Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
March 31, 2008

In almost every meeting or conference where parents are asked what they hope for their children in terms of educational opportunities from the schools, we hear a deep appreciation for technology – hardware, software, training, the ability to evaluate. LVISD has a vigorous technology program with new additions and improvements each year, as well as continued efforts to integrate technology with traditional programs. New developments in technology sometimes reveal a two-sided benefit coin. Technology may well be the last frontier and fluency in technology is certainly requisite to survival in today’s job market and economy. Email, text messaging, and blogging are all native languages to most school age kids today. While each of those communication venues provides new and easy ways to transmit information, they each also represent communication that often lies outside parental management. Today’s parents and (school people acting in loco parentis) must understand how new technology works, what access kids have, who has access to them, and how to manage that access. There are many mechanical safeguards and screening devices parents can install on home equipment. LVISD computer networks have a strong barrier system that both protects confidential information and severely limits outside access. No system, however, is without flaw and we are always seeking better ways to operate. I’d like to share an article designed for parents with several practical pieces of advice for helping parents be involved in a positive way with their children’s technological life. The article is from the newsletter of a national organization, www.EffectiveParentingUSA.org“>Effective Parenting.

---

Six Ways to Be a Media Savvy Parent
by Liz Perle, Common Sense Media

1. Visit an online social networking site. If you have young kids, check out Club Penguin. See what the fuss is all about. Embrace their enthusiasm, but educate yourself about what goes on. For your older kids, visit Facebook or MySpace. Ask them to show you their pages.
   
2. Play a video game with your kid. Not one of the really gross ones -- try one of the Guitar Hero Games. Or play a sports game on the Wii or pass a football with Madden. The best way to keep kids away from violent games is to help them enjoy time with you without having to maim a living soul.
   Download something your kids will like. Pick a song they've never heard. Then ask them to play something for you that you've never heard. Put in your two cents afterward.
   
3. Check out YouTube. Your kids have -- probably when they were looking for something funny. So go to the comedy section, find something you like, and surprise them.
   
4. Invest in a digital video recorder (DVR). All cable systems now have them, and TiVo is always a great option. But whatever method you use, take control of the TV this year. Record what you like, create your own channels (like TiVo's KidZone), fast forward through the ads, and skip the shows that really make you wonder about the fate of humankind.
   
5. Learn how to manage your kids' online lives. Check site histories, set appropriate age filters, and check out the parental controls on your browser. Teach your kids the basics of safe searching (Google has a safe-search setting), and give them a digital code of conduct.
6. Don't let them figure it all out by themselves.

   ---

   
   A 20-year publishing veteran, Liz Perle is responsible for the overall editorial leadership of Common Sense Media which is a national organization led by concerned parents and individuals with experience in child advocacy, public policy, education, media and entertainment. Their website is www.commonsensemedia.org.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
March 25, 2008

Ask almost anybody what he or she thinks about the TAKS testing system and you’ll get a strong opinion. Critics question the validity of high-stakes testing and the stress under which students and teachers operate during TAKS 'season'. Many question the TAKS system and the resulting AEIS ratings for campuses and districts because it is assigns ratings based on the lowest performing groups, which are frequently very small subpopulations. Proponents appreciate the objective measurements afforded by TAKS data and the system of accountability that rigorous academic testing makes possible. A couple of weeks ago, the newest round of TAKS administration began in Lago Vista ISD and across the state. All across the district, students and staff applied diligent concentration and all reports were good. LVHS English department chairperson Berneice Donnellan asked several teachers how they felt the first day of testing went. Happily, all the responses were heart-warming. These are a few.

"I saw kids using dictionaries and then asking for the thesaurus, and using those, too. I saw kids taking the test very seriously. One boy gave me a big hug, and then said, "That's just what I needed. Now I know I'll do well on the test." The kids were very patient with each phase of yesterday's testing. I was so proud of them."
Diane Bellissemo-Jones

"I asked each of my students how he/she felt about the test and each was very positive in their reflection. Each felt the tutoring and extra help made the difference. But all said, "It was hard, ma’am." To which I replied, "It was difficult! This is hard." And I struck the desk."
Annette Tewell

"In all the years that I have been giving these state test I have never had so many kids ask for a thesaurus. I made sure that they had a dictionary on their desk but they wanted - and asked for - a thesaurus. I also had many kids ask for a sharpened pencil as theirs had been worn down from all the writing. Most kids wrote first drafts for their 5-line and 8-line responses as well as for the essay. Many even took notes or highlighted as they were reading the stories. I do not believe I have ever seen such dedication on the part of these students. They all deserve a good referral."
Candy Boyer

"As a young man was leaving my classroom around 4:00 p.m., he shouted to the 6 remaining students: "Never Give up!" Another young man, who often had to be reminded to stay on task, entered my class today and gave me a great big hug. He said nothing. Just smiled."
Berniece Donnellan

