Longview ISD has submitted an application for Senate Bill 1882 which would allow it to partner with an open-enrollment charter school or other eligible entity to operate a district campus.
The schools that will operate under the East Texas Advanced Academies (ETAA) will be East Texas Montessori Prep Academy, Johnston-McQueen Elementary, J.L. Everhart Elementary, Bramlette Elementary, Ware East Texas Montessori Academy, Forest Park Middle School, and Early Graduation High School.
The Texas Legislature signed Senate Bill 1882 into effect during 2017 which incentivizes districts to work collaboratively with new and existing partners to promote innovation and dramatically improve student outcomes.
Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox said these partnerships offer districts the opportunity to expand the diversity of school options, bring in targeted expertise for innovation and turnaround support, and empower school leaders and partners with greater autonomy. Most importantly: effective partnerships give more students access to great schools.
“This is our chance to give students on these campuses something innovative and something to strive for beyond the classroom,” he said.
Longview ISD will maintain the operating budget for these campuses, but SB1882 will allow additional funding for innovation and training for educators. “Innovative campuses are more expensive to run,” Dr. Wilcox said. “it requires the normal operating budget plus the additional SB 1882 funding benefiting to achieve the desired outcomes of an innovative campus.”
For more information about the program, please click here: TxPartnerships.org
Early in the process, a board was formed of three local leaders who support public education. Two of the ETAA board members are former LISD school board members: Judson Murray, Sam Satterwhite. The third ETAA board member is a proud local voice of public education, Alan Amos.
Dr. Cynthia Wise has been appointed CEO of East Texas Advanced Academies will be working with Longview ISD administration on ETAA campuses and have operating autonomy on all seven of the East Texas Advanced Academies campus locations. Her current contract with LISD will end on June 30, 2019 and then her new contract with ETAA will begin on July 1, 2019.
Dr. Wise’s history with Ned E. Williams Elementary is proof she can handle the task at hand. This campus has earned countless honors, between six and seven STAAR accountability ratings for multiple years, and has been ranked as one of the highest performing socio-economically disadvantaged populated student body and highest performing predominately African American student body in the state of Texas.
“The district will follow the SB 1882 guidelines and give East Texas Advance Academies the support it needs to complete their vision and goals,” she said.
Dr. Wise will still responsible for the performance of Forest Park Middle school because it falls under the ETAA umbrella. But with this slight change in directive, she has been working closely with her FPMS campus administrative support personnel to put a plan in place to support Dr. Wise that will assist FPMS when Wise has to be off campus for other ETAA responsibilities.
East Texas Advanced Academy campuses will still be responsible for all state testing standards. Each campus will receive accountability testing and ratings.
“Our goal will NOT be to meet minimums on these campuses, we are striving to improve and excel with our state accountability numbers,” said Dr. Wise. “We want to create a successful school to work pipeline. We are proud to help create a stronger workforce for Longview.
