SBISD asynchronous plan approved by state

Image
  • SBISD Superintendent Dustin Carr (left) describes the teacher incentive allotment to the board as board president Donnie Powers listens. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
    SBISD Superintendent Dustin Carr (left) describes the teacher incentive allotment to the board as board president Donnie Powers listens. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
Subhead

Daniel: Students doing well in online learning

Body

SULPHUR BLUFF—Sulphur Bluff ISD Superintendent Dustin Carr shared at the district’s Thursday night board meeting that the Texas Education Agency had approved the district’s asynchronous plan, allowing the school to receive funding for students using online instruction.

On online instruction, Elementary Principal Amy Daniel reported 13 elementary students are currently learning remotely. Of those, five are long-term online learners, and four are doing well, Daniel said.

“One has flourished,” she said. “The issues we were seeing in the classroom, we don’t see those anymore. Their grades have come up.”

According to Daniel, elementary teachers are working about eight more hours each week on Google Classroom.

“That’s finding the curriculum and putting it on there,” Daniel said. “We do have a digital curriculum, but a lot of it is not compatible with Google Classroom.”

Secondary Principal Marshall Moore said the secondary teachers are using a new software called Edmentum to help in responding to students’ needs in lessons or skills. Daniel said her teachers “are loving it.”

“It’s a diagnostic test, and it finds the level of each child,” Daniel said. “They work on their level, and so it’s monitored throughout the year.”

In his report, Carr said district enrollment was steady from last year at 224 students, and although the attendance rate is down slightly by one percentage point, Carr expects it to rise in the future with the addition of internet hotspots.

“Now that we have these, maybe it’ll be a little easier to get their work in,” he said.

Carr also spoke about the teacher incentive allotment, a new addition from Texas house bill 3 passed in 2019. It gives raises to teachers based on their achievement levels, and according to Carr, SBISD is set to begin giving the allotment in the 2022- 2023 school year.

“It allows teachers to receive money ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 a year, so they can qualify as recognized, exemplary or master teachers,” Carr said. “It’s based on student progress and appraisals.”

Carr said SBISD offers higher allotments due to its rural location. He estimated a school like Sulphur Springs would offer at highest $18,000.

In action items, the board approved a $20,900 purchase of a 2014 New Holland tractor for school use.