Edinburg CISD board hears preliminary STAAR overview, addresses campus metrics and facilities agenda
Edinburg News, Edinburg TX News, school board, public comment, enrollment
Arnoldo Mata
Edinburg, TX – The Edinburg CISD board went over the preliminary STARR overview from test reports. The Board also took action on personnel matters.
Accountability overview and campus metrics
Assessment Director Jose Garza presented an overview of preliminary STAAR results for the 2024-25 school year, which he said would be used for planning for 2025-26.
Garza told the board the preliminary district accountability calculation showed student achievement at 78, academic growth at 71, relative performance at 84 and closing the gaps at 81. He said the preliminary overall district letter grade calculation was 83.
Garza said the preliminary ratings were derived from DMAC, with official accountability results expected Aug. 15. He said some campuses had essays and short constructed responses submitted for rescoring, which he said could increase scores.
Garza described a district rollup tool used to calculate the district’s preliminary rating and outlined the categories included in the campus-level file. He said the headers include campus name, campus type, grade span, an economically disadvantaged percentage, a third-through-12 enrollment report used for proportional weighting, and total enrollment. Garza did not cite specific enrollment totals during the presentation.
Garza said middle schools showed possible improvement in ratings, with one campus possibly reaching an “A” and another close. He said eight campuses improved in 2022-23, 12 improved in 2023-24, and the preliminary count for 2024-25 was 14, possibly 15.
Garza said the district’s college, career and military readiness rate was 82 and said high schools would need 88 to reach an “A” rating. He also identified English I, English II and Algebra I as areas for continued focus at the high school level.
During discussion, board members and staff focused on sixth-grade math results and instructional time at the middle school level. District staff said middle school math is scheduled for 49 minutes and contrasted that with longer math blocks in elementary. District staff said some students had been scheduled into an additional math period and said the administration would review scheduling options, including potential changes to the master schedule.
Public comment
The board heard one public comment from Linda Gonzalez, who identified herself as part of Parents United, “a group of families united,” and said the group was advocating for the principal of Avila Elementary.
Gonzalez told the board Avila Elementary “isn’t just another school” to the principal she referenced and described the campus as his “home away from home.” Gonzalez said he began his career there as a teacher and later returned as principal when the opportunity arose, describing his connection to the campus and its families as personal.
Board actions and facilities agenda
The board approved renewals and purchases that included a board purchasing cooperative renewal for a curriculum product, a renewal for Summit listening, speaking and reading, the purchase of interactive digital panels, and a request for proposals for travel agent services.
The board approved a change order after discussion that referenced cost savings and a reduction from an earlier $200,000 project budget to a $60,000 project cost, as described during the meeting.
The board took no action on a competitive sealed proposal item for Canterbury Elementary roofing improvements, citing timing and a desire for facilities committee review. Board members said bids were received after the committee meeting and raised questions about the number of vendors and pricing. Board members said the facilities committee planned to meet at 5 p.m. the next day to review the item.
The board also took no action on an item related to multipurpose buildings and said additional facilities items would be discussed at the committee meeting.
Executive session and personnel
After executive session, the board approved the employment of a head cross country coach at Edinburg North.
The board took no action on employment items for a head volleyball coach at Robert Vela, a migrant coordinator for federal programs, an academic counselor for the Collegiate High School, and a coordinator for personnel and legal issues at central office.
The board approved the appointment of Andres Garcia as an assistant principal at Edinburg North. The board also approved employment, appointments, reassignments, resignations and retirements discussed in executive session, and approved acceptance of an employee resignation.