"For several years I served as Hall Monitor and relief for teachers in elementary schools in Houston, during the TAAS and TAKS testing. Never did I think that yesterday was going to be any different. I was truly shocked at how GREAT the kids acted and how easily everything ran. I was really prepared for a rough day. But it never came. The kids I saw were sweet, had manners, said thank you, and all had smiles on their faces. They never spoke to each other as they patiently waited for the restrooms. They were very mature and well behaved. Each and every staff member and student deserves a pat on the back, because they pulled off a great day."
Pat Lawlor

Early raw results are very promising. We appreciate all the support from parents, volunteers and students who helped make the testing process work well. We are especially proud of the students whose effort and behavior was truly exemplary.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
March 20, 2008

Most parents can answer the often-posed question - “It’s ten o’clock. Do you know where your children are?” Less easily answered, though, is a corollary question: “Do you know how they’re doing in school?” If you simply ask your child about what they did in school today, the answer probably won’t include a summary of curriculum covered or learning objectives met! Those answers are available through direct communication with your child’s teachers. I am happy to say that Lago Vista ISD has a very good network of parent involvement, but we would like to expand and improve that network. Below is a series of opportunities that currently exist for parent involvement, information and participation. It is not intended to be a comprehensive description of LVISD programs, but rather a quick checklist for you to see if you are utilizing the offerings we have in place.

Parent Organizations. Each campus has a parent group, some of which are affiliated with national parent/teacher organizations. The organizations have different goals and functions that are appropriate to the age of the students on that campus. In addition, active parent groups support various activities such as Destination Imagination, Honor Choir, academic UIL, One Act Play, band, and athletics. The Booster Club supports all LVISD athletic programs as well as academics through scholarships and underwriting of SAT and ACT fees. Several important but informal groups also help our students. The parents of ESL students meet monthly to discuss the special needs of their children and how to meet them. Each campus principal would welcome the opportunity to connect you with any parent group in which you may have an interest.

Parent Information. The District website has much information that some parents may not access frequently. On the Parent Information page, you can access Meal Time Online to see lunchroom menus or establish an account that allows online payment. You can access your child’s current grades through the Pinnacle Internet Viewer. By signing up with the FlashAlert system, you can be notified by personal email and/or text message about bad weather school closures or emergencies. You can find sports schedules, with times, places, and maps with directions to out of town activities. Perhaps the most useful part of the district website is the webpage for each individual teacher. Because we have more than 80 teachers, there is a great deal of variety in their pages but each teacher has contact information and encourages parent communication.
Parent Volunteers. Much like the parent organizations, parent volunteering is usually geared to age-appropriate activities. LVISD has a parent coordinator, Lisa Wolf, who can give you specific information about volunteer opportunities.

Parent Chats. For two years, LVISD has hosted monthly meetings for parents where parent comments and questions were solicited. This month, LVES hosted a session on aggressive behavior and how to deal with it. In February, the District Education Improvement Council hosted a well-attended meeting on what parents want for the future. The results of the meeting are posted on the district’s homepage. What we knew that parents want was firmly articulated by those who came -- to have opportunities, facilities, technology, and experiences that will help their children be competitive in the fast-changing world they will enter after LVISD.
The stereotype PTA mom simply doesn’t exist anymore. Today’s busy parents are commuters, managers, and professionals with many demands on their time. It is our intent at LVISD to help you use the several resources of the District to maximize your involvement with your children’s education. We are grateful for all the wonderful parent involvement that is in place and hope to increase it!

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
March 6, 2008

In a couple of months, most school districts across Texas will be electing members to their local Boards. New trustees are bombarded with loads of acronym-laden information, but there is an organization whose function is to help trustees, both new and veteran, in understanding the opportunities for leadership as well as the responsibilities of service. The Texas Association of School Boards provides a number of services to Texas schools, including policy preparation and advice, legal assistance and advocacy, risk management and insurance services, cooperative purchasing services, human resource training and support, and many others. One of the most frequently used services, though, is help in board member training. A free webcast for potential board members will be broadcast on March 6 and March 24 from TASB. If you would like additional information, please contact the LVISD administration office at 267-8300.

