The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 118, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 17, 2008 Page: 17 of 36
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THE CANADIAN RECORD
SCHOOL PAGE
THURSDAY 1 "7 APRIL ZOOS
School trustees approve new pre-Kindergarten
classes to begin with 2008-09 school schedule
Canadian ISD Trustees on Tuesday unar •
mously approved a motion to realign the el-
ementary and middle schools and to add pre-
Kindergarten classes at Canadian Elementa-
ry School. Third grade classes will relocate to
Baker Elementary School to free up classroom
space for the new program, and sixth grade
classes will shift to the Middle School.
Superintendent Frank Belcher said he has
not heard any negatives to the realignment
and addition of pre-Kindergarten. Belcher
commended the principals and staff involved in
planning the realignment over the last month.
"They've done a really terrific job of try-
ng to work through any obstacles there might
be as far as space or staffing," Belcher said.
"There has been a lot that has taken place
from March to now."
The Board spoke with CES Principal Kirk
Saul about pre-K gu idelines .Saul stated there
would be four half-day classes. "We will have
one session 11 the morning and three after-
noon session," he said., adding that each par-
ent can specify a preference and reason ex-
plaining the request during pre-registration.
"Some people may have a legitimate rea-
son why they need it: at a certain time," Saul
said. "For others it just may be convenient to
have it in the morning. We are trying to find
some reasoning on who wTe put n the morning
session."
Saul also said that extra buses would not
run for the pre-K. "If they qualify for school
transportation and are in the morning session,
they can ride the bus to school." he said, "but
the parents will be responsible for picking the
kids up at the end of the morning session."
For afternoon sessions, students who
qualify for school transportation can ride the
bus home from school.
The morning session will begin at 8 a.m.
and end at 11:20. The students in the morn-
ng session will have lunch just before being
released and the afternoon session will eat
lunch upon arrival. The afternoon session
would begin at noon and release at 3:20 p.m.
Although pre-K is optional, Saul said they
would try to hold students to the school's at-
tendance standards. "In our legal policies, i t
says pre-K attendance shall be required," he
said. "It doesn't say they are held to the 90%
rule, because pre-K is optional. We are going
to be in contact with parents whose kids aren't
meeting those 90% attendance rules and talk
to them about getting their kids there."
"We are going to stress attendance,"
Belcher said. "If you choose to do it, then you
need to be there."
A pre-K/Kindergarten round-up will
be Friday, May 2 at Canadian Elementary
School. Saul is expecting 15-18 kids per class.
"That is n line currently with our other el-
ementary grades," he said. "I really feel like
we are going to get the overwhelming per-
centage of the kids that will qualify. That's
why when we have a pre-K/Kindergarten
round-up, so....we can prepare for it."
Allen Hadaway's motion to approve the
implementation of pre-K classes and the
necessary realignment of other classes was
seconded by Larry Gatlin and approved 7-0
by the Board.
Principals from three campuses met with
the board to discuss TAKS test results for
the 3rd, 5th and 8th grades.
CES principal Kirk Saul stated the 3rd-
graders tested at 98% passing with only one stu-
dent fai ng. "We were close with that student,"
Saul said. "We are pretty optimistic that on the
second administration we can be at 100%."
The 3rd grade was 51% commended,
meaning that over half of the students missed
fewer than 3 questions.
Report ing the 5th-grade TAKS test results,
BES Principal Jim Knight said, "We were 91
%...up from 73% last year. We had nine stu-
dents fail last year. Only one failed this year."
"I am real excited about the scores we
got," said CMS principal Sam Hancock "We
had four students that weren't successful and
one was special ed. Two were [non-English
speaking] move-ins that hadn't been here
three years."
The 8th-graders were over 50% com-
mended, he said, adding that one special edu-
cation student was commended n reading.
"I am real proud of [our teachers]," he said.
"They are doing a great job."
The Board approved a laptop pilot pro-
gram for next year's 7th- and 8th-grade stu-
dents. CISD staffer Pam Spencer researched
the options, visiting with several area schools
that have implemented some type of laptop
program. CISD will purchase 130 laptops for
the 7th- and 8th-graders, and they will be is-
sued like library books.
The Board d iscussed imposing some pa-
rental responsibility conditions for the com-
puters. "I say we have the student and parent
sign an agreement [to take care of the lap-
top]," Abraham said. "I think it means a little
more when you have someone's signature."
Jill Baker's motion to approve the $262,071
program was seconded by Larry Gatlin. The
program will begin with the 2008-09 school
year. Allen Hadaway cast the lone vote in oppo-
sition. "When we talked about :t, I was think-
ing a pilot program," he said. "One hundred
and thirty laptops is not a pilot program."
The Board tabled any decision on the field
house/concession stand for a second month.
Burt Moffit from Grimes and Associates and
Ben Simmons from Plains Builders presented
a list of items that could cut the cost of the $2.3
million estimate presented on April 3. Trust-
ees discussed moving the field house from the
north end and leaving the existing building
for concession and visitors' locker rooms.
Allen Hadaway's first motion to accept the
$1.99 million proposal died for lack of a sec-
ond. He followed with a motion to table the is-
sue for a month, which was seconded by Dale
Schafer and unanimously approved.
During open forum, Madeline Graves ap-
proached the Board about allowing CISD stu-
dents to use her studio's dance or gymnastics
classes as a physical education or fine arts
credit. "I realize me and my staff would be
responsible for the physical assessment test
and satisfy whatever State requirements.,"
Graves said. "I am CPR safety certified, I
have a college degree and have a minor in
education, so I think I am qualified."
