TEA Ratings Confirm IISD Projections

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) confirmed Irving ISD projections for two Exemplary schools, 19 Recognized schools and a district rating of Academically Acceptable in an official release of state ratings July 29.

IISD Exemplary schools are John Haley Elementary School and Schulze Elementary School. Recognized schools are: Irving High School, MacArthur High School, Singley Academy, Austin Middle School, Bowie Middle School, Crockett Middle School, de Zavala Middle School, Houston Middle School, Lamar Middle School, Travis Middle School, Brandenburg Elementary School, Britain Elementary School, Brown Elementary School, Farine Elementary School, Good Elementary School, Keyes Elementary School, Lively Elementary School, Stipes Elementary School, and Townley Elementary School. All other schools were rated as Academically Acceptable.

According to testing data, Irving ISD met all the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) standards for the Recognized rating, but fell below the 85 percent Completion Rate I standard by one percentage point (IISD had an 84 percent completion rate) in one of five accountability groups. IISD also had 151 (one more than allowed) students listed by TEA as “underreported” in 2009. TEA allows a maximum of 150 underreported students for Recognized or Exemplary ratings. 

According to Dr. Dana T. Bedden, IISD superintendent of schools, “the official release of the 2010 Accountability Ratings by TEA were as expected. The Planning, Evaluation & Research Department is working on an appeal of the rating to TEA based on inconsistencies in the completion rate data. Unfortunately, the process for submission and resolution of an appeal takes time and most likely will not be resolved until October,” Bedden said. “While we had hoped to achieve a Recognized status for Irving ISD, I am pleased to note that a review of the data does indicate progress and improvement in a number of areas. I want to congratulate the faculty and staff of Irving ISD for their hard work and extend my appreciation to them for moving us in the right direction.”

For a school to earn the Exemplary rating, students must average 90 percent on all tests. In addition, high schools must have a four-year completion rate of 95 percent and middle schools must have an annual dropout rate of 1.8 percent or less. For a school to attain the Recognized rating, students must average 80 percent on all tests. In addition, high schools must have a four-year completion rate of 85 percent and middle schools must have an annual dropout rate of 1.8 percent or less.

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CTE Students Win National Gold

Career & Technical Education students from Singley Academy participating in two different programs won gold medals at their respective national conferences.

Emily Guzman (front row, center), junior at Singley Academy, won first place among high school students in the Geospatial Technology category at the SkillsUSA national conference June 20-25.

Singley Academy juniors Emily Guzman and Gabriela Sosa won gold and silver medals, respectively, at SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, June 20-25. Guzman won gold for high school students in the Geospatial Technology category, and Sosa won silver in the Advertisement Design category. More than 5,600 career and technical education students — all state contest winners —competed in 96 different hands-on trade, technical and leadership fields.

(from left) Tabitha Kenyanya, Jonathan Ramirez and Rhiannon Mata won gold medals in the Hospitality Event at national Family, Career & Community Leaders of America competition July 4-8.

Members of the Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competed in Chicago July 4-8 and won gold medals in the Hospitality Event at their national conference. Team members are Tabitha Kenyanya, Rhiannon Mata and Jonathan Ramirez, and the advisor for Singley Academy FCCLA is Susan Lambert. More than 3,200 students took part in FCCLA’s competitive events which provide several opportunities for students to gain recognition for their individual, team and chapter activities. FCCLA is a national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education. FCCLA has over 200,000 members and over 6,500 chapters from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

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New Principals in Irving ISD

Irving ISD Superintendent Dr. Dana T. Bedden has announced new school principal appointments for the 2010-2011 school year.

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Irving High Student Completes Leadership Forum

Maria Duran, student at Irving High School, participated in the Texas Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. June 13-19.

Hosted by U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions, the Texas Leadership forum provided students from Dallas and Irving schools a unique perspective of national government operations and policy debates. Duran was among fifteen students from seven area schools.

Maria Duran, student at Irving High School (front row, third from left) is pictured with U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (back row, center-right) at the Texas Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C.