TASB is founded on six cornerstone principles:

Excellence in student achievement for all Texas students

Locally governed and locally controlled public schools

Rigorous accountability for academic progress

Adequate funding levels to provide exceptional education programs

Efficient and effective school management

Working with parents to create optimal opportunities for each child

After cornerstone principles, TASB assistance includes the priorities of the Advocacy Agenda:

Adequacy – funding for all students to meet state and federal requirements within a comprehensive curriculum

Equity – funding formulas that provide equal education opportunities for all students

State share – increase the state share of the Foundation School Program

State Funding – a permanent source of state funding that includes inflational adjustments

Salaries and benefits – state funding that allows districts to offer salary and benefits that attract and retain qualified employees

Election dates – local control of school district election dates and board member terms

Enrichment tax rates – remove requirements for voter approval of enrichment rates

Consolidation – oppose forced consolidation of accredited school districts, of administrative services among districts, or of education service centers

Instructional costs – recognize all costs associated with student learning as instructional costs, including but not limited to counselors and nurses, and costs related to attendance, security, social work, curriculum and instruction development, and transportation

Vouchers – oppose private-school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and other such programs funded with public tax dollars

Teacher appraisals – supports maintaining local school board control over the hiring and retention of school personnel, including the degree to which student achievement is considered in personnel performance appraisals

Reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) – amend NCLB to address school district concerns including, but not limited to, the areas of assessment, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measurement, definition of “highly qualified teacher,” and sanctions.

The third level of TASB advocacy is in a series of resolutions supported by the TASB membership through its elected representatives. There are 36 resolutions that cover a wide range of education issues with a focus on school funding issues that, if realized, would result in a level of property tax burden relief to homeowners. These include support for tax caps, appraisal caps, and impact fees. TASB resolutions also support increased state funding for the costs incurred in educating students with special needs. Non-funding issues addressed by resolution include support for locally developed school attendance calendars. TASB also supports including transportation as an instructional cost and limiting field testing. One of the most welcome TASB resolutions is the statement on prohibition of unfunded mandates: TASB supports funding the actual cost of any required programs and services imposed by current laws, rules, and regulations and opposes the imposition of any new unfunded or under-funded mandates.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
March 10, 2008

Last week, an unprecedented number of Texas voters had a unique opportunity to cast a vote during the primary election–and have it really make a difference in the final outcome! The large turnout included many first time voters, which sheds a positive beacon on the future. For the last several decades, participation in voting has been low among young voters eligible for the first time.

Because the LVISD school buildings have been used for voting places for quite some time, I’d like to comment on the changes that were seen at the March election and explain why we asked for them. Precinct 373 has traditionally voted at Lago Vista Elementary School. The wide entrance hall is a good location and has served the community well as a voting site for many years. However, there are four classrooms that face that hall. In the past, those rooms were used for enrichment and pullout classes, which could be re-routed on election days. An increase in student enrollment has made use of those rooms necessary and there is no other space to put the students who use them. In addition, some concern has been voiced about the number of people in the building who would not be checked in and out by school personnel through the visitor sign-in process. Further, after teachers and staff park their cars, there are no empty spaces left and no alternative parking areas. For all those reasons, we asked that the Precinct 373 voting site be moved to City Hall. The City of Lago Vista agreed to the request and Travis County Elections officially designated 373 at the LV City Hall for this and all subsequent elections. For those voters who are accustomed to voting at Lago Vista Elementary, we invite you to visit but remember to vote at City Hall.

Precinct 371 has traditionally voted in the LVISD Administration Building lobby. Issues similar, but slightly different from the LVES issues, also made it necessary to move the Precinct 371 site. The LVISD administration building now has a staff member with a desk and workstation in the lobby. With the requirement for using multiple electronic voting machines, there simply isn’t room for the election officials, their tables, and the voting machines. For that reason, we asked for permission to move Precinct 371 voting to the lobby of Lago Vista High School. That area is large enough to accommodate tables, voting machines, and also to allow voters to come inside out of inclement weather if needed. It also is an area easy to isolate from student foot traffic and has ample handicap access. By moving just a few staff vehicles, there is adequate parking space for voters, too. On last week’s election day, several voters who had voted at the administration building for years came by again, but almost all were cheerful about being re-routed to the High School.

In the days following the primary election, the news media reported many problems on Election Day in other parts of the state, but I am happy to report that the process appeared to work very well in both Lago Vista precincts. The election judges and workers at both sites were busy, but also knew their tasks well and handled each small problem gracefully. Thank you to all the judges and workers for helping make the Lago Vista election process a model. Now political attention shifts to our local elections for City Council and LVISD Trustee seats. May each candidate conduct his or her campaign with the same grace and good will that our election judges handled the March Primary!

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
February 25, 2008

It isn’t often that an organization exists to promote education but has no dues, no requests for donations and no exclusion on membership. Raise Your Hand Texas is such an organization, though. RYHT is a vision of former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff (R-Mt. Pleasant). In addition to Senator Ratliff, the Board of Directors of RYHT includes executives from Texas Instruments, former mayor of Austin Roy Butler, Charles Butt (Chairman/CEO of H-E-B), chairman/CEO of Frost Bank and chairman/CEO of AT&T. It is a bipartisan group of business and community leaders. One of the original purposes of RYHT was to create new links between schools and Texas business. During his years in the Texas Senate, Ratliff was an unflagging advocate for public schools and continues that effort today. From time to time, I will share some material from RYHT but would also encourage you to visit the Raise Your Hand Texas website.

