BRENHAM, BURTON SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE GRADES FROM TEA
Brenham and Burton ISDs have received passing grades from the Texas Education Agency.
Today (Wednesday), the TEA labeled every school district in the state from an A-F rating. Brenham ISD received a 79.2 percent score, or a “C” score, and Burton ISD received an 84, or a “B”. These annual ratings are based on how the school performed during the past school year. The ratings look at overall student achievement and progress, as well as college readiness and performance of various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson condemned the scores given out by the state, saying these letter grades are a “narrow and bureaucratic-serving perspective of our students’ progress.”
Brenham and Burton ISD have been vocal in their opposition to the new grading system in the past. The Brenham school district released a statement in 2017 which said it “vehemently opposed” the new letter grade designations, saying they did little to help school districts improve. Burton ISD also spoke on the matter in 2017, calling it “frightening” that the district was rated without including every important facet of a district in the grading criteria.
Dr. Walter Jackson noted that each school in the Brenham school district met the standard of the TEA.
Burton Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy commended the community for its hard work and dedication to the school’s programs. She said the district “continues to make strides in academic progress”, and that they are dedicated to “providing an academically appropriate education for all students.”
In other regional school ratings: Bellville ISD received a “B” rating, Sealy ISD got a “C”, Caldwell ISD received a “B”, Somerville ISD obtained a “D”, Round-Top Carmine ISD received a “B”, Giddings ISD got a “B”, Hempstead ISD got a “C”, Iola ISD received an “A”, Waller ISD received an “A”, Anderson-Shiro CISD obtained a “B”, Navasota ISD got a “D”, and Snook ISD obtained a “C”.
To learn more about the A–F grading system, visit https://tea.texas.gov/A-F/.
There was no mention of grade tampering at Burton until your comments.
What more do you know?
What I know is what you and other protesters have said on many threads.
And pushing teachers to pass students would be grade tampering.
My question is the same as questioning: if those allegations are true…
ANY of them…
WHY haven’t you filed a complaint to UIL about the Head football coach (again, other posts have referenced him, no “insider” info) or the school?
They do quickly go out and investigate.
I keep hearing crickets though, so I wonder what’s really going on – BOTH sides.
Where? What threads?
If there is grade tampering, whos to say they havent been reported? Anyways, maybe folks want you and the board to fix the problems without going to UIL.
Grade tampering? (And others):
Starters – I’m not the board, so I have zero say on how stuff is conducted.
When I refer to threads, I mean here on the radio station, aka comments. Many of the protesters ARE mentioning these, so I have no inside info,
I never said they haven’t been reported it either.
I am giving you all a recourse since you are unhappy with how the board is handling particularly the bullying allegations, particularly the Athletic Director (and again, he and football have been specifically named).
I have read the allegations myself as they’re open records and – if true – at least four of them ARE SEVERE University Interscholastic League violations.
If found guilty, the punishments would likely lead to the school board doing your wish – fire the AD, and likely others up to the superintendent.
It’s why I question the allegations: when faced with an option to get what you want (an investigation into the allegations as the board has been unsatisfactory), I get defensive responses.
So… what is going on?
I cannot speak for Respect but I too question these allegations.
Respect didn’t say that the allegations were not reported, only that if it’s true and nothing done why not report to UIL?
Too many here keep accusing Burton ISD of not listening, so naturally UIL would be the next step.
If you guys want action – that is an option, but when pushed we read “maybe it should be fixed by you and the board.”
You’ve been protesting at least 2-3 months now and aren’t satisfied, so…well… honestly there are two choices:
A. You continue wait and let the board decide. You will have to be patient BECAUSE of legalities involved. Even in a Right to Work state, there are recourses for illegal firings.
Or…
B. You go to UIL and report it for faster results. Based on the Katy examples, they do investigate quickly. I would think too some of the accusations I’ve read would – if verified – would lead to UIL suspension, firings of the accused, and your vindication.
Honestly – those are the options, and the fact you don’t want the UIL involved makes one question more on both sides.
No one has said they haven’t been reported.
That said, you and others ARE constantly making comments that things need to be fixed and many of the accusations the University Interscholastic League are not light-handed punishing.
But you’re reluctant “Grade Tampering?” and others to file the complaint.
I ask why – as you haven’t gotten what you want from the board, and in your opinion won’t, that – *would* be the next step.
