powerful Word Walls--a way to promote vocabulary growth
Teacher response to this training was positive and the implementation of the components will lead to improved student achievement.
On behalf of the district, I want to express thanks to the Board of Trustees for meeting twice this week. As a matter of fact, the Board has been busy this entire summer. Some initiatives approved are: EXCEL PAISD, a program emphasizing higher standards and expectations with a strong focus on monitoring, accountability and personnel development; TCEPT, a lesson planning software tool to be utilized by teachers in PreK-12 that will enable principals and central office administration personnel to view lesson plans on line; Critical Shortage Stipends so that the district may provide stipends to staff in critical shortage area such as mathematics, bilingual/ESL, science, special education and foreign language; Perfect Attendance Stipend to compensate all employees who are absent three days or less for perfect or near perfect attendance as follows: -Zero (0) days missed: $300 annually or $150 per semester
-One (1) day missed: $200 annually or $100 per semester
-Two (2) days missed: $150 annually or $75 per semester
-Three (3) days missed: $100 annually or $50 per semester
Another initiative of which we are proud is the two-year contract (implementation date: 2008- 2009 school year). At that time, contracts will change from one-year to two-year contracts.
The district’s substitute teacher process is now being handled internally. This change allows the district to pay higher wages to our substitutes. If you have questions concerning the substitute teacher program, please contact the personnel department at 989-6246
All drivers should be reminded to be extra careful in school zones. Students are excited about returning to school and may not be as cautious as necessary when crossing streets.
We all feel that this is going to be the best school year ever! We are excited and we want our parents and students to know that we are prepared for an awesome year.
Article 17
There have been several events this past week of which the Port Arthur Independent School District (PAISD) is proud. First, we welcomed all new employees to the district. This past Tuesday we had the pleasure of meeting and greeting our new teachers. These are individuals who will work with our students on a daily basis and will have the strongest academic impact on them during the course of the school year. During new teacher orientation we focused on the importance of our entire district having high expectations for all students. We made sure that the mission and the goals of the district were made clear. We wanted our new employees to understand that we do have a vision and a plan for the success of our students.
Dr. Morcease Beasley, Deputy Superintendent, along with others, emphasized the necessity of a team approach. He pointed out the importance of coming to work everyday and of being appropriately prepared for the delivery of instruction. Everyone was reminded not to make assumptions about students. Every child deserves to be taught by a teacher who expects the best of him or her. Every parent or guardian wants his or her child or children to be successful. The educators’ job is to ensure success for all.
I would also like to express my appreciation to the city officials, business and community representatives, and interested citizens who supported our new teacher orientation.
District administrators had an opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of meeting together at the PAISD Leadership Conference. The Leadership Conference provided everyone with the chance to discuss the priorities of the district. The focus was on what we are to accomplish this year and no question was left unanswered. The vision was restated and the plan of action was set for execution. On August 27th, the students will arrive at their respective locations and we assure you that we will be ready for them!
Last week we received news that while some of our schools were successful on the Adequate Yearly Progress Report (AYP), some were not so successful. After reviewing the data we found a dramatic shift in the graduation rate of the 2005-2006 graduating class, primarily associated with the State’s change in the definition of drop-out rate effecting the 2005-2006 calculations. The data also reflects the need for the District to improve in the areas of Mathematics (for all groups) and English/Language Arts and Mathematics for Limited English Proficient students in the District. We make no excuses as to why this occurred. After reviewing all of the data we know what the solution is and we do intend to make sure this does not happen again.
The Board of Trustees met last Tuesday to listen to and ask questions of the Facility, Planning and Funding Steering Committee (FPFSC) concerning recommendations for future expansion of the district. A unanimous vote was reached by the facility committee and the recommendations were as follows:
Item1. New High School Additions (CATE, Auditorium $ 24,219,242
& Science Labs) including Land Purchase and
Development Cost.
Item 2. Existing Campus Renovations and Conversion $ 120,543,648
of Stilwell Educational Support Center
(Administration & Staff Development Center)
Item 3. New Elementary at Washington Site to Replace $ 44,737,106
Existing Washington and Franklin Schools; a new
Elementary School in the Stone gate area, including
Purchase and Development Costs and
Transportation Upgrades.
TOTAL BOND PROPOSAL OPTIONS $ 189,499,996
The Board met again on Thursday, August 16, in a workshop session to entertain questions from the community concerning the 2007-2008 budget and to clarify questions about the recommendations presented by the FPFSC committee. The meeting was very informative and great deal was accomplished. The Board will again meet on Monday, August 20, to vote on the budget and decide whether or not to call for a bond election.
As we draw closer to the first day of school we, the faculty and staff of the Port Arthur Independent School District, would again like to welcome back all of our students. We want you to know that we are committed to your success and we are looking forward to a wonderful school year.
Article 16
As we move closer to the first day of school, Monday, August 27, I am confident that we are going to have one of the most successful years ever. The entire summer has been devoted to planning for the success of our students. Facility, funding and curriculum issues have been addressed and we are ready for our students to move forward toward excellence.