The fundamental precepts of Raise Your Hand Texas are to celebrate the work and success of Texas students, educators, and parents, to defend schools from unfair and unfounded criticisms, to support schools by seeking additional state resources and supporting legislative action that will help provide safe and effective learning environments. Some specific areas for reform include re-creation of the state accountability system, establish safe and orderly campuses, focus on teacher quality and incentives, providing universal full-day kindergarten, redesign of high school graduation course requirements, and school choice including magnet schools, transfers, and charter school that operate with the same standards as public schools.
I would like to concentrate on the portion of RYHT’s vision that deals with student safety. The following paragraph is part of the position statement of RYHT:

Safe and Orderly Campuses
We will support legislation that requires the Commissioner of Education to create criteria to measure the prevalence of violent and disruptive behaviors occurring on our campuses. The Commissioner would be required to intervene with state-funded resources and provide assistance to schools with significant problems and, if necessary, close schools that are unable to create and maintain a safe and orderly teaching and learning environment.
The first priority of every principal and teacher must be to create and maintain a campus environment that is conducive to effective teaching and learning. When students and teachers fear for their own safety or are overly anxious due to violence, gang activity, bullying, or disruptive classroom behaviors, this environment is compromised and teachers cannot teach, students cannot learn, and parents are reluctant or refuse to place their children in such a school. The State has an obligation to intervene with the resources necessary to assist schools that are consistently unsafe or disorderly. Just as the Commissioner is currently required to intervene when campuses fail to meet standards for student academic performance, campuses that do not consistently maintain a safe and orderly teaching and learning environment - even after state intervention - should be closed.

Lago Vista ISD has made some significant progress in ensuring student safety and other steps have been adopted in response to regulations from legislative action. One example is the systematized background checks performed when individuals volunteer to serve. Background checks have been part of the employment process for teachers, aides, and other school staff for several decades. In addition, all staff will soon be required to submit to fingerprinting for inclusion in a national d-base. LVISD has recently installed a system of visitor check-in that will allow immediate check for registered sex offenders and out-of-state registration. Among the hundreds of Texas schools using Raptor, just a few include: Austin, Burnet, Dallas, Eanes, Georgetown, Houston, Lake Travis, Leander, Marble Falls, Pflugerville, and Round Rock.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
February 19, 2008

The most recent AEIS data for LVISD recently was presented in public hearing. One section that may not have received enough attention is the Gold Performance Acknowledgment (GPA) where specific areas are measured against stringent standards. LVISD received a total of 15 Gold Performance Acknowledgments in the following areas:

• AP/IB Results: For acknowledgment on this indicator, the campus or district must meet both a participation and performance standard. It must have 15% r more of its non-special education 11th and 12th graders taking at least one AP or IB examinations; and of those tested, have 50% or more scoring at or above the criterion score on at least one examination. Criterion score is 3 or above on AP tests and 4 or above on IB tests.


• Attendance Rate: Attendance rates are based on student attendance for the entire school year for students in grades 1-12. The standard varies, with elementary schools required to have 97% or higher, middle schools 96% or higher, and high schools 95% or higher.


• Reading/English Language Arts: Students who achieve Commended Performance have performed at a level that is considerably above the state passing standard and have shown a thorough understanding of the knowledge and skills at the grade level tested. For acknowledgment on this indicator, the campus or district must have 25% or more of its examinees scoring at or above the Commended Performance standard.


• Writing:The campus or district must have 25% or more of its examinees scoring at or above the Commended Performance standard.


• Mathematics: The campus or district must have 25% or more of its examinees scoring at or above the Commended Performance standard.
  
• Science. The campus or district must have 25% or more of its examinees scoring at or above the Commended Performance standard.


• Social Studies:The campus or district must have 25% or more of its examinees scoring at or above the Commended Performance standard.


• Recommended High School Program/Distinguished Achievement Program: This indicator shows the percent of graduates who were reported as having satisfied the course requirements for the Texas State Board of Education Recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program. 80.0% of all 2006 graduates reported must meet or exceed the requirements for the Recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program.


• Texas Success Initiative for ELA: This indicator shows the percent of grade 11 students who are considered ready to begin college-level work, based on their performance on the TAKS exit-level examination. 50% or more of its examinees must score at or above the TSI standard. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board set the standard of college readiness on the exit-level TAKS at a scale score of 2200 for ELA and a score of 3 or higher on the essay.


