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District Gets High Marks From TEA
IISD got good news from the Texas Education Agency
this summer when it was awarded its fourth straight Recognized
rating. The district remains among only four in the state to achieve
that distinction with student populations greater than 20,000 with
at least 50 percent economically disadvantaged.
Among individual campuses, Townley Elementary led
the way as the district’s only Exemplary school and, for the first
time, all three comprehensive high schools were rated Recognized.
<Click
here for chart of campus ratings>
All IISD secondary campuses rated under the
state’s regular accountability system were Recognized. Ten of the 18
elementary schools were Recognized, and there are no Low Performing
campuses in Irving ISD.
A total of 20 out of 27 IISD campuses rated under
the accountability system received ratings above the Acceptable
level. Last year, 15 of 27 campuses earned that distinction. The
remaining seven campuses this year were rated Acceptable. Of those,
two schools missed the Recognized rating by just one indicator, four
missed it by two indicators and one missed it by three indicators.
In one case, the difference was only two tenths of a percent.
TEA ratings are: Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable
and Low Performing. The Academy of Irving ISD was not rated.
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Insurance News
There are big changes afoot in the benefits
office. IISD has a new insurance carrier which means that every
District employee must re-enroll for health insurance and other
benefits this fall. For health insurance, employees can choose
between an HMO plan which is free to the employee, and a PPO plan
that begins at $45.85 per month. Premiums increase as you add
dependents to each plan.
All employees are also required to re-enroll or
decline enrollment in the Cafeteria 125 plan this fall. All
employees will also be given the opportunity to enroll in dental,
vision, disability and cancer and dread disease insurance, as well
as tax sheltered annuities, sick leave bank, and other programs.
These and other benefits changes will be explained
in one-hour meetings at every IISD campus on August 19, 20, and 21.
There will be three morning meetings and three afternoon meetings on
each of these days at each campus. Every IISD employee must attend a
meeting of this kind and enroll in a benefits program before August
31. After August 31, insurance changes may only be made if an
employee has a change in family status such as marriage, birth of a
child, divorce, or death of a family member.
Please watch for more details and plan to attend a
benefits meeting.
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IISD Hires Assistant Superintendent
Irving ISD’s next curriculum guru is celebrating a
homecoming. Dr. Marie Morris has lived in Irving for more than a
decade, but hasn’t worked here since 1987. In June, she was chosen
to take the reigns as assistant superintendent for curriculum and
instruction. Morris’ predecessor, Dr. Martha Stone retired this
summer.
Morris has 40 years experience in public
education. She has been a teacher, principal, consultant and even
completed a superintendent’s internship in Irving in 1986–1987. Most
recently, Morris has served as the associate superintendent for
instruction in the Birdville ISD in Haltom City.
In her rich teaching experience, Morris has helped
Birdville to achieve “Recognized” status with the Texas Education
Agency, with 17 “Exemplary” campuses. She has reduced red-tape and
helped direct school funding directly to the classroom. She has
established the North Texas Hands-On Center for Math & Science. She
has administered statewide programs for the
visually impaired, special education effectiveness studies, special
education transition programs, and a multi-regional deaf education
program.
Morris has degrees from Central Missouri State
University, the University of Missouri, Pan American University, and
North Texas State University. She’s a member of the Delta Kappa
Gamma Society International for Women Educators.
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IISD Cable Channel Moves to 75
Irving
ISD’s Public Information cable channel has changed frequencies. IISD
Cable Channel 23 is now I-75 – Your Information Station. Schools,
students, parents and other interested residents can now view school
news 24-hours-a-day on cable channel 75.
Due to a realignment of all the channel numbers on
AT&T Broadband cable, the IISD signal has moved up the dial along
with Irving Community Television Network, the North Lake College
channel, and other local access channels.
Also this year, the Public Information staff is in
the process of upgrading the channel’s software to allow visual
graphics including scrolling messages, up-to-the-minute district
news, and even time and temperature.
The Irving Independent School District has
supported a cable channel since February 2001. Channel 75 launched
on July 9.
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