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.
Christie Walker will be honored with a retirement celebration from 4-5 p.m. on Dec. 13 in the Bowie High School library.
Walker, who recently stepped down as assistant superintendent and moved into handling grant programs, has spent 28 years in education as a teacher and administrator. She came to BISD in July 2014 as curriculum director and her duties expanded into grants. She was named assistant superintendent in May 2018 and was interim superintendent prior to the selection of Blake Enlow as superintendent.
Walker was instrumental in juggling and documenting all the bells and whistles required to utilize the extensive COVID federal and state funding the district received in recent years putting the money where it will be most effective for the long-term.
Area school bands are busy rehearsing for their holiday concerts. They invite you to enjoy an evening of holiday tunes to celebrate the spirit of the season.
The Bowie Junior High band and choir concert will be 6 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the junior high auditorium. It will feature the sixth grade, white and maroon bands and the junior high choir.
The Nocona Independent School District band program will present its band concerts on Dec. 7 in the high school auditorium. The middle school band will play at 6 p.m. and the high school band at 7 p.m.
The Bowie High School bands and choir will celebrate the Christmas season at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 in the high school gym. It will feature the jazz band, Mighty Marching Maroon and the choir. Come out and share the warm feeling of the holiday season.
All these programs have free admission.
During Pioneer Day the first graders go from room to room to take part in different crafts, story times and other interesting activities that have a historical bent.
These children used material and colored paper to make their version of a quilt. (Photos by Barbara Green0
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