ATHENS —
The Athens Independent School District Board of Trustees on Thursday evening was updated on the wide-reaching efforts to improve on federally-mandated accountability standards.
Athens ISD is currently in Stage 2 of the Adequate Yearly Progress program — a federal system which gauges student performance. AISD was placed in Stage 2 of AYP because one group of students did not meet federally-mandated testing progr-ess in either math or reading for at least two years. In Athens, those groups included African Americans, Hispanics, special education students and those who speak limited English.
AISD Director of Federal Programs Diana Vaughn briefed the board on the district’s overall improvement plan for the 2012-2013 school year. That plan targets areas including student performance on state assessments, increasing cultural diversity and staff development and ensuring students receive adequate support and placement.
Assistant Principal Cedric Barrett and Master Teacher Shannon Pursley gave an update of the progress of Athens Middle School, which has been assigned a Stage 1 of intervention for math and reading. The presentation was given to satisfy the Texas Education Agency’s public reporting requirement for school improvement.
Barrett and Pursley spoke about several programs AMS has undertaken to improve student performance. Many of those efforts aim for individual assessment and intervention, including the school’s “Study Island” program and before- and after-school tutorials. Additionally, issues are being addressed through continued staff development and by using elective teachers — including those in the subjects of art and physical education — to assist in extra math and reading intervention.
Trustee Ginger Kirk said during the next budget process, she would like the board to discuss using social workers to assist schools with their intervention strategies. Those workers could help with making home visits to struggling students, for example.
“I think we’ve got the knowledge and the programs in place,” Kirk said, “but the teachers can’t do it by themselves. I think that could be the missing piece of the puzzle.”
The board also voted unanimously to eliminate the position of coordinator of student support services held by Stacy Loyless — who previously served as high school principal. In other personnel action, trustees unanimously approved the contracts of 20 administrators — including principals Renee Campbell (Bel Air Eleme-ntary); Eugene Buford (South Athens Eleme-ntary); Ginger Morrison (Athens Intermediate); and Jami Ivey (Athens High School) — for the 2013-2014 school year.
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With an eye on progress
Athens ISD continues work to improve accountability ratings
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In remembrance of heroes
The roll call of armed services veterans buried in the Athens City Cemetery for the past century-and-a-half is a long one.
A Veterans Memorial, created in their honor, will be dedicated on Memorial Day Monday, with 5th District Congressman Jeb Hensarling serving as the keynote speaker. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the cemetery on South Prairieville Street. -
Does Athens Middle School have talent? You bet it does!
Drake Grammer (right) won first place in Friday’s Athens Middle School Talent Contest. He will receive a free meal from McDonald’s Lilly Enterprises. He will be taken, along with all students that placed in competition, to his meal by a limousine provided by A Trinity Valley Home Health and Therapy Services. Grammer will also receive $50. At left, is Amily Partin, who received Honorable Mention for her performance. Others receiving Honorable Mention were Fredrick Magouirk and George Jones. Second Place honors went to Mollie Davies and Third Place went to Maalik Hall. Drums for the contest were provided by Athens Middle School PTO.
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A little old and new
CROSS ROADS — A former Cross Roads coach is returning to lead the Cross Roads athletic program after his approval by the school board on Thursday night.
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The natural approach
Lavonia Nowell believes perhaps the best way to lose weight and be healthier is to analyze what you eat.
With those beliefs, Nowell has decided to begin the Processed-Free Living support group in Athens. -
Oklahoma: More than its share of disasters
WASHINGTON — Many states get hit frequently with tornadoes and other natural catastrophes, but Oklahoma is Disaster Central.
The twister that devastated Moore, Okla., was the 74th presidential disaster declared in the Sooner state in the past 60 years. Only much-larger and more-populous California and Texas have had more. -
Don’t let the fire die
Brownsboro Junior High eighth-grader Yasmine Mendez lights one of the candles during Thursday's induction ceremony for the National Junior Honor Society. Mendez and this year's NJHS class helped to officially welcome 36 new members who will be in eighth grade next year.
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‘Click it or Ticket’
The Athens Police Department is part of a nationwide effort to cut down on traffic injuries and deaths by getting motorists to buckle their seat belts. It’s part of the Click It or Ticket campaign underway through June 2.
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WWII vets visit Washington, D.C.
Two Athens men who served in World War II are part of a veteran’s visit to the nation’s capital this week.
J.C. Garrett and Doug Tanner join 28 others being escorted by Brookshires Grocery Co. who will tour the WWII Memorial and other sites. The veterans were set to leave Texas on Thursday and return at 9 a.m., Saturday. -
Taking a break, just like you
Henderson County offices will close Friday through Monday for the Memorial Day weekend.
The courthouse and other county locations have traditionally closed on a Friday in May for Fiddlers Day. County employees were given May 24 as a holiday this year in anticipation of the event. The county’s 2013 holiday schedule was already set when the organizers of Fiddlers Day decided to make it a Friday night and Saturday affair on May 31 and June 1. -
Great ability, not debatable
BROWNSBORO — Brownsboro senior Caleb Cade earned a state championship in persuasive speaking at the 2013 UIL State Speech and Debate Meet in Austin on May 22.
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