More than 90 people turned out to discuss a restructuring plan for the school, which was rated academically unacceptable by the Texas Education Agency for the third consecutive year.
“I believe we really have a good chance at success,” Dr. Robin Battershell, Temple Independent School District superintendent, said as she presented the plan.
The restructuring plan calls for making the school a pre-kindergarten through third-grade campus, transporting fourth- and fifth-graders to academically acceptable schools and providing stipends as incentives to hire experienced teachers. There are a total of about 100 fourth- and fifth-graders who would be transferred to other schools.
The goal is to have the district make the decisions that affect its students, rather than having those decisions turned over to the state, which could happen because of the school’s low rating for a third year.
“We decided we know our children better than the state,” Dr. Battershell said.
The administration’s goal is to have the restructuring plan ready to present to the school board at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday. If the board votes in favor of it, the plan would then be presented to TEA, which could approve it, send it back for revisions or refuse it and come up with a plan of its own.
If the plan is approved, parents will receive letters informing them of the next step, including a student evaluation that would help the district place students at campuses appropriate to meet their needs.
Lorena Johnson was concerned about Meridith-Dunbar’s fine arts program, which led her and her husband to place their two sons at the school.
“The students thrive in the fine arts program ... it helps them,” said Johnson, whose younger son will be in fourth grade next year. “It gives them an opportunity to do something different.”
Dr. Battershell said the fine arts program at Meridith-Dunbar now has four teachers, but that will be cut to two under the restructuring plan. The other two teachers will teach academics.
Johnson, who said both of her sons had performed in plays at the school, said cutting the program would “be a disadvantage” to the students.
Alicia Basinger, whose son has excelled as a second-grader this year, had concerns about whether there would be room at other campuses for their students.
“Are there other schools to accommodate them?” she asked, adding that she had tried to get her son in other schools but there was no room.
Dr. Battershell agreed that space availability was a consideration.
“Our No. 1 priority is that those children’s needs would be met,” she said.
Johnson also had concerns about where her son will go next year. “How do you know your student will get in the school that would be the best fit? What if that school is full?”
Dr. Battershell answered that it’s the job of the administration to make those decisions and make the best fit for the child.
On attracting qualified teachers, Dr. Battershell said they will look for teachers who have experience - not just in the number of years they have taught, but experience working with different types of children at different levels.
As for whether current teachers will stay at the campus or be reassigned, she said, “We will try to keep those teachers that are committed and are a good fit for this school.”
One person asked what may have been the toughest question to answer: Who is responsible for the school’s low performance for a third straight year? Dr. Battershell and Steve Wright, president of the school board, both accepted responsibility.
“Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the school board and we accept responsibility for where we are today,” Wright said, adding that the restructuring plan may have to be changed or adjusted to produce results.
Dr. John Hancock, assistant superintendent of administration, said interventions were put in place during the previous years of the unacceptable rating. “We were just not able to make the progress that we would have liked,” he said.
When asked if the district should be concentrating on the younger students now, he said the earlier the intervention, the better students will do.
“But, we’re certainly not going to give up on any student,” he said.
Dr. Battershell called for support and participation during the restructuring process, and encouraged community leaders to work together to help parents provide stability at home. “It’s important these kids come to school ready to learn,” she said.
