Gilmer ISD News Ggilmer Independent School District Newsletter Newsletter Fspring 2018, 3Rd Edition
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Gilmer ISD News GGilmer Independent School District Newsletter Newsletter FSpring 2018, 3rd edition Gilmer ISD Earns State’s Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating Gilmer Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “A” for “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The “Superior Achievement” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Gilmer ISD’s financial management and reporting sys- tem. This is the 15th year of School FIRST (Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Sen- ate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999 and amendments under House Bill 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system. The Texas Education Agency assigned one of four financial accounta- bility ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “A” for “Superior Achievement,” followed by “B” for “Above-Standard Achievement,” “C” for “Standard Achievement” and “F” for Substand- Board members Diedra Camp and Todd Tefteller present Director of ard Achievement.” Gilmer ISD has achieved the highest rating for all Finance and Business Beverly Bobo with GISD’s Superior Achievement 15 years that the School FIRST Rating has been enacted. Award. GISD Transportation Department Receives Simulation Training Being a member of a learning community, continuing education is always an emphasis for teachers, administrators, instructional aides, cafeteria and custo- dial staff members. Bus drivers are no exception to this rule. Recently all GISD Transportation Bus Drivers received Bus Driver Simulation training as a part of their continuing education. Bus drivers were able to attend simulation training that tested their skills, knowledge of transportation laws and regulations, as well as their reaction to different situations and scenarios. According to GISD Transportation Director, Greg Hanlin, “This training will help us gauge our driv- ers to assess their strengths and find areas to improve to better assist them in being better and safer drivers.” This training was provided in conjunction with Region 6 Education Service Center located in Hunstville, Texas, and the Texas Department of Transportation. Region 6 ESC trainer Larry Thornton says, “I am very pleased with the staff and the organization here in Gilmer.” GISD had a 100% passing rate on all transportation drivers who participated in the simulation training. GISD News Helping Your Child Through the Mid-Year Slump This article is found in the Parent Engagement Newsletter from Re- and get reorganized for the next semester. New materials, gion 16. For more articles and information to assist in family and new organizational strategies or a new way of looking at parental engagement, see the GISD website and review the Parent something are always good to spark renewed energy and Resource information page and click on the Family Engagement motivation. Newsletters. • Third, avoid over scheduling your student, but encourage If Wednesday is hump day, then February is hump month. The some co-curricular activity. Many students actually per- holidays have passed and you're midway through the year and form better when they are involved in an activity of inter- school is decidedly not fun anymore for both kids and parents. est apart from their required school course work. By con- Students and educators can also go through a “slump” during tinuing to maintain family routines and by allowing your the first part of the second semester. Similar to the pre-holiday student to participate in an activity of enjoyment, many euphoria is the post-holiday letdown. The stage is set for a slump. Your child may respond to these third quarter adjust- ments in less than positive ways. If a student’s academic grades decline or there is greater incidence of conduct issues, the stu- dent may be experiencing the third quarter slump. Often dur- ing the third quarter, the content within the curriculum has reached a point where most information is new to the student and, therefore, the level of difficulty has increased. This may cause student frustration and discouragement that may lead to a number of unsatisfactory student behaviors ranging from apathy to acting out. So, how can a parent help his/her student avoid the third quarter slump? The following proactive measures are good any time of the year and will help you and your student develop effective stu- dent habits: • First of all, establish family routines including time for stud- ying, recreation, family meals and sleep. Children in partic- ular thrive on consistency and definitive boundaries. Chil- dren find comfort in knowing the expectations and rou- students actually improve their time management skills. tines of the family. By placing importance on doing certain These activities can be a stress reducer and help to elimi- things at a certain time, parents are teaching time manage- nate seasonal blues experienced by some students. ment skills and helping the student to discern the things that are the most important. Make sure your student is • Fourth, keep the lines of communication open between getting enough sleep. The winter can cause all of us to you and your student’s teacher. If you discover your stu- want to sleep more, but children really need the additional dent’s grades are sliding, conferences with the teacher can sleep for healthy growth. help you learn what you can do to help the situation. Edu- cators can provide helpful suggestions and incredible in- • Second, the new year is a good time to replenish school sight into the observed behaviors of your student. If a stu- supplies and refocus on organizational routines, strategies dent is struggling with new material, the parent and teach- er can work together to develop a supportive intervention plan. Finally, celebrate the learning successes. Students often just need to know that we, as parents, recognize their effort and achievements. Helping your student stay motivated, reinforcing organizational practices, and maintaining open dialogue will help your student avoid a slump during the third quarter or any and practices. Perhaps, you and your student can do a mid- other time. Be encouraged…it’s just a short while longer to year binder check or notebook clean-up. This helps the keep moving forward and onto the promise of a relaxing, well- student realize accomplishments from the first semester earned summer. GISD News GISD Board of Trustees calls for Bond Proposal During a special school board meeting held on Monday, February 5, at the GISD School Administration Building, the Gilmer ISD Board of Trustees called for a bond proposal totaling $35,250,000 to be presented to the taxpayers of GISD. This proposal comes after a recommendation from the Gilmer ISD Facilities Needs Assessment Committee. This committee, which was comprised largely of community members, business representatives, and parents met several times each month beginning in October 2017. After many months of thought, consideration, seeking community input, and deliberation, the facility needs com- mittee presented to the school board a pro- posal to build a new high school for the students of Gilmer. Throughout the planning process community members were able to voice their opinions on both sides of the bond proposal during multiple meetings held by the facility needs committee. The bond proposal calls for the construction, acquisition, and equipment of a new high school, including a career and technology education building and the demolition of the existing high school to provide high school parking facilities. According to state regu- lations in building new school facilities using public funds, bonds are typically sold on an as-needed basis to help pay the current cost of the construction. This proposal would call for approximately a 24.4 cent increase on our current rate of $1.22. This would mean about $242.00 per year for a home valued at $100,000 without a Homestead Exemption. Early voting on the proposal will be conducted at the school administration building located at 500 South Trinity Street, beginning on Monday, April 23, and concluding on Tuesday, May 1. Voting will be Monday through Friday during regular business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 23—April 29. On April 30 and May 1st, voting will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Regular voting will be held on Saturday, May 5, at Gilmer High School 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. UIL Announces New District Re-Alignments The Texas University of Interscholastic League released the new district re-alignments for UIL athletic sports. Every two years UIL will re-align districts to help promote sportsmanship in Texas high school athletics. For the next two years, Gilmer High School Football will find itself in District 6-AAAA, Region 2 along with Spring Hill, Pittsburg, Liberty-Eylau, and Pleasant Grove. Meanwhile, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, and Baseball teams will be battling against Bullard, Tyler Cumberland Academy, Henderson, Kilgore, Spring Hill, and Tyler Chapel Hill. GO BUCKEYES!!! GISD SHAC Says: “Lets Get Physical!” The Gilmer Student Health Advisory Council invites you to participate in a community wide effort to get outside and get active by walking, jogging, bicycling, or any other activity that gets you physically moving. April is Million Mile Month where school districts, businesses, and communities across the United States are encouraged to work together to reach a goal of a million miles. Willing partici- pants are encouraged to visit millionmilemonth.org and register on the Gilmer ISD and Community board.