School report card goes to board

Supt. Mike Davis is at the helm of the Alpine ISD for another year, adding a 4 percent raise to his salary and looking at some hefty bonuses if and when the district achieves "recognized" and "exemplary" status.

The board of trustees performed Davis's evaluation and extended his contract in a lengthy executive session last Wednesday night, then emerged into open session around 10 p.m. to announce the details. Davis will get a $5,000 bonus, according to the board's motion, "when the district achieves recognized status," and a $10,000 bonus when exemplary status is reached.

After the unanimous vote on his contract, Davis said, "We appreciate you on the board ... it's not a very high-paying job."

Just before the executive session, Davis reported that district enrollment picked up somewhat from December and now stands at 973 students.

He said the ADA (average daily attendance) is slightly under 96 percent, which he called "pretty good."

Davis added that the district still struggles with some "leavers," students whose parents say they'll teach the youngsters at home, or those who just don't return at all.

One agenda item dealt with two trustee positions up for election this year. Terms are expiring for board President Ray Hendryx of Single-Member District 2 and Eleazar Cano of Single-Member District 6. The election will be held May 10; early voting starts April 28 and ends May 6.

Statistics took up a good portion of the trustees' meeting early in the evening; all three campus principals highlighted test scores and progress in the Texas Education Agency's 2006-07 School Report Card.

Ebby Loeffler, principal at Alpine Elementary, proudly pointed to her school's improvement from 78 percent in 2006 to 96 percent in 2007 on the SDAA (State Developed Alternative Assessment) Examinations. By comparison, the state average was 84 percent in 2006 and 89 percent in 2007. TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test scores showed improvement in reading but a decline in writing. Loeffler wondered aloud, "How can we be commended in reading but not in writing?" Then she said the school "still has issues with composition."

Jim Angst, middle school principal, pointed to improved TAKS results. In 2006, science was 82 percent but in 2007 had jumped to a 90 percent passing standard; that compared to the state average of 70 percent a year ago and 71 percent in 2007. Scores in other areas, such as social studies and mathematics, showed slight improvement. "The greatest strengths are in reading and English/language arts," he said.

Alpine High ranked above the state average on the TAKS in social studies and reading and English/language arts, but fell far behind in mathematics and science. Principal Verl O'Bryant walked the board members through highlights - and low points - of the TEA report, then briefed them on other elements of testing. For example, he said, "91.3 percent of the kids took SAT/ACT tests; even if they say they don't plan to go to college, they are taking the test."

Earlier in the evening, the board heard about planned out-of-town trips from district band directors Chuck Wilson and Riley Jacobs. Alpine High's band members will head to the Dallas-Fort Worth area soon after graduation.

Wilson has asked the Texas Rangers baseball team if the Fightin' Bucks band could play the national anthem at a home game; he was told to send an audition tape but hasn't heard from the Rangers. Nevertheless, a highlight of the band trip will be attending a Rangers game on "free cap night," then visiting Six Flags Over Texas the next day and "dining without silverware," Wilson said, at Medieval Times that night. The next day will entail a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum, which contains exhibits pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Wilson said such an extensive trip is possible because of the Band Boosters' support. He estimated the cost per student is $198, but "we're trying to drop it down."

Jacobs gave trustees a rundown on the seventh- and eight-grade band members' two-day excursion to Dallas highlighted by a festival competition. An estimated 30-40 students and eight chaperones will go on this trip. The students will visit Six Flags, too.