• Texas Success Initiative for Math: This indicator shows the percent of grade 11 students who are considered ready to begin college-level work, based on their performance on the TAKS exit-level examination. The campus or district must have 50% or more of its examinees scoring at or above the TSI standard. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board set the standard of college readiness on the exit-level TAKS at a scale score of 2200 for mathematics.


• Comparable Improvement: Reading/ELA: Comparable Improvement (CI) is a measure that calculates how student performance on the TAKS test has changed (or grown) from one year to the next, and compares the change to that of the 40 schools that are demographically most similar to the target school. The campus must have an average Texas Growth Index (TGI) within the top quartile (the top 25%) of their 40-member campus comparison group for reading/ELA.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
February 11, 2008

A couple of weeks ago, the LVISD administrative staff participated in the annual TASA MidWinter Conference at the Austin Convention Center. This event provides a two-day opportunity to meet with other administrators as well as hear nationally renowned experts on a variety of education-related topics. We also visited with vendor representatives that supply the LVISD schools with materials and supplies, including books and instructional equipment. The opportunity to meet with other administrators is especially important for LVISD staff because the small size of our district means that each administrator is the only one of his or her ‘kind’ – the opportunity to visit with other high school, middle school, and elementary school principals is priceless.

One of the most interesting of the guest speakers was Sir Ken Robinson. Although a resident of the United States, Sir Ken Robinson is a native of England and formed many of his innovative ideas while working within the British educational system. He is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. His work includes consultation with governments in Europe, Asia, and the United States as well as international agencies and Fortune 500 companies. In 2003, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the arts. His session was titled Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative, the same as his most recent book. The introduction to the presentation was a demonstration of how human creativity gradually decreases with age and the acquisition of education, but that the economic, social, and developmental need for creativity in the world’s marketplace increases. National education systems worldwide are being reformed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. His book explains why too many people are locked into a model of education shaped by the Industrial Revolution and a narrow idea of academic ability. Urging schools and colleges everywhere to urgently rethink basic assumptions about intelligence and achievement, Sir Ken focuses on the vital questions:

Why is it essential to promote creativity? What’s the problem? Why do so many adults think they’re not creative? Since most children are buzzing with ideas, what happens to them as they grow up? What should be done? Is everyone creative or just a select few? Can creativity be developed? If so, how?

In exploring these questions, Sir Ken argues for radical changes in how we educate all students to meet the extraordinary challenges of living and working in the 21st century. The LVISD administrative staff will study Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative over the next several months.

In other LVISD activities, we are in the start-up process for spring athletic activities: track and field, tennis, golf, baseball and softball. Although LVMS and LVES have concluded academic UIL activities for the year, LVHS is still in play in anticipation of the state academic meet. We also are rapidly approaching the spring administration of the TAKS. This is a busy time of year – a time when student attendance is critical. Over the last couple of weeks, a series of viral illnesses have caused serious absences on all three campuses and among staff. In other parts of the state and country, absences due to illness have been large enough to cause cancellation of some schools. While we are not at that point, the last two weeks at LVISD have registered the lowest attendance of the year. While attendance is important, good health is more so. Students and parents are asked to seek and follow medical advice and to use good judgment about when to return to school.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
February 4, 2008

Last year, we began a program to allow informal discussion between parents and school people called Parent Chat. Each month, one campus or a district group, hosts an evening of discussion on a single topic. Since the inception of the program in 2007, we have had programs on school discipline, homework, TAKS, avenues for involvement, Special Education, and several others. On February 11, the District Education Improvement Council will host a Parent Chat on the future of LVISD. We will pose a few broad questions and ask parents to share ideas about those answers. This meeting is less formal than the Vision Team session held in October and is not prescriptive in nature. We are interested in hearing what parents have to say about such questions as What would you like for our schools to look like in ten years? Some may choose to answer that question in terms of facilities while others may have answers relating to curriculum or community-based programs. Come join us and share your thoughts! The program will begin at 7:00 PM in Viking Hall.

Last week, the LVISD administrative staff had the opportunity to attend the TASA MidWinter Conference while members of the Board of Trustees served as principals on the various campuses. We appreciate the trustees' filling in and hope they enjoyed the time with staff and students. The MidWinter Conference is a good opportunity to see and hear experts in many facets of education. One session that I attended was especially helpful in considering ways to prepare for the upcoming Parent Chat about parents' views on LVISD’s future. The presenter used the format of Ten Commandments and stressed that the different components were useful for long-range planning in many different areas.

