More bad news

September 1, 2017

Well the numbers are unfortunately in.

For those that live within the EPISD geographic boundaries you will see a substantial increase in tax rates from every one of your taxing entities except the county.

The increases are interesting:

  • El Paso Community College District       4%
  • City of El Paso                                              5%
  • El Paso Independent School District      6%
  • El Paso County Hospital District             6.4%

The county will not impose a tax increase on us this year.  Maybe we should get some of our other elected officials to run for congress.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

 

 

11 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Learning to speak

August 31, 2017

This came in from a loyal reader the other day:

Brutus

12 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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.

23 Comments | El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Combined planning

August 29, 2017

The bond oversight committee in their November 7, 2013 saw these two slides:

Another plan abandoned.

We deserve better

Brutus

2 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

County hospital goes dark

August 28, 2017

Unfortunately our county hospital has recently updated its website and no longer posts the backup materials for their agenda postings.

Now we can see from a posted agenda that there will be a review of the hospital’s financial statements but we will not be able to see those statements.

They do post the financials in a separate place after the board has reviewed them, but that does not allow members of the public to address the board as things are happening.

This is not good.

We deserve better

Brutus

1 Comment | County Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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