By Moses Leos III
An improvement plan meant to assist Hemphill Elementary School improve failing state standardized test scores was given the green light by the Hays CISD Board of Trustees Tuesday.
By a 7-0 vote, the Hays CISD board voted to adopt the Targeted Improvement Plan for Hemphill Elementary, which will be submitted to the Texas Education Agency Oct. 31. Board trustees approved the plan despite concerns regarding parental involvement.
The plan was crafted by a ten-person School Improvement Team that included Hemphill Principal Tracie Robinson, along with Tim Persall, Hays CISD assistant superintendent of elementary schools, and Joy Philpott, Hays CISD director of assessment and accountability.
They created the plan after Hemphill was rated as an “Improvement Required” campus in the 2016 TEA state accountability results. Only 48 percent of Hemphill students met standard on the State of Texas Academic Assessment and Readiness (STAAR) reading exam, while 40 percent of students met standard on the writing portion. According to district officials, Hemphill became the first Hays CISD campus to receive an IR designation from the state.
The cause for the issue, according to the district, was a limited capacity to deliver “effective lessons in English and Spanish Language Arts.”
The plan, which would be evaluated over the next four quarters, would implement two strategies from Hemphill’s Campus Improvement Plan, which was crafted with parent involvement, said Sharrah Pharr, Hays CISD director of federal programs and grants.
Use of the Gomez and Gomez enrichment model, along with a balanced approach to literacy is what administrators believe could help the campus improve scores. The improvement team plans to have 62 percent of students meet standard on the STAAR reading and 60 percent on writing assessments by 2017.
Board president Holly Raymond said the board is open to helping Hemphill during the process.
“We do support Hemphill. We want the best for the kids and the best for the staff,” Board president Holly Raymond said. “If things come up and if needs arise, know that we’re here and we want to support you.”
