EPISD–year to year comparison

August 30, 2017

Dan Wever sent this in:

3rd Grade Reading last year compared to 4th Grade Reading test this year. These figures are for Spring Test both years. How can the EPISD say that only 2 schools had problems with scores like this. Did the EPISD post any results or did they just issue a press release tell us how good they are doing? Of course, not all of the same students are being tested as some moved or were not promoted or were new to the district but most were in EPISD for both years tests. The academic intervention for failing students does not seem to be working. 😣😭 In fact just plain teaching does not seem to be taking place.
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DID NOT MEET GRADE LEVEL (FAILED) Performance in this category indicates that students are unlikely to succeed in the next grade 
or course without significant, ongoing academic intervention. Students in this category do not demonstrate a significant understanding of the assessed knowledge and skills.

The 3rd Grade Reading Test is probably the most important test in the STAAR series of accountability tests that are given by the State every year. There are many studies that say the first 3 years or grade school in a students education are the most important. There is data that shows if a child does not learn to read in these grades they do not do well in the rest of their education.

The 3rd Grade Reading test in 2016 was given to students that for the most part had studied and attended EPISD under the new REFORM EDUCATION MODEL that proponents say is so much better than the old Public Education model (whatever that is as they have a bunch of different names for it.)

With all of the Millions of Dollars spent on these Education Reform programs, I wondered just how good they really are.

I looked at last years results of 3rd-grade reading and they did not look so hot to me. The EPISD is supposed to provide “significant ongoing academic intervention” for the students that Fail but when I looked at this year’s 4th Grade (Same Students in 3rd last year for the most part) what I found was not acceptable to me. You can judge for yourself.

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EPISD–improving by 2021

August 23, 2017

EPISD’s  goals are to get better in a few years.

Take a look at this:

Most of us would set shorter term intermediate goals in order to make progress every year.

We deserve better

Brutus

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EPISD–what happens next

August 12, 2017

The money that YISD announced the other day was authorized by section 46.031 of Chapter 46 of Title 2 of the Texas Education Code.

You can read it here.

From what we can understand the money will not come in the form of a one time payment (as was implied by the superintendent and board president in their TV interviews) but instead will be made available every year to help pay interest and principal payments.

The law has been around for some time.

We wonder if the local school districts were aware of this funding when they proposed their bond issues.  It seems to us that local voters would have been more inclined to vote yes if they knew that the state would be picking up almost half of the bill.

EPISD has been silent about this.

Have then been blindsided by this?  Is it possible that they did not know?

We should ask the EPISD board for clarification.

We deserve better

Brutus

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EPISD–branding

August 5, 2017
This came in from Dan Wever:
This company was hired for $250,000 with 3 more years possible to improve the Brand of the EPISD. 
Below is what they put on their RFP materials answer bid. 
How could anyone not see that this was an effort to help the bond issue with taxpayer money. 
dw
 
 
 
 
BrandEra’s marketing methology is straight forward: Survey stakeholders and understand goals and expectations. Research key demographics of target market and assess competitors’ brands, messaging and advertisement placements. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan and timeline deliverables. Implement the approved campaign initiatives.
We believe the Districtwide marketing and campaiign for El Paso Independent School District must be smart to distinguish EPISD, serving to re-introducte the District to students, parents, business and community leaders, legislators, faculty and staff, alumni and area residents. The marketing initiatives must find the right balance between consistency and cutting edge ideas so that EPISD is branded boldly delivering deisred results such as increased loyalty and reserval in enrollements, attendance, and gratuation rates as well as changed perceptions of the District in specific areas. As a full-service marketing agency, BrandEra provides all elements of a successful integrated marketing, advertising and PR campaign, including: Logo and corporate branding initiatives; Market research; Creative conceptualization and campaign development; Strategic planning; Producing marketing collateral, such as newsletters, brocuches, flyers, direct mailers and point of sale materials from conception through printing and delivery; Development of digital and social medica strategies; Creation of unforgettable print, ratdio, TV and web advertising campaigns from concept through graphic design and copywriting; Strategic media buying: stretching advertising dollars and finding your “wasted” dollars; Scriptwriting press materials, including media kits and news releases; Planning special events and education showcases; Designing and updating websites; and Development of pitch packages and promotional initiatives.

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EPISD–farming children

August 3, 2017

This month EPISD sold a little over 7 acres of land that they declared surplus to our local housing authority.

State law allows them to sell to another public entity without taking bids.  They sold the property for a somewhat over one million dollars.  The board material indicates that they property was appraised at the value they sold it for.  Who knows what they could have gotten on the open market.

The board was clever in that by selling to the housing authority they are almost certain to ensure that children from the housing complex will attend EPISD schools.  That will increase income since Texas pays the district for every day a child attends school. Enrollment at the district has been falling off dramatically.

Unfortunately EPISD will not get the benefit of property taxes from the sale as they would have if the property had been sold to a developer who then put houses on the land.

Local property taxes account for roughly 30% of the district’s revenue.

We deserve better

Brutus

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