It is going to be a very Merry Christmas for teachers and campus staff thanks to the Longview Incentive For Teachers (LIFT) Pay program scheduled to be paid out in December 2019.
Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved all three incentive programs: the LIFT Pay for Performance Award Model, the LIFT Campus Academic Distinction Designation Model and the EOC High Stakes Re-Testers Model, during their regular meeting Monday, September 9th.
The LIFT program rewards campuses and staff members for earning State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness recognition and showing academic growth among economically-disadvantaged students. The bonuses are paid out of the district's fund balance during the December pay period.
LISD has been using the Education Value Added Assessment System to measures student progress based on statistical data submitted each year. If a student shows the expected amount of progress, the teacher is not rewarded. But if the student shows greater than expected progress, the teacher is given an incentive based on the exceptional progress amount.
Based on a 'value-added' system and 'achievement,' core subject area teachers with economically disadvantaged students showing exceptional or more than expected progress in core subject areas could receive about a $69 incentive or $100 incentive per student, depending on the level of progress. The campus distinction designation awards will give $200 per campus distinction to each full-time staff member at the school. Qualifying staff must be full-time and have an attendance rate of 97 percent.
Please click here for more information about the LIFT program guidelines.
Out-Of-District Transfers
Board members also approved accepting more than 500 non-resident students seeking transfer into the district.
Of the 504 students accepted, 395 (or 78 percent) cited 'educational opportunities' at Longview ISD as their primary reason for transferring into the district.
Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox said the transfers come from 'in and around the Longview area,' including Pine Tree, Hallsville, Spring Hill, Kilgore, Marshall, Carthage, Gilmer, Gladewater, Sabine, New Diana, Ore City, Big Sandy, Harleton, Henderson, Tatum, Jefferson, Union Grove, White Oak, as well as from other East Texas communities farther out like Atlanta, Chapel Hill, Daingerfield, Pittsburg, and Winona.
'It's a testament to the quality education being provided by our excellent staff, our exceptional academic offerings, and the reputation of our students' achievements, that these families are choosing to enroll their students in Longview ISD,' he said. 'These aren't move-ins — though we certainly get quite a few of those each year — but these are residents of other communities, who are willing to drive to Longview for their children to attend our schools. That's a big deal.'
Ron Kent, LISD Supervisor for Administrative and Pupil Services, said attendance and discipline records 'have been checked for all students.'
'Principals have been given the information and the opportunity to make a recommendation on each student,' he said.
In other business...
The board later authorized LISD Chief Financial Officer Joey Jones to negotiate the sale of property adjacent to Playing for Keeps, located at 510 Martin Luther King Blvd., to AAON Coil Products of Longview.
Jones said AAON Coil Products approached the district concerning approximately 2 acres near the PFK campus.
'This proposed purchase is in conjunction with a planned expansion by AAON,' he added.
For more info
Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center, 1301 E. Young St. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. October 14th.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.
