During the regularly scheduled meeting on November 16, 2009, the Lago Vista ISD school board unanimously moved to name Matt Underwood, current Superintendent in the Mason ISD, as the lone finalist for the Superintendent position at LVISD. By law, the Board now must wait 21 days before voting to hire Mr. Underwood who will replace acting Interim Superintendent Sandy Apperley. The Board will vote to offer a Superintendent contract to Mr. Underwood on December 8, 2009.

The Board is close to concluding the lengthy process of hiring a new superintendent to replace former superintendent Barbara Qualls who resigned in May 2009 to take the job as Ennis ISD superintendent. In June 2009, the LVISD Board hired the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) to help with the executive search for a new superintendent.

The process began by closely working with the community, staff and students to profile the desired experience and characteristics of a new superintendent. That profile became the basis for the open position posting from which over 60 inquiries were received. The board in conjunction with TASB executive search consultant Butch Felkner, then narrowed the applicant pool to seven very well qualified candidates who were interviewed by the board in October. Following a second round of follow-up interviews in Lago Vista, a committee of the Lago Vista board visited officials in Mason ISD on November 12th as part of a background reference check.

Mr. Underwood has served as Superintendent in Mason ISD for 6 years. The district was rated Exemplary this past year (2009) and had Recognized ratings from TEA in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Underwood was named Superintendent of the Year for Region XV in 2008.

Trisha Towal, LVHS Counselor and Sandy Apperley, Interim Superintendent
November 2, 2009

We are always looking for ways to increase our high school students’ opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school. With the cost of attending college after high school graduation increasing yearly, every college hour that a student can earn while still in high school is money in their or their parent’s pocket. So at Lago Vista High School we offer multiple options for students to earn college credit hours. While taking courses as part of Early College Start or completing a tech prep articulated course is one option, participating in our Advanced Placement courses at the high school is the choice for many of our students. During the 2008-2009 school year, eight students at Lago Vista High School earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performances on the AP Exams. Only about 18% percent of the more than 1.4 million high school students in more than 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Students took AP Exams in May 2009 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student’s performance on advanced placement exams. We are delighted to report the outstanding achievement of these May, 2009 graduates.

One student, Marissa Stewart, qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average of at least 3.5 and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Melinda Foshat, Krystal Rodenbeck, Amanda Scott, Kendall Shallue, Scott Slaughter, Dustin Upchurch, and Garrett Vernon.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement, or both based on successful performance on the AP Exams. More than 1,400 institutions award a full year’s credit (sophomore standing) to students who present a sufficient number of qualifying grades. In 2008, thirty-seven AP Exams were offered in a wide variety of subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving or oral response) questions.

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,200 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, and financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Program (AP). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all its programs, services, activities, and concerns.

We would like to thank our fine teachers for the excellent preparation our students continue to receive each year. Their preparation for their classes and hard work for our students is appreciated. Teachers of advanced placement classes during the 2008-2009 school year were as follows: Biology/Chemistry/Environmental Science, Karen Green;
Calculus AB/BC, Steve Searle; English Language/Literature, Berniece Donnellan;
United States Government and Politics, Derek Levisay; Microeconomics, Heather Johnson; Physics-B, Janet Carpenter; and Spanish Language/Literature, Denise Belcik-Saarinen.

Congratulations to these students and their teachers.

Sandy Apperley, PhD, Interim Superintendent
October 26, 2009

The wonderful thing about being part of a school district is that where there are kids, there is usually something going on. We certainly have a lot of things going on in the district. From academics to volleyball, there is much to celebrate and be proud of in LVISD.

For the past few years, Children at Risk, a non-profit, non-partisan group from the Houston area has ranked schools in the Houston area. They have expanded their rankings to include schools in the greater Austin area. Their primary focus is how well are students prepared for college when they graduate. Multiple factors are part of the ranking system. LVMS was ranked 9th among central Texas middle schools and ranked 11th among high schools. Quite an accomplishment for these two campuses!

