SCHOOL NEWS
Judge blocks use of accountability ratings calling them ‘unlawful’
This week, a Travis County judge temporarily blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing its annual school accountability ratings calling them “unlawful.”
A new updated rating system was set to debut back in August, but then the state pushed it to September, which has since been postponed as state officials said they needed more time to adjust scores under the new system.
The ruling from Judge Catherine Mauzy was released on Oct. 28 and stems from a lawsuit from more than 100 of school districts across the state that sued the TEA to delay the ratings claiming the new school evaluation methodology primarily changes to the calculation of the scores, would result in unfair drops in their ratings.
TEA officials have said they plan to appeal. Mauzy has set a trial day for Feb. 12, 2024. She stated the new rating system is “unlawful and would harm districts across the state.”
Districts allege TEA and Commissioner Mike Morath did not provide adequate notice of the changes being made. The school leaders testified earlier this month that the changes could have lowered the scores for campuses even if they had improved their performance.
Mauzy stated the districts had given sufficient evidence showing Morath’s implementation of the A-F accountability system for the 2022-2023 school year “violates Texas law and would cause irreparable harm” to school districts in the state.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Bowie Junior High Principal Jeneanne Fleming said she is proud of her student participants and coaches as they won the District 7AAA University Interscholastic League Academic Zone Meet by approximately 200 points on Dec. 6.
Henrietta and Jacksboro were the other two schools competing.
Fleming explained students committed to practicing before and/or after school, and they attended the meet on a day they didn’t have school.
Read all the results in the mid-week Bowie News.
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 for the final session of 2024.
An executive session is set for the board to receive the intruder audit report. Superintendent Blake Enlow said the Texas School Safety Center recently conducted an audit at one or more of the campuses.
The audit tests whether a campuses is accessible to an unauthorized individual and is part of the state’s school safety directives to help districts identify ways to improve safety. Enlow said the report had one finding and corrective actions have already been implemented.
In action items, Assistant Superintendent Lee Ann Farris will provide information on possible action related to the BISD school library collection development per House Bill 900 and the gifted and talented policy and procedures. The student transfer list also will be presented along with an update on the SAFE grant
Bowie Elementary School students have a busy holiday season with its popular Christmas musical program on Dec. 12 and a visit from Santa Claus on Dec. 18.
The first and second graders will perform for parents and the community on Dec. 12 in the high school gym. The first grade opens the evening at 5:30 p.m. followed by the second grade at 6 p.m.
Students will be wearing festival colorful Christmas outfits complete with Santa hats. This evening is always jam packed with family and friends to enjoy the holiday music.
Santa Claus has scheduled a stop at the school to meet students on Dec. 18 in the library for photos and a quick visit. The 18th also is Polar Express Day where students are invited to wear PJs reminiscent of the popular holiday movie.
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