It turns out that you can do an internet search for “Brenham ISD Budget” and “Waller ISD Budget.” Catherine K. is correct that the state funding is basically the same, the tax rate is basically the same – but the EXPENDITURES are very different. Brenham ISD for 18-19 has an overall budget of about $49 million. Waller ISD has budgeted $88.5 million. Even if you focus only on General Fund spending, it’s $44 million to $62 million.
Maybe, just maybe, that $18 million dollars extra makes a difference in the education and testing scores of our children.
You may also consider the size of the student population in the numbers you are evaluating, Waller ISD has a large number of students and experiencing a high growth rate. You are going to find that you are not comparing apple to apples.
The extra dollars given to Waller is solely due to their district having a few thousand more kids enrolled. They received more due to that.
Waller ISD and Brenham ISD do not have equal enrollments….so there is that.
For Football Fan and the countless others who think of school as sports( football) then we have a partial answer to the school academic grade. And if the current Texas legislature continues its path to creating a voucher or property tax credit system attack on public school funds, the sports programs will suffer if not total end altogether. The state cannot afford to line the pockets of private for profit schools and even begin to support a full public school system.
Maybe if the schools started teaching for life instead of the stupid STAAR testing, and stopped doing things such as teaching revisionist history, putting politics into classrooms and such – there wouldn’t be such an outcry for vouchers for private schools.
The two actually are working hand-in-hand as far as harming our students and the funding issues out there.
Personally, I wish they’d stop doing all these exit tests (or go back to the simple ones such as TAKS or TAAS), which would save money and can be instead put back in the schools to improve education.
A student can graduate based on their grades for reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic (and the other classes). They don’t need to be doing these expensive tests that in recent years we’ve seen be rife with errors, faults and extra costs.
“Meet the New Boss. Same as the Old Boss!”
It is disappointing to see that a former superintendent would whole heartedly endorse the current superintendent and current administration in light of all the past and current controversies that are still unresolved.
It is a blatant whitewash to suggest all is well and to promote the retention of the three administrators.
It’s the same “cover up” for the sake of a winning season that was in practiced even before the current superintendent arrived.
It is disappointing in your vindictiveness you fail to notice that Palmer mentions the necessity for teacher increases and relooking at all three contracts.
Of note as someone who has been to Burton meetings that Hodde, Steenken and Fuchs are undergoing some new goals that will affect contracts long term.
My question to you in particular- what is your issue with football in particular?
To whoever Kudos is:
Please read my comments again. At no point did my comments mention the current superintendent. I have not publicly commented on her professionally or personally. I have never had more than a casual word with her. What is going on in Burton ISD at present is none of my doing.
As to the charges of “whitewash”, you have nothing. In the past three years, Some folks went through the complaint process, informally or formal, and got a result they did not like. That does not make it “wrong” or a coverup. There were no “coverups” for a winning season during my tenure. There are no issues currently being discussed that were left open during my term. The parents pursued a complaint until it was resolved or the parents dropped it. All decisions followed policy, UIL rules, state law and were made with the full knowledge of Board members.
As to my support for Hodde, Steenken and Fuchs, you betcha. I hired Coach Hodde and Mrs. Steenken in 2003. I promoted Fuchs to counselor and then to Elementary Principal. Over the years, They impressed me with their concern for students/athletes, hard work ethic and the best interest of the district. They would never, ever do anything illegal, immoral or unethical. These are some Of the many Burton ISD veteran staff that have helped build Burton ISD from a district with declining enrollment, poor facilities and educational opportunities being limited for segments of the student body, to one of the Top 100 schools in Texas. It was one of two districts with less than 500 students to be included in the rankings. The rankings were based on academics, facilities, success of students attending college, discipline, attendance, finance and athletic participation.
These state scores being the best in the county and among the best in the area this week were just another indicator of the support these administrators share with their faculties and staff. The kids are successful, the kids are safe and secure and it shows.
All is not well, the Board and Superintendent are at odds with the administrative team. The constant is the administrative team. They have worked together for several years. Progress has been steady. They have sustained success. The administrators are continuing to follow successful practices and being fair and consistent. The only thing that has changed is the Board and Superintendent converted from a supportive role to an adversarial one. If it not based on professionalism, it may be personal.
How can parents be proud of our children attending schools that get a C grade on education? That’s just barely getting by in life. The state of Texas is in the bottom 10 states when it comes to education. Is this the best the government has to offer our children?
