Coming to LGISD in the Year 2021: New Buildings, Rapid COVID Tests
Update on Construction
With furniture installation at the new elementary office scheduled for Dec. 21, the end is in sight for the construction at LGISD.
Progress to date at the new elementary school includes:
• All library power, HVAC, lighting, technology and finishes near completion.
• Library furniture arrives this month.
• Library and Maker Space roof complete.
• Tricycle track play surface install to happen soon.
The student services and technology center and the music center are also near completion.
COVID-19 Rapid Testing for Students
The Texas Education Agency is implementing a COVID-19 rapid testing for staff and students. La Grange ISD has begun having the testing available for staff. Beginning Jan. 6, 2021, the district will begin a volunteer testing program for students with parent permission. The testing program will give La Grange ISD the ability to quickly and isolate positive individuals before they can transmit the virus to others. This will also allow the number of absences to decrease for those waiting for test results at other locations. The ability to fast track treatment and quarantine for positive individuals and their close contacts will be enhanced.
The testing program coordinator will be Sharon Muzny, director of school safety and operations. The test administrators will be the campus nurses – Kari Willrich, RN; Myra DelaRosa, LVN; and Cheryl Pavliska, LVN.
Financial Management
The Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) is a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999. The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school district’s financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system. School FIRST is in its 18th year and includes 15 indicators measuring the status of the district’s finances. TEA completes the FIRST report and requires that each school district hold a public hearing.
La Grange ISD received a “Superior Achievement” rating in the years past. This year, as was last year, the scores are based on letter grades. LGISD received an “A = Superior” on the 2019-2020 Ratings based on school year 2018-2019 Data, with a numerical score of a perfect 100.
Continuing Education
The La Grange School Board is required to complete continuing education courses. Each year the president of the board announces which board members are deficient in the required courses. At this time all board members are in compliance with necessary training credits.
Discussion of Renovation to Stadium Track/Field
At last month’s meeting, the board directed the administration to gather more information about the possibility of consideration to make renovations to the track and field at Leopard Stadium. The administration has gathered information on installing an eight lane track and a turf field. Bo Ledoux, lead architect for Claycomb, along with Brant Jacobs, part owner of Weaver/Jacobs Constructors were present at the meeting to discuss possible scenarios for the renovations. After the presentation, the district has decided to continue moving forward with the project to determine if a projected budget can be presented that the board feels comfortable with approving for this project.
New Hires and Resignations
The board extended an administrator term contract to Ramona Glisson as the assistant principal of the La Grange Elementary School beginning Jan. 4, 2021 to continue for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. Also hired was Maggie Cartwright, LVN – La Grange Elementary. Joslyn Hensley has transferred from high school receptionist to high school registrar and Milisa Gaertner has transferred from the middle school PIEMS attendance position to network support technician.
Stephanie Jurek, elementary assistant principal, and Tommy Taylor, maintenance, are both leaving the district at the end of this semester.
Administrative Reports
Superintendent Bill Wagner told the board that the positive COVID numbers continue to be low. He feels that can be attributed to following COVID safety protocols. The current enrollment for the district is 1,854 which is down by 62 from this time last year. When the students return in January, 77 of those students will be virtual learners with 50 at the elementary campus, 12 at the middle school, and 15 at the high school. Most of the students who are participating in virtual learning are passing. Only two of the virtual learners are not passing all classes and both of those have medical exemptions for staying in the virtual setting.
There will not be A-F accountability ratings based on the STAAR test this year. Students will still take the test, but it will only be for measuring student growth.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Eilers reported that the elementary UIL contest has been canceled for the 2020-21 school year. The high school contests are still going to take place beginning with Cross X Debate on Feb. 2 in La Grange. UIL One-Act Play contest will occur on March 11-12 in La Grange and the other UIL academic contests will be on March 26 at a place yet to be determined.
Director of Operations Sharon Muzny told the board that the second online auction of surplus materials grossed over $4,000. Brian Fair who was hired as transportation supervisor will start Jan. 4. The new transportation software setup is 95% complete. They are currently testing it with select families. The plan is to have all equipment installed on buses by Jan. 11 and training for all bus drivers will take place on Jan. 18. Students who are bus riders will be assigned RFID cards to be used in monitoring ridership.