As we continue to assess and monitor the data, we are pinpointing areas of greatest need and implementing our plan of action. We want to send a message to our students, parents, and staff that everyone will be held accountable for student success and we must raise expectations for our children and all concerned with the children. No excuses will be tolerated. I want to ask that everyone take a strong stance in accepting responsibility for every child in our district.
I must say that it greatly concerns me that some criticize without proposing a solution. It is easy to sit around and point the finger, but what recommendations have you brought to the table lately? Last school year we scheduled many community meetings where we have offered everyone an opportunity to come and join in the Re-engineering of PAISD. We thank those that did come forward and we want to again extend the invitation this school year.
Last Thursday night the Facility, Funding and Curriculum Steering Committee met to present final recommendations to be vote on. Many questions we raised and clear and concise answers were given so that everyone would be clear and together when the final vote was called. I want to thank the committee for their willingness to serve and for raising questions that I feel contributed to the recommendations that were brought forth. On Tuesday, August 14, at 6:00 pm, the committee will formally make their recommendations to the Superintendent. On Thursday, August 16, at 6:00 pm, the Superintendent will make his recommendations to the Board of Trustees and community. If you will recall I informed you that this committee was made up of citizens that truly care about what happens to our students and our city as a whole. As I watched and listened to Dr. Mary Jean George, Dr. Albert Thigpen and Mr. Roosevelt Petry present the final recommendations to the committee, I could not help but envision the future of Port Arthur as it could very well be. I could feel the excitement that the entire community is going to feel if the recommendations are accepted by the Board of Trustees. The renovations that could take place would not only enable all Port Arthur schools to receive significant work over the next couple of years, but would also positively affect the entire community.
The Board of Trustees toured the new Lee Elementary Facility last Friday and they were very impressed at what they saw. I want to thank Mrs. Kim Vine and her staff for making us welcome. The school is incredibly beautiful and I am sure the students, parents, and faculty will enjoy the new Lee Elementary for years to come.
One thing that encourages us as we move forward is the fact that we have experienced the feel of newness and excellence. PAISD has been involved in a great deal of positive change over the last few years. When one becomes acquainted with the “finer things of life”, it is hard to revert backward. Each generation wants better for the generations that follow.
As citizens become familiar with our curriculum, they will see that every child is addressed and every child has an opportunity to become successful. They will become accustomed to facilities to which they are proud to send their children, and they will have a budget that is as solid as a rock. Our goal is the success of every child in our district and a solid future for schools and the community. We do have a plan to reach our goals and implementation has begun. Join us as our district moves forward in a way that you have never before experienced.
Article 15
Ready, Set, GO!!!! The month of August has arrived and the students, parents and staff are excited about the upcoming school year. We have a plan for this school district that will strengthen the academic foundation of this school district for years to come. I would like to update you on some of the activities that Port Arthur Independent School District (PAISD) is working on.
I am sure many of you have passed by the site for the new High School to see the metamorphosis that is taking place. It is remarkable to see the work that is being done on a daily basis. I would like to thank Mr. Betts, project manager, for overseeing the project, making sure that everything is in place and ready to go.
Our Facility, Planning, and Funding Steering Committee have been working hard to come up with recommendations to present on August 14. I want to thank each person who has served on the committee. They have given up their time and thoughts on a weekly basis in order to assess current conditions in the three areas and come up with a recommendation that would be considered for future improvements. The committee is made up of people from across the city of Port Arthur. One thing that I have found that each and every one of the members has the interest of the children as the focus.
The curriculum department in conjunction with Re-Engineering for Academic Excellence has come up with EXCEL PAISD. EXCEL is a plan to improve the achievement outcomes in PAISD. The Literacy (across all content and elective areas with a prioritized focus in ELA and Social Studies), Nemeracy, and Science Plan immersed with technology are an aggressive collaborative initiative to improve student learning outcomes in our school district. Each component of the plan contains a philosophy for each subject, elements for each subject, and elements for each area, district-wide TAKS data, goals, and student requirements.
The expectation is that campus leaders and classroom teachers will implement what students are required to do with the support of school and component of this district initiative. Furthermore, the implementation of the initiative will be monitored by all school and district administrators along with the site-based team and parents. Port Arthur will lead Texas in continuous improvement by implementing an initiative that is aligned with TAP and DPC goals and Board Priorities. The desired outcome of this initiative is successful implementation with increased student learning and student achievement.
We have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the dress code that will be enforced starting August 27, the first day of school. I want to thank the department stores for their support in making sure that the clothing line is stocked appropriately for our students to shop. I hope a great number of you were able to watch the televised style show that aired on channel 7 the month of July. I would like thank Mrs. Batiste and her committee for their leadership in this effort. Special hats off to the children who participated, they looked great.
Texas school districts received their Accountability Ratings on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills Test (TAKS) this week. The Port Arthur Independent School District is happy to report that the district received an Acceptable Rating overall. The 2005-2006 the district received a Not Rated. If the district would have been rated we would have received an unacceptable on the 2006 Accountability Rating sheet.