Trustees approve $1.1M technology infusion for TISD

Move to help district purchase new classroom equipment for students

Texarkana Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday for a $1.1 million technology infusion, among other district business.

Tina Veal-Gooch, the district’s director of public relations, said the move toward the $1.1 million technology infusion will help purchase new classroom and handheld technology for students and replace aging technology across the district.

“Funds … will include $500,000 from state instructional materials allotment, which allows for the purchases of textbooks and technology; $500,000 from general fund balance; and $100,000 from nonpayroll savings,” she said.

With that approved, the district will now accepting bids and ordering equipment and installation, which trustees expect to be in place by January 016, Veal-Gooch said.

Trustees also approved the Bowie Central Appraisal District 2015 Tax Roll for the district for $26.27 million, including the $1.5 million interest and sinking funds increase of .08 cents per $100 valuation. Veal-Gooch said this is the result of the November 2014 bond election voters approved.

In other business, TISD received 21 Academic Distinction designations for the preliminary 2015 accountability ratings, according to Wes Kirkham, executive director for instructional services. Of the designations, Texas High School received six; Nash, Wake Village and Morriss elementary schools each got four; Spring Lake Park Elementary had two; and the Virtual Academy received one.

“TISD continues to see gains in the number of students taking the SAT,” said Kirkham, adding that the district’s average score of 1041 exceeds the state average by 95 points.

Veal-Gooch said the ACT is still the test of choice for district students, with TISD’S average score “remaining on par” with the state average of 20.5.

Trustees also heard reports on advanced placement programs. Trustees said TISD offers 65 high school courses in accordance with Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Texarkana College and Southern Arkansas University.

“These courses provide the opportunity for 195 academic college semester hours of credit,” she said. “All academic courses required to earn an associate degree are taught on the Texas High School campus.”

“The dual-credit program consists of 1,060 course enrollments,” an increase of 962 from 2005, she added.

Dual-credit allows students to earn high school and college credit in college-level courses.

Trustees also heard a student academic report focused on the three state graduation programs offered in Texas: distinguished achivement, recommended and minimum. Veal-Gooch announced that THS’ 2015 graduating class had 35 percent graduate in distinguished achievement and 47 percent in the recommended program.

“Texas High School had 82 percent, or a total of 358 students, named Texas Scholars,” she said, adding that achievement requires graduating the distinguished or recommended program with at least two college credit courses.