FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Fall 2007 – A New School Year Begins
I asked several people if there was anything I needed to write about this week. A student said “Write about the football game last Friday.” The Business Manager said “Write about the budget and the new tax rate.” Somebody said “Write about the upcoming school year.” So many choices - all great ideas. So here goes . . .
The Football Game Last Week – What can you say about the football game except it was one of the very best examples of what not-giving-up looks like. It should be amazing to see what this team looks like and develops into at the end of the season. A unique twist to this game was the perspective of the narcissistic announcer who’s perspective of “it’s all about us” was almost funny the first quarter. This interesting perspective bordered on “getting really old” by the end of the game causing Claude fans to respond with great vigor when a name and number was actually mentioned. You don’t want to miss the next game this Friday evening at 7:30 here at home. The kids and coaches are excited.
The school board has been hard at work over the past months looking at data and needs in order to make the best decisions for the school district’s budget for the upcoming school year. Last Thursday, the board adopted a carefully prepared budget and then set a tax rate that would support it. This year’s school taxes are set at $1.01 for maintenance and operations - a drop of twenty-three and a half cents per $100 dollars of property valuation and $.12 for debt service – a drop of two cents per $100 dollars of property valuation. I offer my appreciation to the Board for their time and dedication to the students of the district and the taxpayers of CISD. We look forward to a productive school year as a result.
The Upcoming School Year ?
Who knows what the year will bring? The Legislature will reconvene and pass more law and mandates. We may or may not be in a selected random 30% of the school districts in the state who will participate in steroid testing. The identification process for students of special needs has been changed. We get to “see” the (TAKS) testing this year and we are going to try the flexible school year schedule. All this change with one constant, our motto: Can Do, Will Do, Do Well.
That sums it up for this week.
Respectfully Submitted,
Laura Zanchettin
Superintendent – Claude ISD
FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Traffic Study FYI
Thank you to concerned community members who called in saying there was a strange man out in front of the school taking pictures with a camera. That picture-taking gentleman was Mr. Abramhanson, a traffic engineer who has been working with the school for the improvement of student safety around the school building during drop-off and pick-up times when traffic is heavy. He was here to observe actual student/parent/staff flow and traffic flow before and after school. He is currently working on a proposal based on the information gathered. More information will be coming in the near future after we receive his recommendations.
AEIS Report is Released
AEIS – Academic Excellence Indicator System - This system provides a comprehensive evaluation of a school district and campus performance and demographics. The 2007 AEIS report is scheduled to be released to the public on November 28th, 2007 at this web address: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/accountability.html. Click on 2006-2007 AEIS and use the identification number of 006902 to access the CISD report which includes data on the whole district. A summary copy of the report specific to each campus will be sent home with the next report card. Claude ISD currently has an accountability rating of “Recognized” and Gold Performance Acknowledgments in 05-06 Attendance, Recommended High School Program – Class of 2006, Texas Success Initiative in English Language Arts, Texas Success Initiative in Mathematics, and Commended Acknowledgments on Reading/English Language Arts, Writing, Mathematics, and Social Studies.
Sincere thanks to the administration, faculty and staff for making the expectation for excellence the norm.
Any person unable to access this information is invited to call 226-7331 and I will send a copy of the report to you.
Respectfully Submitted,
Laura Zanchettin
Superintendent – Claude ISD