June 2024 BoardBits

Dr. Nereyda Trevino, Chief Academic Officer for STISD, presented to the Board of Directors on the preliminary 2024 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) EOC Scores district wide. Included in the report was a comparison of STISD's results in relation to Region One and the state. STISD's scores surpassed the region and state in all areas, including Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.

(STAAR®) is a standardized academic achievement test designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and is able to apply the defined knowledge and skills in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) at each tested grade, subject, and course. Every STAAR question is directly aligned to the TEKS currently in effect for the grade and subject or course being assessed. STAAR helps to ensure that Texas students are competitive with other students both nationally and internationally. Another important function of STAAR is gauging how well schools and teachers prepare their students academically. In addition, STAAR fulfills the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires that all students be assessed in specific grades and subjects throughout their academic careers.

STISD will continue working to move more students from the meets level to mastery in the coming year. Updated scores will be released in July.

Parents/Guardians: You can view your child's STAAR/EOC test scores online now. Click here to learn how to access your child's report

• The STISD Board of Directors went through the first reading of the 2024-2025 District Improvement Plan (DIP) and Campus Improvement Plans (CIPs). Dr. Nereyda Trevino, STISD Chief Academic Officer, explained the process the district went through to ensure its District Improvement Plan is aligned with the district's new Strategic Plan and the Campus Improvement Plans are aligned with the District Improvement Plan. She presented a side-by-side comparison of the goals within each plan demonstrating the alignment. The DIP and CIPs will come back to the board for approval in July.
• Marla Knaub, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations, reported to the Board that STISD submits applications annually for federal funds to assist with supplementing the purchases for the district. It is a requirement to inform the public of the district’s intent to apply for federal funds, and to provide the document for public review. She shared the Public Notice to Apply for 2024-2025 ESSA Federal Grant Funding, which was posted within the Federal Programs section of the district website following the meeting and which will run in The Monitor, The Valley Morning Star, and The Brownsville Herald.  The grant application will be available for public review after it is submitted.
• The Board voted to hire ETHOS to provide commissioning services for the Health Professions Gymnasium project. The commissioning engineer will monitor the mechanical portion of the project, a required service for all new buildings.
• The Board approved hiring Captain Steven Cortez as STISD's first-ever Chief of Police.
• Amanda Odom, STISD Administrator for Public Relations & Marketing, reported to the Board on the plans underway for the STISD 60-Year Anniversary celebration, which is coming up in November of 2024. Additional information is forthcoming.