The Board asked Graves to meet with
high school principal Rick Berry to discuss
her proposal.
Also in open forum, CHS science teacher
Wade Hood advocated an Advanced Place-
ment program at the high school "All I can
speak for is science, but t is going to prepare
kids for college chemistry," he said. "The kids
who took my Chem II have gone to [Texas
Tech and [Texas] A&M and have been suc-
cessful there. They have been telling me that
they are tutoring other people."
In other business, the Board:
•Discussed the possibility of purchasing,
renting or building housing for teachers.
•Approved the auditors' engagement let-
ter for 2008-09.
•Discussed credit/advanced placement and
online course offerings but tabled the issue.
In executive session, the Board:
•Accepted resignations: Elsa Vargas, Craig
Brock, Stephanie Brock and Holly McLanahan.
•Reassigned Karen Floyd from 3rd-grade
to Testing Coordinator, Linda Rader from 3rd-
grade to pre-K, Julie Knight from 3rd-grade
to 2nd-grade, Kristi Bass from 8th-grade to
Math and Technology at BES and Monica Bry-
ant from 2nd-grade to P.E. at CES.
•Hired Amanday Bentley, classroom
teach at BES; Angel Black, classroom teach-
er at BES; Johnny Hudson, head boys basket-
ball coach at CHS; Nita Hudson, classroom
teacher at BES and Kayla Dockery, class-
room teacher at CMS.
•Approved raises for CISD hourly aux-
liary staff, setting them at a percentage of
those for salaried employees.
•Moved Matt Dillon and Schafer Baxter
from hourly to salaried employees.
The Board will meet again on May 13 6:30
p.m. at the Administration Building.
Those present for this week's meeting
were Board members Salem Abraham, Lar-
ry Gatilin, Mitch Ashley, Allen Hadaway, Jill
Baker, Dale Schafer, John C. Isaacs, Super-
ntendent Frank Belcher, Business Manager
Cindy Moore, CISD Principals Rick Berry,
Kirk Saul, Jim Knight, Sam Hancock, CISD
Athletic Director Kyle Lynch, Burt Mof-
fit of Grimes and Associates, Ben Simmons
of Plains Builders, Madelyn Graves, Wade
Hood, Randy Walser, Ken King and Record
reporter Jason Turner.
9?
Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten "Roundup
for 2008-2009 School Year
Kindergarten "Roundup" for 2008-2009
Kindergarten Roundup, pre-registration, is scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. until
10:30 a.m. in a come-and-go format in Room B110 of the Kindergarten wing of Canadian Elementary
School. The pre-registration is for all children who will be entering Kindergarten next fall and who will be
five years of age on or before September 1, 2008. Parents are asked to accompany their children to fill out
forms and pick up information. The pre-registration will provide valuable information in planning the
Kindergarten program for the 2008-2009 school year,
Pre-Kindergarten "Roundup" for 2008-2009
A four-year-old Pre-Kindergarten, pre-registration, is scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2008, from 8:30 a.m.
to 10:30 a.m. in a come-and-go format in the Canadian Elementary Cafeteria. To be eligible for enrollment,
a child must be four years of age on or before September 1, 2008. All children meeting the age requirement
will be eligible for the CISD Pre-Kindergarten program, which will operate on a Vi day basis. Parents are
encouraged to "spread the word" about the program to ensure involvement of all eligible students in our
community. CISD entourages parents to pre-register their children, thus providing valuable information for
planning the Pre-Kindergarten program for the 2008-2009 school year.
Reunion de Educacion Primaria Temprana
Reunion de Kindergarten para 2008-2009
Inscripcion para el Kinder para el ano 2008-2009 esta programado para el viemes, 2 de Mayo, 2008 de las
8:30 a.m. hasta las 10:30 a.m. en un formato de entrada y salida en el Salon B110 en la area de Kinder de la
escuela Canadian Elementary. La inscripcion es para todos los ninos que comenzaran el Kinder en el Otono
y que tendran cinco anos de edad en o antes del 1° de Septiembre, 2008. Les pedimos a todos los padres que
acompanen a sus hijos para llenar las formas y recoger informacion. La inscripcion provera informacion
valiosa para planear el programa de Kinder para el aiio escolar de 2008-2009.
Reunion de Pre-Kindergarten para 2008-2009
La inscripcion de Pre-Kinder para ninos de cuatro anos csta programado para el viernes, el 2 de Mayo, 2008,
de las 8:30 a.m. hasta las 10:30 a.m. en formato de entrada y salida en la Cafeteria de Canadian Elementary.
Para ser elegiblc para cl pre-kinder, su hijo(a) necesita tener cuatro anos de edad cn o antes del 1° de
Septiembre 2008. Todos los ninos que cumplan con los requisitos de edad seran elegibles para el programa
de Pre-Kinder de CISD, que sera de Zi dia. CISD anima todos lo padres que vengan a registrar a sus hijos
para poder obtener infomcacion valiosa para planear para el Pre-Kinder para el ano escolar de 2008-2009.
Animamos a los padres a que compartan con otros sobre estos programas para asegurar el envolvimiento de
todos los estudinates elegibles en nuestra comunidad.
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Brown, Laurie Ezzell. The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 118, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 17, 2008, newspaper, April 17, 2008; Canadian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252700/m1/17/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hemphill County Library.