TAKS scores up at WISD
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Three of the six campuses in Whitehouse ISD are once again among the ranks of Recognized schools due to improved TAKS scores. Cain and Brown Elementary as well as Higgins Intermediate schools have regained their status as Recognized schools by the Texas Education Agency.

Academically Acceptable ratings were given to Holloway Middle School, Whitehouse Junior High and Whitehouse High School. This gave the district an overall rating of Academically Acceptable.

"One of the goals for WISD over the last two years has been to improve TAKS scores for our subgroups," Betty Lough, executive director of curriculum, said. "Everyone has focused on achieving that goal, and we have seen positive results. Most of the TAKS scores for the subgroups have improved over the last two years."

Lough continued to point out some specific areas of improvement.

"In fourth grade math, our African American scores increased 21 points going from 64 percent to 85 percent passing rate. In fifth grade, 100 percent of our Hispanic students passed the math TAKS test. Our eighth grade African American, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students all had significant gains on the TAKS reading test. We attribute the gains earned on TAKS across the district to the hard work of campus administrators, teachers, students and parents."

Other good news included the announcement during a public hearing the WISD received a rating of "Superior Achievement" under Texas' Schools FIRST financial accountability rating system for the fifth consecutive year. The Superior Achievement rating is the state's highest, demonstrating the quality of Whitehouse ISD's financial management and reporting system.

According to Sherrie Lloyd, executive director of financial services, the primary goal of Schools FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts' financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas' school finance system.

"The Superior Achievement rating is due to successful efforts of the board of trustees, administration, faculty and staff of Whitehouse ISD. These groups have successfully utilized resources available to the district to provide a quality education to the students of Whitehouse ISD," Lloyd said.

Following a presentation and public hearing, a resolution to tax tangible personal property in transit pursuant to Texas Tax Code, Section 11.253 was approved for the current school year. This is in line with actions in past years.

A memorandum of understanding between WISD and Camp Tyler as well as attendance review committees were given the okay during the trustees meeting. Also, the textbook adoption committee for 2007- 2008 was agreed upon.

The meeting ended with a report from Richard Peacock, executive director of student and support services, on the emergency operation plans for each campus. Peacock said that the district has excellent plans in place to ensure safety of students on all of its campuses.

"The best defense we have is people's eyes and ears," Peacock said. "It takes ever y teacher and every administrator being aware of what's happening on their campus."