The Italy School Board of Trustees held a marathon four-and-a-half hour meeting Tuesday evening. Much of the time was spent hearing about CSCOPE, an online curriculum management system, as well as discussing the superintendent’s contract and a multitude of other items.

The meeting began with music from the Stafford Choir. Felicia Burkhalter led the choir with Erskin Anavitarte on guitar.

The student councils from both campuses provided the school board members with gifts and food in acknowledgment of School Board Recognition Month.

Much of the evening was spent discussing CSCOPE.

According to its website, CSCOPE is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Its curriculum, assessment and instructional components assist schools in meeting the high standard of rigor and relevance required in the TEKS and STAAR assessments.

Myla Wilson, elementary school principal, began her presentation with an enrollment breakdown. Current Stafford enrollment is 283 students and, of that total, 188 students are economically disadvantaged and 10 are in gifted and talented.

She offered the multitude of ways the staff is preparing for the new STAAR testing. A few of the key points include aligning the vocabulary through CSCOPE, intervention time each morning, professional development for instructional aides, offering incentives for perfect attendance, ESL certified teachers and making the library a part of each student’s day.

She said, “We teach process as well as context. We want to make sure the students are prepared.”

This year, Wilson said they have expanded to include a student council; a choir; have students perform at PTO meetings; sponsored a science fair; purchased science equipment for a lab; sponsor various math, reading, writing and science camps; Saturday enrichment; and acquired science and technology kits for inquiry-based instruction and tutoring.

She said they have weekly progress monitoring and aligning curriculum to fill in the “gaps” where needed.

Angie Janek, fifth grade English teacher, said the CSCOPE concept frightened her the first year but explained how she incorporates the system with the textbook. She explained that she uses the CSCOPE as a guide, not as the curriculum.

Wilson said CSCOPE is used to close the gap in order to make sure all students are learning.

Janek said the teachers intervene. She said they test on Friday and are ready to intervene in those areas where they are failing on Monday.

Lee Joffre, high school principal, gave trustees current curricular assessment scores. He said these scores help the staff identify students who have weaknesses. He said the STAAR test is getting tougher and CSCOPE is helping to close those gaps.

He said they have tutoring before and after school noting that some teachers give up their lunch or conference period to assist students. Further testing is scheduled for March as a curriculum assessment.

Joffre admitted that resources are lacking for students but said that current textbooks, such as the science textbook for the district, was printed in 2002 and is not aligned with the STAAR testing now mandated by the state.

He said they have ordered additional resources for students from McGraw-Hill and hopes to have them in within a month.

Lindsey Thompson, junior high science teacher, also explained how she implements CSCOPE into her curriculum.

Thompson said she began teaching last year at Waxahachie ISD. She said that she would have been lost had she not had the CSCOPE to guide her teaching.

She outlined how she combines her curriculum with the CSCOPE guides. She said CSCOPE shows teachers what they need to be teaching and holds teachers accountable

Steven and Suzzie Crowell questioned the teacher as to what their student should study in preparation for a test.

They said it is difficult for students to take notes from a power point presentation. They asked where the student can go online to study.

She said teachers have never given her websites to help her child to study. She said her child needs something in hard copy, such as a book or study guide, to prepare for testing.

Joffre said CSCOPE is listening to parental concerns and hopes they will expand online resources.

Jon Mathers, school board member, said the online assistance will help some but will not help students who have no access to the internet.

Mark Stiles, school board member, said different students need different resources for studying. He said the district needs to do a better job bringing in outside resources for the students. He suggested parent and student meetings on the campuses.

Curtis Riddle, school board member, said it is frustrating for parents to not be able to help the child with their homework.

School Board President Larry Eubank said 80 percent of the school districts in Texas are using CSCOPE.

In new business, the board spent about an hour in executive session discussing the superintendent’s contract. When they reconvened, Bassett asked the board to not take any action in regard to his contract. The board unanimously approved the request.

The trustees also unanimously approved a joint election agreement with the City of Italy for electing school board members. This year’s election is scheduled for May 11 at the Boze Community Center, 161 W. Main. Packets will be available Jan. 30 and must be turned in by March 1.

Greg Shroshire, an accountant with Patillo, Brown and Hill, presented the financial audit for the 2011/2012 school year.

He said there were no misstatements and no difficulty in regards to dealing with management. He said the procedure for disbursements is being done properly.

He noted that the audit was delayed because bank reconciliation reports were not done in a timely manner. Shroshire noted that the district lost about $35,000 in grant funds due to reports not filed in a timely manner.

Two representatives from Nevill Copier presented a proposal to replace/update five of the 10 copy machines in the district. He said the current cost is $2,700 but the five upgraded machines would only cost about $2,000 per month for a five-year contract. The board tabled the request and instructed the superintendent to go out for bids from various companies.

The board also approved the 2013/2014 school calendar and approved the filing of a waiver to defer end of course 15% rule for the 2012/2013 school year.

During the superintendent’s report, Joffre updated board members on truancy at the junior high/high school. He said, “We are not in the business of kicking kids out of school and putting them in the legal system.”

He explained that certain guidelines are required before truancy can be filed against a student. One of the requirements is mediation with the student and parents.

Joffre credited the staff for the decline in truancy cases.

He said, “When a kid goes to a classroom they enjoy, they’ll keep going. Our teachers love the kids. The teachers help get and keep the kids in the classroom”

Cheryl Owen, school board member, credited Joffre with improvements on the campus based on the consistent discipline.

Bassett announced school board training hours for the year – Paul Cockerham, Eubanks, Russ Lewis, Owen, 15 hours each; Mathers, 11.25 hours; Riddle, 12.75 hours; and Stiles, 12 hours.

Bassett said the school’s new web page has launched and is continuing to be updated.

Speed Hamby, maintenance director, briefly explained when he goes out for bids for electricity, fuel and custodial supplies.

Bassett said the district is continuing to update school safety, noting that major steps were taken at the beginning of the school year.

Joffre said he has put together a safety team, including local police officers. He said they have developed a safety plan, noting that teachers have been trained and students are being taught the plan through drills.

Regarding the safety issue, Stiles directed the superintendent to contact the city about placing a stop sign on Dilworth Street at Harris Street. He said students cross that road before and after school and said some drivers are traveling too fast.

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 p.m. The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25.

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