The newly-organized Stafford Elementary Student Council members were introduced Monday evening at the monthly meeting of the Italy School Board of Trustees.

The officers and student representatives introduced themselves to the school board as well as to those in attendance. Members are: LaJada Jackson, president; Karson Holley, vice president; Jaylon Lusk, treasurer; Tanner Chambers, secretary; Sydney Lowenthal, historian; Reese Janek, Brooke Gage, fourth grade representatives; Sadie Hinz and Chase Hyles, third grade representatives.

President Jackson read a message to the board highlighting a few things the student council has undertaken.

Janette Janek, student council sponsor, told board members that she is honored to help start this Stafford Student Council. She praised the students noting that they are always ready to work.

Following their presentation, Lee Joffre said the district received the 2012 College Readiness Award from the Texas ACT Council.

Joffre said this is award is in recognition of the school’s significant increase in its ACT composite scores over the past five years while, at the same time, increasing the number of students taking the ACT Assessment. This resulted in greater number of local students being college ready as a result of the efforts of the teachers, students and parents.

He said only 170 high schools – or nine percent of the schools – across the state earned this recognition.

Two parents addressed the board with issues affecting their children – Sal Ramirez and Suzzy Crowell.

Ramirez, the father of three, pleaded with the board to allow this first grader to stay in Charlotte Morgan’s class rather than move him to a newly-organized first grade class.

Ramirez said his son started the school year “behind” and has flourished under Morgan’s teaching. He said his son has built a relationship with Morgan that he does not have with other adults.

Ramirez said he has talked with Barry Bassett, superintendent, and Myla Wilson, elementary principal. He said she refuses to allow his son to stay in Morgan’s class.

The other parent, Crowell, said the high school is lacking in resources for her son to meet the Texas testing requirements. Her concern is the lack of books available for the students, among other things.

Crowell said, “Reading is one of the most important things we can teach our children.”

She said the students do not have books to bring home and study. She said the handouts her son does bring home are question-based and have no answers. She said they are expecting students to copy a power point presentation. After copying, then the teacher expounds on the presentation. Her problem is that her son has poor penmanship and cannot read his own handwriting later on.

She said one web-based resource for biology was above a ninth grade level. Crowell said this was not an understandable presentation for a kid.

Much of her concern focused on the CSCOPE curriculum which 80% of the schools across the state are using.

She read from the CSCOPE website — CSCOPE is developed as an online curriculum management system that encourages the integration and use of district resources in accordance with district policies and guidelines, including locally adopted textbooks. CSCOPE is designed for use primarily by teachers and administrators. It is not a system designed for direct student access or to be used like a textbook. CSCOPE does provide lessons and student resources (e.g., handouts) with each unit of instruction, but local decision-making determines the extent with which CSCOPE lessons may be used (if at all) and what other resources may be used for instruction.

Crowell said she understands that using this curriculum allows the district to operate without a curriculum director, which in turn, saves the district money. Her concern is the lack of resources offered to Italy students.

She said, “I cannot imagine a home without the Internet or a home with three students sharing one computer.”

Crowell also complained about the school’s website and the outdated information on it.

Mark Stiles, board member, explained that the board could not take action on either issue but said the lack of textbooks and failure of the TEA to approve textbooks as well as the mandates from the state legislature adds to the issues facing school districts.

Bassett said there is a new district website that should go online in early December. He said plans are for an early student release on Dec. 5 in order to provide teachers with the online training for the new website.

During superintendent reports, Bassett said the district received a financially superior rating in the School’s First Report from the state. He said more information will be released at a special meeting Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.

At a recently called meeting, the school board approved the addition of a kindergarten and first grade classes. The board approved the hiring of Meagan Threadgill to teach the new kindergarten class. Susan Jacinto, currently a sixth grade teacher, will take over the first grade class. Bassett said Charla Sparks has begun teaching the sixth grade class. Bassett said Thredgill should begin working Nov. 26. The new nurse, DeeDee Hamilton, and Holly Bradley, aid, should begin working Nov. 26 as well.

In new business, the board unanimously authorized the superintendent the authority to exercise power of eminent domain, as required by Government Code Section 2206.101(b). Bassett said the legislature allowed districts to lose this authority if they did not approve a resolution naming an authorized representative.

The board also approved minutes from the October meetings, the monthly utility report, the check register, monthly investment and cash position reports, the October financial statement and tax collections.

Cheryl Owen, vice president, was not present at the meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 17.