Congratulations also to our outstanding band. Band students, under the direction of Laura Patschke and Andrew Stehn, have earned several awards in the last few weeks. Recently, the band competed in the Westlake Marking Festival, 2A/3A Division, and brought home a second place trophy. On October 17, the band competed in regional completion in Georgetown and received a rating of 2, which is excellent. They are one of two bands from our area to advance to area competition on October 24. Under the leadership of drum major, Ashley Bird, band members have worked diligently since summer to perfect their halftime shows. The students and their directors put in many extra hours with summer band camp, evening practices two nights a week and early morning practices three times a week. We thank them for their hard work.

Our cross country team also competes in the fall. Thirty seven members strong, they are coached by Jason Stoner and have competed in several meets so far this year. You may have encountered these runners on Lago Vista streets each weekday morning. Our girl’s team is a young team and continues to improve. The top runner for the boy’s team is Bryan Jacobs. Bryan qualified for the state cross country meet last year and we expect him to do the same this year. Anyone who is willing and able to get out there and run miles each day certainly has my sincere admiration and support. We applaud their dedication and admire their fleet feet and strong lungs!

Our football teams continue to win.

The wins over Salado by the 8th grade team, the junior varsity team and the varsity teams were firsts for Lago Vista ISD. This is another group of students and coaches who put in extra hours to be prepared each week. What some people may not know is that the varsity football players visit our elementary campus each Friday morning that we have a home game. Each player is assigned a classroom for the season and when they are on campus, they interact with the students in that class. They might read to their class, share something about themselves with the students-in short they establish a personal relationship with that group of students. How fortunate we are to have coaches and players who realize the positive impact that they can have on a younger student.

We end with volleyball. On Friday, October 16, history was made at LVHS. Coach Debbie Hansen and her team set a school record of winning 30 matches in a season by defeating state ranked Salado ISD in 5 games. This was also a personal best season for Coach Hansen. If you weren’t there, you missed an incredibly exciting game. Our team is definitely in the playoffs-come cheer on the Lady Vikings in Jarrell on Friday (Oct. 30) @ 5:30pm when they will take on the loser of a Salado-Rogers match on Thursday.

Sandy Apperley, PhD, Interim Superintendent
October 15, 2009

A couple of weeks ago, my column focused on some of the technologies currently being used in LVISD classrooms and on our continuing efforts to provide opportunities for our students to interact with technology in ways that promote effective and efficient learning. Several weeks ago, Donna Larkin (LVHS principal) and I attended a meeting in Austin to hear about one of the latest tools for expanding learning opportunities for our high school students-the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN).

All you have to do is turn on your television or pick up a newspaper to see that there are hundreds of opportunities to enroll and complete online courses. So the concept of online learning is not new or innovative. What is different now is the assurance from TxVSN, a statewide clearing house established by the 80th legislature that high school courses approved by the network meet or exceeds the state standards for that course and that college courses approved for credit will be accepted for college credit throughout the state. In addition to making sure that the standards are taught to mastery in the course, all courses offered by TxVSN will be led by an instructor that is Texas certified in the course subject area and grade level. Furthermore, the instructors have been trained in the delivery of effective online instruction. Effective online instruction may look very different from traditional classroom teaching.

These TXVSN courses were first offered during the 2008-2009 school year; however during the 81st session, the legislature created an allotment to fund courses provided through the network making it possible to expand this opportunity to students across the state. If a student successfully completes the course, the district providing the course receives a state payment. So rather than the student and/or the parent paying for online courses, the state will be picking up the tab for at least the foreseeable future. For high school courses, the only stipulation is that the online course must be part of the student’s normal course load and it must one of the student’s graduation requirements. Currently there are also capacity limits with the virtual school network and some courses fill up very quickly-these are issues that should clear up as the network expands in the future.

