Class-size exemption waivers approved
Northwest ISD closely monitors class sizes and attempts to balance all kindergarten to fourth-grade classrooms at a ratio of 22 students per teacher. If classrooms exceed this ratio, the district may approve class-size exemption waivers, as trustees did for 23 classrooms over the ratio by only one or two students.
Approving the waivers allows students in these classrooms to continue with their current teachers, eliminating the need to move students to new classrooms during the school year.
Campus improvement goals and objectives discussed
To ensure continuous advancement, campuses annually create goals and objectives designed to improve student performance. Trustees heard and discussed these items, part of campus improvement plans, as part of a yearly process to best meet student needs.
Trustees will vote whether to approve the plans at their Oct. 21 meeting. To see all campus improvement plans,
click here.
School board standards of professional practice updated
Following discussion at the Sept. 9 school board meeting, trustees voted to update their standards of professional practice to keep pace with new legal standards.
Three areas were updated – public participation, communication with other board members and continuing education – to either comply with new laws or more closely align with laws. Revisions to these standards are considered each year to best align with state and federal laws.
Middle school design process start approved
Northwest ISD works diligently to follow its growth in an effort to properly plan for future facility needs. A continued increase in student enrollment indicates the school district will need a new middle school. As such, trustees approved the district’s recommendation to begin the design process of a seventh middle school.
In other action, the board
- Recognized Terri Collins, winner of the first GEM – Going the Extra Mile – Award of the 2019-20 school year. The award is given to district administration staff who provide quality customer service.
- Accepted a check from CoServ on behalf of the district for its capital credits.
- Accepted a check from NTE Mobility alongside the Northwest ISD Education Foundation to be used in future student scholarships and teacher grants.
- Approved the order authorizing the issuance of bonds as previously approved by voters in bond package elections.
- Heard reports regarding professional learning district effectiveness, a curriculum audit and Senate Bill 11. To see these reports, click here.