Don’t be so fast to blame the scoring system or a lack of funds or state mandates that are too tough. It’s all about the school leadership. Waller ISD just down the road received an A with a similar size, tax base and student population. Tiny Burton got a B with fewer resources than Brenham as did Bellville. Go to the Texas Education Agency website and search area rankings. Plenty of good scores all around the area. Oh and before you buy into the myth that the Brenham scores will go up if only the “state” gave them even more money, ask them why and how some schools nearby scored better —they scored higher scores but with less funding than Brenham already receives! When we lose, it’s tempting to look around and blame others instead of looking in the mirror.
Congrats to Burton ISD faculty, staff, students, parents and campus administrators. The students were actively engaged in their education. The teachers used quality curriculum and lesson planning to provide quality learning experiences, applications and labs. The campus administrators provided fair and consistent discipline management to support safe and secure learning environments. In addition the campus administrators provided the teachers with adequate and serviceable technology, curriculum and other consumables to facilitate learning. Parents were informed of the many programs and opportunities for their students. Parents Were able to monitor their students academic pursuits and most contacted teachers for information to assist their kids. The faculty was available for assistance after school. The campus administrators provided tutorials and extra classes in subject areas to provide struggling students additional time in the areas identified in needs assessments gleaned from report cards and results from mid year state testing questions.
Note that it was the diligent efforts of these of these groups that produced the excellent results. Burton ISD has developed a culture of success due to the past successes of our students and staff. The ability to retain key staff and administrators is part of the reason for the positive momentum of Burton ISD. Hopefully the Board will take this into consideration and re-visit the contracts of Fuchs, Steenken and Hodde. In addition, hopefully the Board will have the resolve to provide a meaningful raise for the Burton ISD staffers. The cost of TRS health insurance will increase at least $1500 a year, due to state legislators continuing to look after their own self interests (providing themselves with health insurance with no deductible, paid in full by the state for LIFE). So, in order to just stay even, Burton ISD would need a raise of $1500.
I agree with everything but your final words about TEacher Retirement System. You are not mentioning that TRS Pension is funded by four sources: the school district itself, the active employees who have not yet retired, the retirees themselves as well as the state government (state taxpayer funds). So with rising healthcare costs, you are asking the state legislature to add more of the state share, which is fine but explain that this means higher taxes from everyone else . The state share for TRS is simply statewide tax dollars you’re asking for. By the way the state legislature themselves do not have a special program for life, it’s simply part of the judicial pension every local judge has as well!
Just one comment about Burton ISD, for years now: “All that glitters is not gold.”
How about the drop outs that stopped attending and got GED’s because they weren’t able to get a quality education a BISD. I would like to see an open record on how many dropped out of the senior class last year and didn’t graduate. I know of 6 kids off the top of my head. Really sad.
How were some kids not able to get a quality education at Brenham while many, many others were accepted into great universities and are successful? Did the GED dropouts get a better education at home that the students who stayed in school and went on to success in higher education?
79.2 pretty close to a B I’d say, Our kids went to BISD and we have a doctor, a lawyer, a RN and a GSA director, BISD is a good school district!
It may be close to a B but it is a C and the district was warned that the path they were on would take them there. It is wonderful your kids did well and there are great performing students in the district today, however I would argue they are performing well in spite of district efforts and not as a result of district efforts. Seriously go have a private conversation with elementary level CLASSROOM teachers, not one of the army of specialists and let them tell just how bad it really is.
I would differ with your comment! BISD is an amazing district that is providing a quality education to its students. It seems like you have an ax to grind. If you aren’t happy, you should move! Our schools deal with enough negativity from our current Lieutenant Governor. School districts deserve support, not your bad mouth. If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything. Especially if you can’t be courageous enough to say it in person and have to hide behind a computer.
I feel the need to respond to both of your comments. I “hide” behind the computer because that is my right and because I fear retaliation. I have seen it happen to others and it is bad. I still have a family to support and bills to pay. You are also right that I need some Jesus, as much as I can get, and I talk with him often.
You are right that I am not happy with my teaching and that I have an ax to grind. I have lived in this community for many years with my family. We are established here, my husband is who is the primary bread winner in our family (teachers are poorly paid here) cannot leave his job, my kids are at Blinn, and they work in this community so leaving the career I choose and trained for is not an option for me.