Another opportunity for high school students that is on the horizon will be courses offered through stateu.com. These online courses, taught by Lamar University or the University of Texas at Arlington staff, are dual credit courses meaning that students can earn both college and high school credit at the same time. Lago Vista ISD currently offers onsite two dual credit courses through Austin Community College. These online dual credit offerings will not replace the current offerings, rather once they are available to students they will simply enhance options available to students.

Right now LVISD is in the process of conducting a needs assessment that will help us determine how best to use the Texas Virtual School Network. Would our students be best served by providing online options for credit recovery for high school courses or would our students benefit more by taking college courses or do we focus our attention on expanding our current high school choices with online courses? Should our primary focus be core academic offerings or expanded career and technology courses? The challenge for us working in our schools is to examine what’s available and determine what is the role of virtual schools for LVISD today, tomorrow and a few years down the road-not an easy task given the pace at which things are changing but one that we are willing to tackle.

By Heather Stoner, Primary Principal, LVES
October 8, 2009

WatchD.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is a program developed to increase the involvement of fathers and father-figures in schools. It was originally created by Jim Moore, a concerned father who chose to take action after the middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1998. WatchD.O.G.S. joined with the National Center for Fathering in 2006. Today, its positive impact can be seen in schools all across the nation.

Last spring, Lago Vista ISD implemented the WatchD.O.G.S. program at Lago Vista Elementary School. At our first orientation meeting, over fifty fathers and father-figures attended and later went on to volunteer as WatchD.O.G.S. throughout the spring semester of 2009. This past September, a second orientation meeting was held for fathers newly interested in the program. Again, we had over fifty potential "DOGS" in attendance, putting us at nearly one hundred fathers able to act as WatchD.O.G.S. on the Lago Vista Elementary School campus!

We have already seen many benefits from the program. The most immediate and obvious asset has been the increase in positive male role models on our campus. Not only the WatchD.O.G.S. assigned to work on a given day, but off-duty DOGS are now volunteering on our campus in the day-to-day activities formerly handled only by moms. The WatchD.O.G.S. program has allowed fathers a 'foot in the door' of the school, making subsequent trips more inviting. It has been a wonderful thing to witness fathers in our school reading books to classes, chaperoning field trips, and serving as classroom volunteers.

One of the program benefits really stressed by the WatchD.O.G.S. organization is the addition of an extra set of reliable eyes and ears on the school campus. The presence of a father or father-figure enhances a sense of security in the building for students and staff and helps create an environment conducive to learning. Our WatchD.O.G.S. daily schedule includes safety tasks like security checks of interior and exterior doors, recess duty, lunch duty, and patrols of the schoolground. While these are tasks presently conducted by staff members, having the extra set of eyes and ears in place helps ensure the topmost safety on our campus. All WatchD.O.G.S. candidates must pass a background check prior to volunteering at LVES.

Beyond the benefits the school gains, WatchD.O.G.S. fathers gain much, as well. By being on campus with their child, they are able to get a glimpse of their students' everyday world. Hopefully, this allows them to better connect with their students and gain an appreciation of the demands on today's school-aged children. Furthermore, fathers are able to see firsthand the positive impact they can have on both their own child and all children on our campus. Whether it’s a salute from the four-year old class, their picture hanging up on the wall, high-fives from students at recess, or thank-you’s from kindergarteners at lunch, our WatchD.O.G.S. are reminded frequently of their importance and impact at Lago Vista Elementary School.

The response to the WatchD.O.G.S. program has been tremendous. Beginning next week, we are planning to have at least one father on campus each day. While their day is full and exhausting, the comments we receive at the end of each day have been only positive. In fact, despite their tired feet and sore smile-muscles, the most frequently asked question from WatchD.O.G.S. is "When can I come back again?". If you are interested in volunteering at LVES as a member of the WatchD.O.G.S. program, we will hold another orientation meeting later in the spring 2010 semester.

