Most school boards start their meetings recognizing the achievements of a few of their students and teachers, but the Yorktown ISD school board consistently spends at least 50% of its meetings recognizing students and focusing directly on their growth.
The beginning of YISD school board meetings is often like a pep rally with a standing-room-only audience of parents and students, waiting for their moments to shine.
The March meeting was no exception, starting with the Wildcats of the Month, a STEM team project, All-Area fall athletes and teachers earning Teacher Incentive Allotment status.
The 20 teachers who qualified for the TIA were introduced by Dr. Ashley Chandler, saying the August allotment check for YISD will be $274,000.
After the recognitions, the students and parents leave, but the remaining audience and board hear detailed reports from Dr. Chandler and the school principals on student progress and outcomes.
If students are on target for growth goals, the board knows. If there’s a surprising decrease on a benchmark test, they know. It’s through participation in the Lone Star Governance, or LSG, program that the board keeps to the discipline of focusing on student outcomes.
At their regular meeting on March 10, Secondary Principal Michael Hanum reviewed the math goals and progress for 6-8 grade. At the beginning of the year, 8th grade started with 6% “meets or masters” in grade-level math concepts. The goal for growth this year is 45% of 8th graders meeting or mastering math concepts by August. Each year the percentage goal increases through 2028.
In a recent benchmark math test, the 8th grade overall scored 32%, up from the 6% at the beginning of school. Definite growth. However, on the 7th grade benchmark test that simulated the conditions of the STAAR test environment, the overall scores were 0%. A definite blip in the numbers.
In 7th grade, the top 40% of math students are taking advanced math and will take the 8th grade test. The remaining 60% of 7thgrade math students appear to be struggling.
Hanum said those students are receiving targeted tutorials and Region III has three specialists meeting with him to share what other districts with the same issue are doing.
“What are some of the things that they're doing to close the gap, or address the gap?” Hanum said, “when you have the top 40% taken out of the equation, and when they take a STAAR type test.”
Each month, the board’s LSG Region III Coach Debbie Sexton walks the trustees through self evaluation of best practices for school boards. Whether its unity on social media or constraint from administrative interference, the board considers some of their goals each month.
Other topics discussed included the On Ramp dual credit program, 2025-26 school calendar, an agreement with Conoco- Philips on land use and the loss of one of two Pre-K classrooms.
The next YISD School Board meeting will be April 14 at 7:30 p.m.
The May 3 election will have five candidates on the ballot for three YISD trustee positions. Look for a YISD candidate forum in an upcoming edition of the Yorktown News-View.
