02-04-2020 Patron Presentation, Alief ISD Board Workshop

Before I begin my public comments I want to remind or inform our community what the school boards goals, and district priorities are.

Alief ISD’s School Board Goals:
1.      Alief ISD will close the achievement gap to ensure that all students reach their academic potential.
2.      Alief ISD will improve student preparation for college and career readiness.
3.      Alief ISD will maintain a safe and orderly environment.
4.      Alief ISD will recruit, develop, and retain highly qualified and effective personnel.
5.      Alief ISD will continue to build positive relationships with all stakeholders.

I like to underscore the importance of the words ALL STAKEHOLDERS, not some, not many, or most stakeholder, but ALL.

Alief ISD’s District Priorities:
1.      Alief ISD will prepare all students for success in one or more of the following post-secondary opportunities: Technical Institutions, Workforce Programs, Two Year Colleges, Four Year Colleges/Universities, or Military Readiness.
2.      Alief ISD will implement Continuous School Improvement Strategies with the Effective School Framework to address causes of low or under-performances in schools.
3.      Alief ISD will work to ensure all district policies and actions are taken through the lens of and based upon the principles of equity.
4.      Alief ISD is committed to developing early childhood programs that result in more Pre-K student cohorts reading on grade level by the 3rd grade.
5.      Teacher retention, recruitment, and compensation which includes broader implementation of possible differentiated pay scales for identified staff.

My questions and comments are as follows:

After reviewing the Districts Annual Performance Plan and the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR report), I noticed the following things: On average, 3rd graders in the district that are reading on academic grade level has not improved, and our student enrollment numbers have significantly decreased year after year. 

The district indicates that we have a  99% graduation rate each year, but less than 50% of our students are college and career ready, 50% of our teachers have less than 5 years’ of experience teaching, and the districts teacher turnover rate is increasing year after year. 

Given this data, how is the district using the current priorities to improve student outcomes?  More importantly, is the TAPR report and District Performance report used in evaluating teachers, administrators, and the superintendent?

If they are not then they should be used.

Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, Alief ISD taxpayer, Alief ISD alumnus.