For more general information on the program, you can visit the website at www.fathers.com/watchdogs.

September 4, 2009

On September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama will deliver an address in a live broadcast on the White House web site and on C-Span at 11:00 AM local time. The event is described in some detail on the website of the U.S. Department of Education.

Because a number of LVISD students are at lunch at 11:00A.M., and because of the impact on our network if we attempt to stream video to all classrooms, LVISD students will not be viewing the live broadcast of the Presidential address. We will provide links to classroom teachers so that they may use the speech for instructional purposes at a later time based on the class curriculum and instructional needs. Prior to the use of the speech in a classroom, parents will be notified via a note sent home with the student. Parents may opt out of their student viewing the speech and participating in any follow-up activities by notifying the principal in writing or by email.

The Presidential speech is reported to touch on issues such as the importance of staying in school, persistence, goal setting and assuming responsibility. Parents and educators alike share these goals for our students. LVISD invites parents to view the message, discuss it at home with their children, and help reinforce the areas of common cause. After the broadcast, a link to the message will be available on the LVISD website.

Robert Zingelmann, LVISD Director of Finance
September 3, 2009

The current Texas school finance formula is largely based on House Bill 1, which passed in the 79th Legislature. The primary focus of this bill is targeted revenue. Targeted revenue is the funding level that LVISD uses to create the maintenance and operations or M&O budget. This is basically the amount of state and local revenue per pupil the district received in the 2006 school year. LVISD's targeted revenue amount is $5,970 per pupil based on average daily attendance (ADA).

HB 1 allowed LVISD to drop the M&O tax rate by one-third, and the state offsets the loss of revenue with state funding. Because targeted revenue is based on enrollment numbers, the concept is quite simple. If you gain enrollment, funding increases. If you lose enrollment, funding decreases.

Since funding is based on enrollment, additional dollars do not remain in the district when property values increase. There is simply an adjustment to state funding that reflects the change in property values. For example, if property values increase by 20%, state funding decreases by 20% if enrollment remains unchanged.

Because funding is set at the 2006 level, the district has faced increasing challenges creating a balanced M&O budget. The problem that LVISD and most other Texas school districts face is how to cover inflation adjusted cost with fixed revenue. I won't get into present value, but I can assure readers that a 2009 dollar is worth less that a 2006 dollar.

The Texas Legislature passed HB 3646 the last session, which continues to use HB 1 as the foundation for school funding. The bill did increase funding by $120 per pupil based on ADA, but also included a mandatory pay increase for teachers, full-time certified counselors, full-time school nurses, full-time librarians, and full-time speech pathologists. While it is true that the state is providing more funding for public schools, it is no more than a pass-through due to the required pay increases.

The funding in HB 3646 is from the federal stimulus package the state received. This stimulus funding will expire in two years. The Texas Education Agency sent out a memo stating that the state will not fund the pay increase when the federal funds have been exhausted. LVISD School Board and Administration is aware of the cost of the pay increase, and will make budget adjustments if necessary when the federal funds expire.

Although LVISD faces many challenges with respect to creating a balanced budget, the optional homestead exemption has remained intact. Only one other school in the area offers a 20% optional homestead exemption. LVISD is proud of the fact that our taxpayers have the lowest school tax bill in the Region 13 area (based on the 2008-2009 data.).

The state has also made changes on expenditure requirements. One such change is the removal of the Targeted Expenditures requirement. The targeted expenditure requirement grouped school districts into categories and required districts to stay within a state assigned range based on instructional and operational functions. One of the major flaws with the program is that it greatly reduced local control. Another problem was that the grouping did not take the area size of the district into account. Many districts transportation costs were much higher than the range, primarily due to size. The assumption that all the school districts in Texas can be grouped into a few categories was problematic from the start.

While it is true that school funding will remain a challenge, it is LVISD’s goal to maintain a strong financial position, provide an exceptional education to our students, and to provide value to the taxpayer.

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