During the week, students had the opportunity to hear from government leaders, participate in tours, and conduct meetings at the White House, Pentagon, Drug Enforcement Agency, INTERPOL, and the Taiwanese Embassy.

Duran and her fellow DFW-area students were selected based on academic performance, community involvement and leadership ability. Prior to attending the conference in Washington, students had to attend local forum meetings and complete projects and writing assignments.

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IISD Announces Summer Graduation

Graduation for summer high school students will be at 7 p.m., August 17, in the MacArthur High School Auditorium.

The ceremony is to celebrate those students who completed credits in summer school, completed TAKS requirements, or will graduate early. Jody Dean, host of Jody Dean & the Morning Team on 98.7 K-LUV radio, will be the emcee and a reception in the MacArthur cafeteria will follow the ceremony.

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Summer and Back-to-School Programs

The City of Irving has announced several summer programs for youth, as well as programs to assist students returning to school in August.

The Irving Police Department’s Athletic League is partnering with IISD and the YMCA to offer free summer youth programs. Police have expanded popular soccer and basketball summer programs for children and through the programs, officers are building positive relationships with the youngsters. More information about the program can be found from Irving Community Television Network online at http://irvingtx.swagit.com/player.php?refid=07232010-29.

Irving residents and businesses are invited to participate in the 6th Annual Mayor & Firefighters’ Supplies for Success school supply drive through Aug. 6. This city-wide event is held to collect school supplies for economically disadvantaged students who attend school in Irving ISD. Donations may be dropped off at any Irving fire station. Financial contributions for the purchase of supplies can be mailed to IISD Partnerships in Education c/o Supplies for Success Drive, P.O. Box 152637, Irving, TX 75015-2637. Businesses and community organizations can e-mail partnership@irvingisd.net to set up a delivery point to drop off large donations. Those who need assistance with supplies should contact their child’s school counselor. The supply wish list and donation drop-off station list are available by accessing http://cityofirving.org/news/current/0610-supplies.asp.

City of Irving and Irving Mall are partnering to present the Back to School Fiesta. Free immunizations will be given to 500 eligible school-aged children from 3-7p.m. August 12 on the lower level of Irving Mall, near the Food Court. School-aged children receiving shots also will receive free school supplies. Families will enjoy vendor booths and activities throughout the evening. The line for verification of need and eligibility will form no earlier than 2 p.m. To receive free immunizations, participants must be VFC-eligible, and a parent or guardian must be present with the child’s shot record. For more information, call (972) 255-0571.

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Irving ISD Releases Free/Reduced Lunch Policy

Irving Independent School District has announced its policy for providing free and reduced price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The IISD Food Service Office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Household size and income criteria will be used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. Children from a household whose income is at or below certain levels eligible for free or reduced price meals. Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child’s income.

For school officials to determine eligibility for free and reduced price benefits, households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits only have to list their child’s name and SNAP or TANF case number. SNAP is the new program formally known as the Food Stamp Program. Households that do not provide SNAP or TANF documentation must list the names of all household members, the amount and source of income received by each household member, and the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the adult who signs the application does not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate that the person does not have a Social Security number. The application must be signed by an adult household member.

For more information, and for application procedures, access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/FreeAndReducedLunch.htm.

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Benefits Open Enrollment
Due to major changes in the Health Plans for Irving ISD employees, all employees must make their insurance elections again.

An Open Enrollment period is being held through August 20. For IISD employees to avoid double deductions and other adjustments to the September paycheck, employees must make elections prior to August 12. Enrollment options are available online through the MUNIS Employee Self-Service system. Employees can access this system and information about plan changes directly through the “Staff Pages” on www.irvingisd.net, or by accessing https://munisselfservice.irvingisd.net/MSS/login.aspx.

Any applications that were completed in May are still valid, such as those for life insurance, cancer insurance, disability insurance, or Medi-Gap insurance. If employees need to make a change to a benefit application, contact the benefits office at 972-600-52.

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