Good morning!  Last week was certainly a week that kept my attention focused on the impact of both state and federal legislation on Northside.  I was in Austin Tuesday where I heard several legislative leaders talk about what they hoped to accomplish with school funding this session.  I have to say I was encouraged by the remarks of these legislators about how they really wanted to address school funding in a way that didn't just try to get us to the 2011 legislative session, but would address the funding formula in a way that would begin to fix the problems they created in the 2006 special session that placed school districts on a target revenue system.  You have heard or read many times that we built our 2008-09 school budget on 2006 revenues per pupil and we are now in the process of building the 2009-10 school year budget, but still relying on 2006 revenues per pupil.  This is what the target revenue system created, and we must get out of this methodology of funding or school districts across the state will experience major financial difficulties.  Each of the legislators that visited with us expressed a desire to address the return to a formula based system that will restore more equity to school funding.

Again, I must compliment Senator Leticia Van de Putte, who represents much of the Northside School District, for her introduction of a school finance bill that does exactly what many of her colleagues talked about.  Senator Steve Ogden, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has said that they would like to put approximately $1.9 billion of new money into schools, provided there is a return to formula funding that would bring more equity.  This $1.9 billion would be above the amount of $1.5 billion needed to fund student growth.  I believe the finance bill introduced by Senator Van de Putte accomplishes the goal of Senator Ogden.

Representative Scott Hochberg, Education Subcommittee Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Vice Chair of the House Education Committee; Representative Diane Patrick, House Education Committee; and Senator Florence Shapiro, Chairman of Senate Education Committee, all expressed a need and desire to do something that would improve the school finance situation.  I have said that the legislature did not solve the school finance issue in the 2006 special session; they only satisfied a court opinion.  I do believe that those individuals in the legislature who are key players in the process of designing the appropriations and funding for schools over the next biennium have an intent to help all schools.

The other issue talked about at our meeting was the issue related to a re-design of the accountability system.  I believe they are also committed to having a new accountability system that is less punitive in the sense that a district's or campuses' accountability rating is now based on the lowest performing group in a particular subject area.  In other words, out of 35 cells on which Northside is evaluated, the rating we receive is based on our lowest performing cell.  I do believe they are also committed to changing this!  It does not mean that the system will become easier, but hopefully it will become more fair and equitable.  I know they are looking at a model that will incorporate academic performance and financial integrity.  The academic accountability will be based on not just minimum academic standards but will move to post-secondary readiness standards.  Student growth models will also be incorporated which will measure or predict student growth and not be based on just a single test on one day.  In other words, have students progressed academically and are they projected to meet certain standards at a later point in their educational program.  Completion rates and dropout rates will also become key indicators in the new accountability system.  Schools must meet standards related to post-secondary readiness, growth, and completion to be accredited, but they will also be recognized for achievement in exceptional growth of student groups, closing the achievement gaps, high overall achievement, and other indicators that measure success in all areas such as the fine arts.  A bill is still being developed related to accountability, and I am anxious to see the actual language and program they are discussing.

There was also a lot of discussion about the Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act (stimulus package) that Congress just passed.  I was also at a meeting of the American Association of School Administrators where there was much discussion.  There are many details still to be determined, but we do know that we will be receiving additional Title I and IDEA funding, and possibly additional funding through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.  I am sure we will get more information as the details of the funding are worked out, but the primary issue for schools is whether this funding can or should be used for recurring expenditures.  I will probably address more about the stimulus package in the next week or two as the details are made clearer.  I do know the major programs and dollars that were appropriated in the stimulus package for education, but details about how it will benefit Northside are still sketchy.  We do know we will get approximately $26.8 million in Title I and IDEA, but how the money will come to us in terms of amounts per year and the details of regulation on the money are still to be explained.  I have told staff that we will take our time, be very sure of the regulations, and very deliberate in making decisions about the use of these funds.

Recently the Texas Education Agency announced Title I schools across the state for outstanding academic performance.  Northside ISD has three schools on that list:

• Hatchett Elementary School
• Lackland City Elementary School
• Linton Elementary School

The schools were selected because they have been Title I schools for the past three academic years; 40% or more of the students are low income in 2008-09; they met Adequate Yearly Progress in 2007 and 2008; they were rated Exemplary in 2008; and they were rated Exemplary or Recognized in 2007 and 2006.

Congratulations to the staff and the principals of these schools!  We are proud of the work they do and their accomplishments.

I want to congratulate George McKnight, Director of AVID and coordinator of our evening high school program, on being selected as the winner of the Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members 2009 Outstanding Educator Award.  George was nominated for this award by Bobby Blount, Northside ISD Board Trustee.  I am so proud of George for being named the Outstanding Educator and I can think of no one who would be more deserving.  Congratulations, George, and we are so proud of you!

I know that all of you are working very hard to prepare our students for the first round of TAKS testing next week.  This first round will be the Reading, Writing, and English/Language Arts at the particular grade level for which these tests are given.  I am confident our students will do well on these tests because I know how diligent you have been in preparing the students to be successful.  We always do very well in the areas of reading and writing and I have no doubt that success will continue.  Thanks for all you do!  Remember, We Believe in our students and We Believe in what we do as teachers and educators!

Have a great week!