On February 11, we will use those ten suggestions as a basis for discussion. First is to "understand your vital signs" – meaning that a secure factual knowledge about your school's current condition is necessary before articulating a long-range plan. The second component is to "engage your audience" – an effort that includes the several district parent organizations, the DEIC, campus councils, the Vision Team and, of course, the Parent Chat program itself. The third component is to "know your core beliefs" – meaning that non-negotiable values and definitions of our responsibilities as educators is necessary. The fourth component is to "raise expectations and establish a vision." This area is a fluid goal and one that is central to the mission of LVISD. The fifth 'commandment' is to "map out where you want to go." An anonymous pundit said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up somewhere else." How to create a clear and shared map of where we want to wind up is one of the things we hope to begin at the February Parent Chat. The sixth component has to do with communication. While LVISD has an array of communication vehicles, the link between home and school should always be examined for ways to improve. The seventh component is a straightforward command to explore alternatives. We often talk about 'thinking outside the box' but it is much harder to actually perform that and not just talk. Number eight is to "build a strategic plan" – with the emphasis on the strategic part. Strategies include smaller tasks with specific parts, assignments, and due dates. The ninth component suggests that follow-through and accountability are necessary for a long-range plan to succeed. The tenth and final component is that a good long-range plan has backup plans built in.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday February 11 at 7:00 PM in Viking Hall.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
January 28, 2008

During the last few weeks, we’ve been busy at all three LVISD schools! For today’s column, I’d like to share a few news pieces and also a few upcoming events. First, at the December and January meetings of the LVISD Board of Trustees, the material included in the current Academic Excellence Indicator System for Lago Vista schools was presented. That material is posted on the Texas Education Agency website but is in concise form on the LVISD website under Reports. We invite all parents and others interested in the LVISD schools to examine this material to better understand the makeup, achievement levels, and finance patterns of the school district and campuses.

On March 4, Texas will hold state-wide primary elections. More than half the polling places in some areas are schools. One day designated for administration of the TAKS test was scheduled for March 4, too. Many school officials (including me) requested relief from having school buildings open to hundreds of visitors on the same day that testing was taking place. Commissioner of Education, Robert Scott, responded to those expressed concerns and moved the March 4 testing date to the following day – Wednesday March 5. While that is a major improvement for LVISD schools, we have also requested that the polling site for Precinct 371 (formerly LVHS gym) be changed to the High School foyer. That area is large enough to accommodate the electronic voting machines and is also easily cordoned off from the rest of the building. Precinct 373 has held its elections in Lago Vista Elementary School for several years, but we have requested that the location be moved to Lago Vista City Hall. The main entrance hall at LVES, where the elections have taken place, have four different classrooms that open onto the hall. As a result, four areas of the school are difficult to use on election days. For that reason and also to better assure student safety, we have requested that the Precinct 373 site be changed to the City Hall. City staff is agreeable to this request. We should receive final approval on these two requests in a couple of weeks.

On Friday, February 1, we will find out whether LVISD competition stays with Salado, Florence, Jarrell, Rogers, Academy, Troy, and Rosebud-Lott ISDs or whether we go back to a much more distant travel program. The University Interscholastic League announces realignment on February 1 in even numbered years. Population and enrollment changes require the readjustment. Some large schools get even bigger, some suburban district open new schools, and many rural schools lose enrollment. Just a few years ago, the upper limit of AA was 375 but was 414 during the last cycle. It is expected that the upper limit number will rise again. Lago Vista High School has approximately 378 students, well within the limits for AA.

LVISD has recently purchased a Raptor driver license check system which tracks visitors to each campus by scanning the license through a national data base which screens for sex offenders. A clear license will produce a photo visitor pass. After establishing procedures for their use, the new devices will be used.

During February, all students in grades 3-12 will be assessed for baseline fitness date as required by Senate Bill 530. These assessments will be part of PE and athletics classes for most students.

The District Education Improvement Council will host the monthly Parent Chat on Monday, February 11, at 7:00 PM in Viking Hall. Parents and others are invited to come and share what you would like for the District 'look' like in the future.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
January 22, 2008

This is the time of year when testing is uppermost in the minds of many students as well as their parents. In a few weeks, the TAKS will be administered to students in grades 3-12 all across Texas. For many kids, this test determines whether they graduate from high school or whether they are promoted to the next grade level. The term ‘high stakes testing’ is used frequently, but doesn’t completely describe how much importance is placed on some tests by college entrance committees and scholarship donors, as well as the state of Texas. In 1996, the American College Testing Program changed its name to ACT, Inc. Now the letters are not an acronym, but a title. ACT's website contains a wealth of information about testing preparation and college planning. The following excerpt is applicable for all standardized test preparation. I suggest that parents and students consider using some of the ACT tips:

Preparing for college takes hard work. High school students sometimes have difficult choices to make as they prepare themselves for the next level of education. Below are five common mistakes to avoid.

