Snyder schools will be visited
by representatives of the Texas
Education Agency Oct. 22-26
to review programs that receive
funds from the U.S. Department
of Education.
According to the agency website, the purpose of the Program Access Review is to ensure that Career and Technical Education programs meet certain requirements in the school district.
The review consists of two major components: A review of program activities focused on the elimination of discrimination and the denial of services based upon race, color, national origin, sex and handicap.
A facility inspection focused on architectural barriers.
"The review will make sure we don't discriminate," said Cassidy McBrayer, chief academic officer, during Thursday night's school board meeting.
The review was triggered by the district's low scores by special education students on STAAR and end-of-course tests.
"It will be an intense review and we look forward to seeing what they have to say," said Dr. Randy Brown, Snyder ISD superintendent. "It will be a good thing."
"The review is time intensive, but it will make us better," McBrayer said.
McBrayer also gave the board information about the district's professional learning community program.
The program involves representatives from every campus working together to achieve better results for the students they serve.
The board also was updated about the new Snyder Education Foundation.
"The board of directors has been formed and Bill Lavers (Development Corporation of Snyder executive director) is the president," said Dr. Randy Burks, chief financial officer.
According to Burks, the purpose of the foundation, "is to provide for students and teachers to enhance the students' education." He noted that WL Plastics donated $5,000 to the fund and Lavers is seeking other donations.
Trustees also were updated on the problems with the FieldTurf at Tiger Stadium.
Burks said the field was treated in the spring by the manufacturer with a chemical that was intended to prevent damage caused by the sun. He said the company later found out, after treating 18 fields, that the chemicals had been mixed incorrectly and instead caused discoloration.
"The company has scrubbed the field and it is a little better, but it is not what we had," Burks said, adding that the district is trying to seek a resolution on the field that was supposed to last 10 years.
The field is in its fifth year of use and any resolution will be based on a pro-rated basis, Burks said.
"It's not going to be an easy solution," he said. The board also was updated on the ongoing work at Tiger Stadium.
The paving on the west side of the home bleachers is expected to be completed next week -- in time for the Tigers' game against Big Spring. The punch list walkthrough with Parkhill, Smith and Cooper will be conducted on Oct. 24.
Board member Trent Driggers asked about water damage to the press box during the heavy rain on Sept. 28. Officials said some ceiling tiles had to be replaced along with some re-painting, but no wall board had to be replaced. In action items, the board approved: The Snyder High School choir's trip to New York City on April 28-May 2 with all the funding coming from the students and sponsors.
The district's designated fund balance and investment policies.
A resolution to hold future board elections at College on the Square.
Declared 4-H activities as extracurricular in order not to lose state funding when students are out of class for events.
Following a one-hour executive session, the board ratified the contracts of Michelle Wiseman, seventh grade teacher, and Juli-Anna Lavers, third grade teacher.
Resignations were noted from Suzan Rasco, third grade teacher, and Bonnie Whorton, English/language arts teacher at Snyder Junior High School.
According to the agency website, the purpose of the Program Access Review is to ensure that Career and Technical Education programs meet certain requirements in the school district.
The review consists of two major components: A review of program activities focused on the elimination of discrimination and the denial of services based upon race, color, national origin, sex and handicap.
A facility inspection focused on architectural barriers.
"The review will make sure we don't discriminate," said Cassidy McBrayer, chief academic officer, during Thursday night's school board meeting.
The review was triggered by the district's low scores by special education students on STAAR and end-of-course tests.
"It will be an intense review and we look forward to seeing what they have to say," said Dr. Randy Brown, Snyder ISD superintendent. "It will be a good thing."
"The review is time intensive, but it will make us better," McBrayer said.
McBrayer also gave the board information about the district's professional learning community program.
The program involves representatives from every campus working together to achieve better results for the students they serve.
The board also was updated about the new Snyder Education Foundation.
"The board of directors has been formed and Bill Lavers (Development Corporation of Snyder executive director) is the president," said Dr. Randy Burks, chief financial officer.
According to Burks, the purpose of the foundation, "is to provide for students and teachers to enhance the students' education." He noted that WL Plastics donated $5,000 to the fund and Lavers is seeking other donations.
Trustees also were updated on the problems with the FieldTurf at Tiger Stadium.
Burks said the field was treated in the spring by the manufacturer with a chemical that was intended to prevent damage caused by the sun. He said the company later found out, after treating 18 fields, that the chemicals had been mixed incorrectly and instead caused discoloration.
"The company has scrubbed the field and it is a little better, but it is not what we had," Burks said, adding that the district is trying to seek a resolution on the field that was supposed to last 10 years.
The field is in its fifth year of use and any resolution will be based on a pro-rated basis, Burks said.
"It's not going to be an easy solution," he said. The board also was updated on the ongoing work at Tiger Stadium.
The paving on the west side of the home bleachers is expected to be completed next week -- in time for the Tigers' game against Big Spring. The punch list walkthrough with Parkhill, Smith and Cooper will be conducted on Oct. 24.
Board member Trent Driggers asked about water damage to the press box during the heavy rain on Sept. 28. Officials said some ceiling tiles had to be replaced along with some re-painting, but no wall board had to be replaced. In action items, the board approved: The Snyder High School choir's trip to New York City on April 28-May 2 with all the funding coming from the students and sponsors.
The district's designated fund balance and investment policies.
A resolution to hold future board elections at College on the Square.
Declared 4-H activities as extracurricular in order not to lose state funding when students are out of class for events.
Following a one-hour executive session, the board ratified the contracts of Michelle Wiseman, seventh grade teacher, and Juli-Anna Lavers, third grade teacher.
Resignations were noted from Suzan Rasco, third grade teacher, and Bonnie Whorton, English/language arts teacher at Snyder Junior High School.
