Barry Bassett and the Italy ISD hosted a luncheon for pastors and leaders of the community Wednesday at Central Baptist Church.

Bassett welcomed about three dozen community leaders to the event which he hopes to hold annually.

The superintendent said he wants the community to come together, become acquainted with one another and garner input from the community about the school district.

Bassett said test scores catch the public’s eye but said the school’s level, whether one through five, is where the focus should be. There is no concern about test scores once a school reaches a level five because the resources are in place for the student to learn.

Through discussion with all staff members, he said the local district is at level II. He said this is not something to be proud of but, at the same time, not a place where the district has to remain.

He said many organizations are satisfied with being good which prevents them from being great.

Bassett said this district is moving toward level three.

“Our mission is to educate these kids,” the superintendent said.

He said the board and staff have read the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins.

He said everyone has been painfully honest about the district’s shortcomings as well as what the district needs to look like.

Bassett presented a list of “beliefs” he developed from the core values the district hopes to achieve.

He said, “Everyone in the district and community will have the opportunity to have a voice in our school district.”

The district beliefs are:

• All stakeholders share the responsibility of student success. Everyone must be held accountable on an individual level in their responsibilities to the district.
• All students have the ability and desire to be successful learners. Italy ISD will use multiple methods of assessment and transfer knowledge to real life situations.
• Change is inevitable and is a necessary component of continuous improvement.
• All stakeholders should be active partners in working toward a common goal of student success.
• Diversity is to be celebrated, nurtured and embraced. Every student deserves access to a rigorous education.
• All adults should be lifelong learners. Adult learning can be assessed by utilizing the learning in a relevant way.
• Systematic thinking will create a culture that supports student and adult learning through shared beliefs and values.
• Leadership is a cultivated skill. Everyone is responsible and accountable for their role in the district.

Preston Dixon, pastor of the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church said, “This is a beautiful blueprint.” He said this reminds him of “Waiting on Superman,” a 2010 documentary film analyzing the failures of the American public education.

Dixon said, “The thesis is there is no superman. The superintendent is not going to be able to do this on his own. It’s going to take all of us, the superintendent, parents, police department, teachers and community.”

Bassett thanked Dixon for his comments and expressed his appreciation to the school board for their leadership.

He told those in attendance that the board passed the 2011/2012 budget the night before, one million dollars less than the 2010/2011 budget.

Bassett said part of that reduction is due to 30 less students being in the school district this year. “I believe,” he said, “If you build it, they will come.”

He continued, “Christ is our example, He was a servant. Let’s build it together. We cannot get everyone on board — we know that. But, if we can get 200 or 300 on board, then there is no stopping us.”

Bassett said the district cannot change things overnight but he hopes to reach a level five within the next three to five years.

“The bar has been raised for the students,” he said. “If we graduate kids who get minimum wage jobs, then we are not doing our job. Our mission is to educate these kids.”

Prior to adjournment, Todd Gray, pastor of Central Baptist Church, reminded pastors about the Food for Kids program sponsored by the North Texas Food Bank.

He said the Italy Ministerial Alliance is sponsoring this program, which will begin at Stafford Elementary soon.

He said a registered dietitian identifies foods that are nutritious for elementary age children. The food bank then packs these foods and prepares them for participating schools.

Volunteers in Italy will pack backpacks on Thursday evening and students, identified by the school, will get a backpack Friday afternoon filled with 60% of the food they will need for the weekend. The child is to return the backpack to school on Monday so that it can be filled again the following Thursday.

Gray said volunteers will come from participating churches and will rotate.

Gray said this is the costliest program sponsored by the NT Food Bank but it gets the most donations.

Someone said that junior high and high school students are also “hungry” and asked why they are not included in this program.

Gray said this is what the food bank sponsors.

Mark Stiles, school board trustee, said the community could sponsor a similar program for junior high and high school students.