Why am I not happy with my teaching and why do I have an ax to grind? The answer is simple, I have seen what was once a wonderfully led school district with talented management and wonderful support for the teachers decline at an alarming rate. I have seen selfless administrators who were properly paid replaced with selfish administrators who are inappropriately paid at very high rates and who provide no real support to us take over. I cannot begin to tell you the last time anyone from central office bothered to inquire about how things are going in our classrooms in a meaningful way. I have watched schools who were exemplary on state tests became “C” schools because our administration does not listen to the voice of experienced teachers and they force curriculum on us that does not work. We are willing to change to new things but we are professional educators and many times we are having to listen to inexperienced voices with much less classroom time than we have try to tell us how to teach. They have no credibility, especially when we try it their way and it fails and we are told to keep using the failing method. You mistakenly think the state tells us what to teach and your are wrong, they give us objectives, but the material and the method is still chosen at the local level. Waller does not use the same material we do and look at how much better their scores are. I have watched elementary teachers being threatened with discipline because they gave a spelling test, really, when did spelling cease to matter. How much longer are teachers and kids going to be forced to pay the price because our administration refuses to do what it takes to be the best.
There is no support for discipline, last year I am aware of students physically assaulting two different teachers and nothing was done about it. One of the teachers who was a gifted experienced educator chose to leave versus being forced to endure another year of no support from her elementary level principal. She was one of the rare ones who somehow could still help her class achieve decent scores on state tests despite having a target on her back for speaking up about the abuse she was forced to take.
I am not putting my campus down, when I post on here, I am not! I am trying to bring real issues to the attention of the public and the administration in a way that ensures I am not targeted are forced to face retaliation for speaking truth to power. Until something is done to bring light to the issues teachers are facing nothing will change.
Surprised at C hit the nail on the head.
Administrations do things without regard to those most affected. They get away with it because they are deaf, dumb and blind to teacher and parent concerns. Parents are the most left in the dark with all the jargon. Parents and teachers are forced to take it for fear of retribution. And if anyone says anything against the status quo, the closed minded say “love it or leave it”. The public needs to take the time to learn more about what this teacher is saying. To ignore it would play into the hands of the politicians and corporatists who want public ed to fail so that they can push vouchers for the For Profit Schools. That would be a disaster.
Congratulations to Burton ISD. Their superintendent can take credit, as well as the fine staff. They must be very happy with the states grading system. May they continue to excel.
I find it awfully ironic for educators, our children’s superiors, who give out A-F grades every day to be so shocked when they are given an A-F grade once every year by their superiors. IRONIC no?!
If Brenham has a winning football season, then in my house all will be forgiven about this Statewide C ranking for academics. A good ranking for Brenham high school football in Dave Campbell Magazine means more to many of us than these boring test scores. I’m ready for some football!!!! Go Cubs!
Wow…there is a major problem with this statement. For one, you fail a class, you don’t play (unless you get the superstar treatment). Secondly, unless you get a football scholarship, which is rare, you better hope you have good grades to get into college. Finally, Dave Campbell is a hack!
The district’s focus, and that of the parents, is and should the best education the students can get, not the best football team. A winning team is great, but kids go to school to learn. Besides, what good is that great football player if he can’t get into college to play ball because there wasn’t enough focus on his education? Unless I’m misreading your sarcasm, you’re rational is very misguided.
Oh wow. We may have found the reason for the less than stellar rating. I will point out, school performance is more a reflection of the community than it is the school employees. Education starts at home.
You are spot on! Thank you!!!
It’s probably sarcasm.
Unfortunately, it is the state of affairs in Burton. Most of the town would rather turn a blind eye to the dirty secrets associated with the school, so that it can get it’s coveted state championship.
Sure, some kids get good grades, maybe learn something, even become doctors and lawyers
However, the vast majority of the students are receiving a less than vigorous education.
The district is failing them for the sake of athletic prowess, because it LOOKS good.
And that’s just what this B grade is. It looks good, while athletics “looks” excellent.
It’s a distraction, while some pretty nasty stuff happens away from cameras, under cover of celebrations of “goodness”.
Seriously “Look the other Way” – why the attacks on football?
If you have proof of supposed grade tampering to keep ineligible players on the team or other “hiding,” why aren’t you reporting it to UIL?
