Longview Independent School District trustees have approved a waiver application for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) concerning at-risk students in the 2020-21 school year.
The measure passed unanimously during the board's regular meeting June 8th.
As a result of STAAR tests being canceled for the 2019-20 school year, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools are still required by the Texas Education Agency to provide early notice to parents or guardians of students in grades 4 and 7 who are identified as 'at risk of failure on the first administration of an assessment required for grade advancement in the next school year.'
Latitia Wilson, LISD Director of Research, Planning, and Accountability, said 'given that the STAAR administrations for April, May, and June 2020 are canceled, the at-risk determination will need to be made through means that do not involve state testing results from the current year.'
'The current rule requires this notice to be issued before the end of a school year, thus the waiver request to delay the notice requirement until the start of the 2020-21 school year,' she said.
Longview ISD campus closures began March 16th and continued through the end of the 2019-20 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elections Agreement
Board members also approved a revised interlocal agreement with the Gregg County Elections Office for the rental of equipment and software support.
Gregg County and Longview ISD will conduct a joint election on Nov. 3rd following the proclamation issued from Gov. Greg Abbott on March 18th.
Dennis Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Services, said the revised agreement with the Gregg County Elections Office allows for cost efficiency by renting the electronic voting equipment and associated software.
'Gregg County Elections Office will also be responsible for the counting of paper mail ballots,' he said
Estimated cost of the contract is $3,015.82, but Williams added that 'there may be changes made to the contract closer to election date.'
Terms for Place 2 trustee Ava Welge and Place 4 trustee Ginia Northcutt are expiring, with both members planning to run for re-election.
Mrs. Northcutt drew no opponent, but local attorney Brett Miller has filed to run against Mrs. Welge in Place 2.
Trustees are elected to serve three-year terms.
In other news...
Board members also approved naming Ginia Northcutt as the district TASB delegate for 2020-21, and Shan Bauer as alternate; Time Use Tracker for the May 11th board meeting; Budget Amendment No. 10 for donations to Longview ISD totaling $4,548; and minutes from the May 11th and 28th board meetings.
For more info
Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center, but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. July 13th.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.