1. Taking the easy road—Students who take the easy road when choosing high school classes—opting for courses that require the least amount of work and brain power—are probably hurting their chances for success in college. College classes are very difficult and demanding. Students who don't take challenging courses in high school are likely to struggle even more with college coursework.
2. Slacking off senior year—It's very tempting for students to slack off during their senior year of high school, taking easy courses that give them more time to have fun. Students who hope to succeed in college, however, should avoid this temptation. Those who "take their senior year off" may actually find themselves behind academically when they arrive at college. The best way for students to prepare for success is to do the opposite: keep taking challenging courses and academically push through senior year.
3. Focusing too much on GPA—Grades are certainly important when it comes to getting into college. However, colleges tend to look not only at students' grades but also at the specific courses they took. Earning a "B" in an advanced course such as calculus or physics can mean more to college admissions officers than earning an "A" in an easier course such as business math or general science. Students who sacrifice advanced coursework for a high GPA may be doing more harm than good in the long run.
4. Waiting until high school to start planning—Some students wait until their junior or senior year in high school before they start planning for college. By then, it may be too late to take the courses needed to qualify for college, yet alone succeed once they get there. The best time for students to start planning and setting goals for the future is in middle school, when there is plenty of time to set the right course for success. It’s never too early to start thinking about your future.
5. Not asking for help and advice—Counselors, teachers, administrators, and parents may seem out of touch about some of the things that are important to teenagers. When it comes to planning for college and the future, however, they tend to know what’s important. Teens should ask these adults for help and advice when preparing for the college. Don’t miss out on some of your most valuable resources.

To learn more about college and career planning, visit ACT’s student website: ACT—Helping people achieve education and workplace success.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
January 15, 2008

Each January, Governor Perry proclaims School Board Appreciation Month. The Texas Association of School Boards and local school districts join forces to honor and recognize the frequently unheralded work of these elected volunteers. Especially important to remember is that each member is also a parent, a neighbor, a taxpayer, and a citizen of our community. Their decisions are sometimes easily criticized but rarely easily reached.

Being an effective school board member is no easy task, particularly in today’s climate of change and challenge. School board members need to be knowledgeable about complex educational and social issues and carry out initiatives and directives from both federal and state governments. To face the demands of governing our public schools, they willingly give countless hours of personal time.

These are men and women elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for our public schools. They represent you, and they take this responsibility seriously by attending lengthy meetings; broadening their knowledge at conferences and seminars; and talking about the schools with business leaders, parents, and neighbors.

The LVISD school board is one of 1,033 such boards across Texas. These boards enable us to have local control of the public schools, meaning that decisions on school programs are made by local, elected representatives who understand the community’s unique problems, values, culture, and circumstances. With the advice and counsel of the educational professionals they hire, our school board has a bearing on virtually every aspect of our schools. It’s a huge responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. Their actions directly affect our children—what they learn, who will teach them, and what kinds of facilities house their classrooms.

They are alternately described as having the most important volunteer jobs in the country and facing the toughest challenge in elected American government. Yet school board members are just ordinary citizens with extraordinary dedication to our nation’s public schools.

Public education is the backbone of American society, and local school boards are deeply rooted in U.S. tradition. Their origins can be traced to colonial times when the Massachusetts Law of 1642 empowered town officers to compel parents to teach their children to read. Today local school boards continue to do the most important work in their communities—that of educating our youth.

January is School Board Recognition Month. This is a time to show our appreciation and begin to better understand how local trustees work together to provide a better future for our children.

The mission of the public schools is to educate each and every child to the fullest of his or her potential. School trustees serve as key advocates for students and are responsible for communicating the needs of the district to the public and the public’s expectations to the districts.

The school board works closely with parents, administrators, education professionals, and other local citizens to create the educational vision we want for our community. In a larger sense, the ultimate role of the local school board is to help preserve our nation’s liberty, prepare our economy for prosperity, and enrich the lives of our people. The Lago Vista ISD Board of Trustees is led by president David Scott. Other members include Mike Wells, Tami Hood, Lee Buckley, David Baker, Jerrell Roque and Laura Vincent. All seven members are parents of LVISD students.

It is in the schools of each local community that real teaching and learning happen. Consequently, it is the local school board that can best bring together in our democracy the entire community—parents, business and civic leaders, and all others concerned about the future of our children.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
January 7, 2008

The beginning of a new calendar year usually brings some legal changes or some policy changes. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some of those changes that may impact our local schools. One such change drawing a lot of attention across the state is the requirement for a criminal background check through a federal fingerprint and photograph system. Senate Bill 9, passed by the Texas Legislature in June of 2007, is referred to as ‘omnibus’ legislation.’ That means that the bill has many facets and they may or may not be related. The provision related to fingerprinting is welcomed by most schools because the fingerprint check will be provide one more layer of safety and security for school children. At present, when a new teacher receives his teaching certification, that process requires a fingerprint check. However, all employees who have been under contract or employed by a Texas school prior to 2003 are not currently fingerprinted. At the time that fingerprinting became a part of the teacher certification process, 9,300 applicants (6% of the 146,000 total) had items of concern in their checks. Determination of certification was left to the discretion of TEA, however. For many years, LVISD policy has required a Department of Public Safety background check for all employees, including substitutes and volunteers. That process requires only name and date of birth but only searches the database maintained by the DPS. The new requirement with fingerprints will access much more data, including federal data banks, and provide a better record of background information.

