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High school students Presley Cummins (left) and Sydnee Neal present their summer Future Farmers of America trip to Alaska at the Como-Pickton CISD board meeting Monday. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
Board to seek review of solar project
Education | CPCISD
COMO-PICKTON—High school students Presley Cummins and Sydnee Neal kicked off the regular September Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District school board meeting Monday with a presentation of their summer trip to Alaska.
During the seven-day trip through Fairbank’s Silent Springs chapter of the Future Farmers of America, the two students toured the Large Animal Research Station, participated in riverbank conservation community service and spoke to four-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey among other activities at the Experience Alaska Agricultural Camp.
“Day four was by far my favorite day while we were there,” Neal said. “We stopped to dig up these willows, and once we got our willows, we had to take them back to a riverbank [to plant them].”
The school principals made their own presentation regarding STAAR results for math, reading, writing, social studies and science. A student is placed on one of four levels: masters grade level, meets grade level, approaches grade level or did not meet grade level. The first three could be considered passing, and the district is looking to improve their performance in meeting or mastering.
For the elementary school, the fourth grade writing STAAR results are the “biggest concern,” according to Principal Linda Rankin.
“We’re continuing to implement things in kindergarten through fourth grade to help in that area,” Rankin said. “One of the specific things we’re looking at is moving our focus from that writing process to the revising and editing process.”
To increase the number of students who meet or master their grade level in reading and math, the middle school is focusing on their special education students who have trouble passing the test.
“We integrated some inclusion classes with Mr. [Tim] Butts, our resource teacher, who is actually going into the classes and then pulling them [the students] out a little later,” middle school Principal Cassie Bland said. “We think that’s going to be very beneficial for our students.”
Como-Pickton CISD students performed very well on the U.S. History STAAR with passing percentages well above state and regional averages with 98% approaching grade level, 88% meeting it and 60% mastering it.
“He [teacher Austin Baxley] will work just as hard this year as he did last year and the year before,” high school Principal Kelly Baird said. “He’s wanting to have these meets and masters well ahead of the state and region.”
Superintendent Dr. Greg Bower stated the results, even with gains and losses, were much better than the scores two years ago, saying that the district had met or excelled in only two areas at the time.
“I just want to point out how proud I am of the teachers, the students and the principals,” Bower said. “I know there are many areas we do have to work on, and we’re working toward that.”
The board reviewed the state score of 85 given to them by the Texas Education Agency. Assistant Superintendent Jana Andrews broke down the score, saying the district had jumps in all three indicators on which the score is based. Bower stated his opinion on the scoring system after Andrews finished.
“I’m very pleased with our scores. As you [the board] saw, we have gone up in every single category,” he said. “[But] I value our teacher and students and the hard work they put in a lot more than that 85 the state gave us.”
The board also approved a district advertising cost schedule to use in the future. Advertisements are approved at the superintendent’s discretion, and funds will be used to benefit staff and students according to Bower.
The board then entered executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters, and upon entering open session, they accepted the resignation of Leanna Brantley.
The board adopted an updated policy that will apply to any future project application, according to attorney Rick Lambert of Powell, Youngblood and Taylor law firm. In regards to the Telios Corporation’s potential solar project, board members acknowledged any conflict of interest they might have had.
Two members, Brittany Smith and Mark Humphrey, cited conflicts of interest and abstained in voting on matters relating to the project during the meeting.
Lastly, the board accepted the application for a value limitation agreement from the Telios Corporation. This means that the Texas Comptroller and a third party will review the agreement to see if the project will benefit the local economy, and a final agreement will be voted on at a later date.