It’s happened to Katy: disqualified in 1998 (about to go to championship game), 2015 (continued to play, got a year’s UIL probation, and 2016 (baseball, had to also forfeit 20 games).
UIL takes the allegations seriously. Never seen them not for the reasons you want: academics more important.
I really question y’all’s motives when there’s that focus on that one sport, especially as volleyball too has qualified for state twice in 8 years and Baseball got into regionals this year.
(Oh and no “insider info” – that’s doing research.)
As far as ratings – they excelled in STAAR in all but one subject. Double digit increases in many, and that factors highly.
Not to mention they’re ADDING new classes that lead to jobs, and are trying to find ways to get kids to the Blinn AW Hodde center for dual credit courses.
Food for thought.
Look the other way – a serious question which I’d like to see answered for once:
If these allegations are true: that teachers are intentionally passing clearly failing students to play sports – why aren’t you addressing them to the UIL?
UIL takes grade tampering seriously: Katy High School alone was SUSPENDED from competitive sports for two years after a 1998 violation (and that was done with the fact THEY reported it – they got the book dropped on them, no leniency), nearly got suspended again in 2015, and their baseball team had to forfeit 20+ games and bow out of playoffs…
… ALL from an ineligible player playing.
But I don’t read any action – just complaints. All I keep hearing is “they’re ignoring students for a state title” (and it’s football you focus on, irregardless that volleyball has been to state twice in 8 years, football 3, which makes me question motives), “They’re turning a blind eye” (when those of us in attendance at meetings are seeing otherwise), and rather insulting claims that students are somehow doing horribly in school and don’t succeed in college: never mind that many I know in college are dean’s list or higher students.
It really is time to ask yourself: Are you going to put your money where your mouth is and file a complaint to UIL or are you going to have people keep questioning your side of the story more and more?
Brenham is incredibly lucky to have received a C considering how bad the curriculum at the elementary level has become and how poorly the discipline is enforced. Folks, you cannot imagine the stress that is already facing teachers and school has not even started yet. The 10-12 hour days are already a reality, and we watch our well paid principal parade out the door promptly on time every afternoon as we stay a work late into the night getting ready. Instead of remodeling the building, we need to remodel the leadership.
Several school board members have said the problem is that they need more funding. There seems to be a push from local officials for the state government to add more money on top of what is financially generated by property taxes. I don’t really agree but be prepared for this C rating to be blamed on insufficient funding if you ask leadership at BISD. Look at some schools in the area who get less per student than Brenham ISD but got a B or A rating for their test scores.
I have no doubt you are right, they always think more money is the answer, but if they get more money, it will not be spent in the classroom where it might make a difference, it will be spent enlarging the blotted administration. Teachers have been telling the administration for several years now that discipline is out of control. I spoke with a teacher last night and she laughed because her elementary school ;is so proud that their office referrals are down, but they have directly told the teachers not to send the students to the office, they need to “handle discipline in the classroom”. No wander their referrals are down! Give me a break!
Teachers have also been begging for a better curriculum because the one they are using does not work. The teachers predicted bad state test scores and guess what, Brenham got a big fat C! Maybe those teachers knew what they were talking about. A co-worker spoke up last year and the principal retaliated and at unbelievable level. That teacher who had an exemplary career and was one who other teachers sought advice from is no longer in the district this year! Truth has no place in the Orwellean world of Brenham Public education. They are not interested in educating students, it is all about personal career advancement often at the expense of student. But hey, at least they teachers all got a nice new t-shirt with the latest unity slogan on it, we will wear it with the “pride” it deserves.
Surprised at a C: Your comments lead me to believe you are not happy with teaching on your campus. This is your choice! You can choose to teach at another school. Go where you are happy instead of trying to put down your current campus! Also, seems like you have forgotten that the state tells teachers what to teach and YOU are responsible for teaching it. Maybe you need to reflect of yourself instead of trying to put down others. Hmmmmm!! You need some Jesus!
I suggest teaching at Waller, they are a few minutes down Hwy 290, received the same level of state funding and state mandates as Brenham and received an A rating…. teaching a similar mix of students from similar tax base as Brenham. They have a Waller school board that focuses on results, not politics and blaming the ratings system.
Great job Burton ISD!!!! Panther pride is delivering results once again!
Congratulations Dr. Kennedy, this is encouraging news to see that Burton ISD is doing so well when scored against over 1,000 other school districts in Texas!