As with many new laws, intent and practice require some adjustment. Who will be fingerprinted, when, how, and who pays for it are all questions that will be answered soon by the rule-making branch of the Texas Education Agency. TEA will select those districts where fingerprinting is to take place by a random process. The target date for completion is September 1, 2011. Selected districts will receive a very short notification timeline because the process is specifically designed to utilize surprise. Communications director for TEA Debbie Ratcliff had the following statement: "With this system, we'll not only know about their past history, we'll get an immediate notification if any new offenses occur." The data collected will become part of a national database and clearinghouse, with cooperation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Among the crimes targeted by Senate Bill 9 are homicide, kidnapping, and sexual or assault-related offenses. People with such crimes in their background check would be terminated and applicants with such crimes would not be eligible for employment. TEA’s guidelines will be definitive for serious offenses, but offenses outside the crimes listed in code will be dealt with at other levels. One area for consideration will be for offenses that happened long ago.

The first district selected for the new fingerprint system is the Austin Independent School District. TEA and Austin ISD will work collaboratively to identify ways to make the new system work as intended and with efficiency. Senate Bill 9 indicates that the cost for the fingerprint process will be borne by the state, but many observers expect that ultimately the cost will become another unfunded mandate, even though the process itself is one that has widespread support. Critics have pointed out that the cost-coverage is only for certified employees and that Senate Bill 9 omits reference to cost-coverage for secretaries, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, and other non-certified employees. When acceptable vendors are identified and total cost is determined, local school districts will decide how much of the cost they will absorb and how much will be passed to the employee.

Barbara Qualls, Ph.D. – LVISD Superintendent
January 3, 2008

I’ve often had the opportunity to point out that school people get to celebrate two 'new years' within each twelve month period – January 1 with everyone else plus the start of the new school year in August. This year, during January of 2008, it will seem a little different, though, for staff and students alike.

For the first time in several years, students across the state&mdashincluding Lago Vista ISD, will finish their first semester halfway through January. LVISD students will return on January 7 to conclude first semester and begin preparation for first semester exams.

With the new calendar year, LVISD has a number of new hopes for success and plans to make those hopes reality. Final plans and design for the concession stand and public restroom to be built for Sisemore Field are expected soon. The time frame for completion for the new structure is in ample time for the 2008 football season. Over the last several years, LVISD has added many more computers in classrooms as well as several more labs and mobile wireless labs. Most classrooms have added additional technology for television, video projection, and other resources that require technological infrastructure.

The resulting drain on the district power grid has caused frequent outages and other mechanical problems. In January/February, a new set of managed switches will be installed that are expected to relieve some of the repair issues and form a more suitable foundation for further technological improvement.

LVISD has also recently joined forces with an Austin area research firm for an analysis of current housing and school-age population trends in the area and in Lago Vista ISD’s boundaries. It is hoped that the data collected will provide a solid basis for plans that provide for the continued excellent educational experience for Lago Vista’s children.

Other plans and hopes for the new year are related to the academic performance of our students. TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) results for our students are reported in several different ways – all students, by grade level, by subject, and by demographic groups. Those demographic groups include white, Hispanic, English-language learners, and socio-economically disadvantaged. Those students who qualify for free or reduced lunch are considered socio-economically disadvantaged. In the state’s accountability system, all subpopulations’ TAKS scores are reported and all subpopulations must do well on the TAKS in order for a campus or school district to be ranked Recognized or Exemplary. The number of LVISD children who qualify for free or reduced lunch is growing and represents a significant portion of the district’s population. For that reason, LVISD has incorporated a number of initiatives designed to provide additional assistance to students who are most at risk of academic failure. Our resolution is to close the gap between the academic performance of disadvantaged students and those without disadvantage.

Another resolution deals with communication. While there are already multiple vehicles for communication in place, LVISD has recently incorporated a new one. FlashNews and FlashAlert are companion products that we expect to be helpful in the event of weather conditions that disrupt the school attendance calendar. FlashNews allows all area media (TV and radio) to be notified at the same time and with the same information about school closing.

FlashAlert is a free subscription service that will send a personal notification of school closing to LVISD patrons – up to five different email addresses or cell phone text message accounts can be signed up. Go to FlashAlert and follow the directions to subscribe.

LVISD students and staff wish all our many friends and supporters a happy and prosperous new year.



...for archived columns, click here....