The Italy School Board of Trustees discussed the district’s 2010 accountability ratings at a called meeting Monday afternoon.

Tammy Wallis, new Stafford Elementary principal, said the campus received an acceptable rating.

She said the district has not received the breakdown of scores by grade level but said they do have plans in place to work with students struggling to pass the TAKS.

Tanya Parker, high school principal, said she is proud of the scores but knows they have work to do. She pointed out that many secondary students become more involved in extracurricular activities as they enter junior high school.

Parker also said the campus would be targeting students that have not been in the country long and do not understand the specific vocabulary for science and mathematics. She said it is difficult to take a test in a language you are just learning.

She noted that only six seniors have not passed one or more of the required TAKS tests. At this time last year, she said there were 20 students that needed to pass one or more tests.

Cheryl Owen, school board president, said the district needs volunteers to mentor the kids who might be struggling academically.

In other business, the board hired Rena Bowden as technology application/yearbook instructor.

Jimmie Malone, superintendent, read updated administrative guidelines for pre-kindergarten eligibility enrollment

1. Eligible students will be approved for enrollment based on state/federal guidelines criteria on a ½-day program.
2. Applications will be accepted for enrollment whose parent/guardian are current employees at Italy ISD.
3. When enrollment is established by #1 and/or #2, applications will be considered on a first-come-first serve basis up to a maximum enrollment of 24 students. All enrollment request(s) exceeding 24 students may be considered with additional instructional settings and staff.
4. Tuition for students enrolled based on #2 and #3 will be $200 per student for eight months (September-May) and $100 per student for one month (December).

Wallis said there are 15 to 17 eligible students for the pre-kindergarten program with four on the waiting list.

The board will hold a public hearing on Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. to set a proposed tax rate and adopt the budget for 2010-2011.

They spent the remainder of the evening in a budget workshop.