BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD HEARS STAAR TEST RESULTS
The STAAR test results for Brenham schools are a mixed bag, according to a report given to the Brenham School Board last (Monday) night.
Bonnie Brinkmeyer, BISD’s Coordinator for Curriculum and Accountability, discussed the results of 2014 testing with the Board. Brinkmeyer said some of the scores were lower in reading and math, but the standards have been raised. Statewide the scores on the STAAR test, which stands for State of Texas Assessment of Readiness, were lower this year…especially in reading.
Also at last (Monday’s) night’s Brenham School Board meeting, Jerry Homan accused Board President Melvin Ehlert, along with Board Members Marshall Harrell and Susan Jenkins, of plotting against Superintendent Sam Bell. Homan said emails between those three, which he had gathered from a public information request, showed a plot against Bell. Previously Homan had called for Ehlert and Harrell to resign from the Board.
I applaud an effort to get Sam Bell out. I worked in education for 28 years and the years I worked for him were the worst of my career. The only point of view he has ever listened to is his own. He introduced himself to us with a power point presentation titled “It’s All about the Kids” and that’s the last time he ever put them first. He is the main reason that I left the district. The district will be much better once he is ousted. Good luck to those board members that see that he needs to be replaced. The children of Brenham deserve to be the first priority. Bell certainly doesn’t see it that way.
Could we just publish the results and show what they are compared to other years? They are public records.
Here’s a thought…….let the teachers teach. Get the government out of the schools and quit teaching to the test. I am 46 years old and I consider myself fairly educated. I was not taught to the test, my teachers taught me!! Get the kids out of the classroom and out on the playground. Let them develop communication skills there and also burn off some energy!! And parents, take some responsibility for your kids. Quit thinking that the school can do it all-sit down with your kids each night and help them study, read with them, take them outside and show them the world! Quit blaming others and being docile in your children’s life. And quit paying the coaches the high salaries……
Could you please elaborate on which coaches you think are getting paid too high of salaries? Maybe you could also suggest a reasonable amount to pay those who spend countless hours outside of the school day to teach, mentor, and help our students grow into successful men and women.
I agree with coach. I am not a coach but do see the time they put in. Late nights, early mornings, weekends, and holidays all spent with kids giving them a chance to become respectable, hard working adults. Driving a bus, washing jerseys, and having to deal with other issues of coaching while others of us are at home enjoying personal time deserves some extra pay. For those being payed too much, why don’t you look at central office and all the positions and salaries that are created there. No money to pay teachers, but we can create a new positions there.
The BISD Trustee Emails that were disclosed by Mr. Homan at Mondays BISD meeting are upsetting and is certainly worth and investigation by the Spectator. The intimidation towards several BISD employees is appalling and shameful.
Scores down in reading and math, Why? We basically keep doing the same things in education over and over again, and on the average, keep getting the same results. For the most part our state dictates the educational parameters of our public schools. Our legislators have now decided to extremely increase the teachers health care costs for them and their dependents. Our good teachers will leave for out of state jobs whose health care premiums are much lower. That will contribute to the downward spiral of quality education in Texas. We taxpayers pay more each year with no improvement in value for the dollar. Nice facilities, more equipment , etc. and basic skills are not met. Now the majority party in our state capitol say in their newly published 2014 platform that kindergarten and preschool should no longer be required. And that the U.S. Department of education and its policies should be abolished. What are they hoping for with these tactics, a dumber, more illiterate voter? Voters, wake up and make Texas students the best they can be!
Is there anything behind what Mr. Homan is saying or he is crazy? It would be great for the Spectator do a little checking and report into what is going on in our school district and central office. After all, they do all work for us, the taxpayers.