Trustees approve campus names, hear hybrid class schedule plan
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

The Whitehouse ISD trustee meeting began with a public hearing to allow for public input and questions regarding the Academic Excellence Indicator System Report 2006- 2007, the Adequate Yearly Progress Report 2007 and the high school allotment program evaluation.

The presentation, made by executive director of curriculum Betty Lough, indicated improvement in many areas outlined in the AEIS report. Lough attributed those increases to the extra time, mostly after school, that teachers spent with students who needed the extra attention and encouragement.

The district received an overall accountability rating of Academically Acceptable.

Nan Garrison, counselor from Higgins Intermediate School, was on hand to share her school's "happy moment" with the board. Garrison reported to those in attendance how the students came together in a two week time period and gathered 9,829 cans of food during Project Joy.

All consent items were approved.

Donations were noted and approved from Verizon and from Box Tops for Education.

Board members called for an election of trustees to be held in conjunction with the City of Whitehouse on May 10. The places up for election are places one, two and three. Those are currently held by Frank Cuca, Howard Patterson and Darrell Crymes respectively. These seats carry a three-year term.

Under reports from the superintendent, trustees approved the purchase of a new 23-passenger special-needs bus. The funds for this purchase will come from federal funds received for that purpose. Also approved was an interlocal agreement with Region VIII for the Texas Interlocal Purchasing System Program.

In the matter of recommendations for the naming and renaming of schools it was decided to hold off on naming the new elementary school. Approval was given for the renaming of Higgins to H.L. Higgins Elementary School and Holloway will be known as J.W. Holloway Sixth Grade School. These names will go into effect June 4.

Approval was granted for two easements for electrical utilities to Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC at the new elementary campus site.

Under student matters, the board approved the school calendar for the 2008-2009 school year. The calendar shows a school start date for students on Aug. 25.

Items presented to the board as information only included a construction update, audit report of immunization compliance, D.A.T.E. grant update and a high school scheduling proposal.

High school principal Tony Black presented a scheduling plan to move the campus to a hybrid block schedule which would allow students the opportunity to earn as many as 32 credits.

A nine-member team from the high school conducted a scheduling workshop to address the needs of the 4x4 graduation requirements handed down by the state of Texas, according to Black. The group looked at both the hybrid block schedule as well as an eight-period day.

"Our current schedule will not allow ample scheduling options for students who might be involved in multiple extracurricular activities," Black said. "We want to do what's best for all of our students."

Black went on to say that most of the team members are favorable of the hybrid block option. The majority of the faculty do agree that a change must take place with 85 percent of them agreeing that the hybrid block would most adequately meet the students' needs.

A decision will be finalized soon as plans for the 2008-2009 school year must be in place before student registration and scheduling can begin.

Athletic director Randy McFarlin gave the board the beginning plans for the stadium renovations which included a demonstration of two of the choices of artificial turf they are considering.

Following a lengthy executive session, trustees approved the superintendent's contract for another year, contracts for current principals and several administrators through June 30, 2010. Current assistant principals and incoming new principals and assistants were extended through June 30, 2009.

The new APs for the 08-09 school year announced were Shannan Mills at Higgins, Kim Coe at Brown and Holloway and Sterling Haskell at the new elementary.