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Sunday, July 29, 2007
Consideration for 4-day school week continues in Lancaster
The TEA heard from both the supporters and opponents of the Lancaster ISD's proposed 4-day school week on Thursday. A minor issue arose with having present too MANY Trustees from the LISD board.
The TEA heard from both the supporters and opponents of the Lancaster ISD's proposed 4-day school week on Thursday. A minor issue arose with having present too MANY Trustees from the LISD board. This risked a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act. The five members attending, (Sue Mendoza, Ed Kirkland, Marie Elliot, Marjorie King, and Carolyn Morris) would have constituted a quorum of the LISD Board of Trustees. The risk was resolved when President Ed Kirkland and most-junior-Trustee Marjorie King voluntarily left the hearing room. Acting Commissioner Scott presided and gave Dr Lewis, on the affirmative, equal time with Trustee Carolyn Morris for the opposition.
Friday the TEA followed up with a faxed request to the District for additional information. Reportedly over 15 substantive concerned with the proposal were raised to the LISD Board For instance, Dr Lewis told the commission that "Transitioning to a 4-day week will allow for implementation of structured science lessons. " The TEA fax quoted the claim and asked "How are CURRENT science lessons implemented? "
The TEA addressed issues regarding meal breaks, staff development requirements, educators' employment contracts, and the districts compliance with "Site Based Committtee" requirements of the Texas Education Code TEC 33.005. ( The "District Site Based Committee" should not be confused with the committee responsible for the "District Improvement Plan" required under TEC 11.252 It is not clear that either committee, required by statute, has reviewed or approved the 4-day proposal.)
The TEA has 30 days in which to consider the proposal. Approval for the waiver, if granted, would provide parents approximately a week to adapt to the new schedule.
This story was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community
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letslearn, anonymous:
Hooray!!! Hooray!!!
The children of LancasterISD and their parents, need a break. From confusion and assignments, with no support system being in place, and being accused of being or becoming sexual deviants by their superintendent.
No commentor at the 4 day, public meeting said or accused, the children of being thieves either. They did state that, children left unsupervised, left the door open for many, misdeeds. An agrument, I know Lewis, has used to push sports and the arts.
But what about all the comments from Lewis, over the years about the uncaring, neglectful and disinterested parents in this district. What do you call those, type of statements?
Oh that is Lewis speak. Got it? He speaks, it is correct.
Or how about him saying late in the night, of the public meeting on the 4 day proposal, with only a small group of people left, that all those that thanked him for the summer and winter reading program lied when they said they were with him. He said, "they only said so now, that the programs are successful."
By what standards and what benmchmarks?
Oh and I don't mean, those made up by folks..who work in the district and can not count well. Like, the number of real hours, that would have been left for instruction, with the 4 day plan.
TEA, did the math and guess what? The numbers did not add up, to the numbers given or impied by the superintendent and his staff.
And the reading programs, at the High School level according to the the TEA's, recently released list of academically unaccceptable, schools, may not be so good and successful either.
I love that the summer reading program is touted as a success. What is the telephone hot line number if a student or parent needs clarity, with an asignment? I am glad and proud of all the reading scores going up and as I understand it, once a student reads better, they do better in all subjects. Huh!
Just my thoughts, now what did we learn?
Should anyone think, that any of the above statements are not true, false or wrong, please let me know where to find the correct information.
I always open to the truth and learning new thing.
And hello and where are you Ms. Sheilia? I have miss your supportative comments of Lewis, of late. Could it be you are learning new things?
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What do you think?