By Anton Riecher
The Devine ISD school board met this Monday, January 16. Devine Intermediate Principal Michael Gomez reported that preliminary results from reading and math testing at the Intermediate campus, showing improvement.
“I’m excited to share what a great school year we’ve had so far,” Gomez told the Devine ISD school board Monday.
To date, out of 435 students 246 have been assessed as to reading skills and 255 assessed as to math skills. In the reading category, 57 students were assessed as functioning at mid or above grade level, up from 29 students in previous diagnostic testing.
Ninety students were assessed to be operating at one grade level below what was expected, up from 77 students previously. Thirty-four students were rated at two grade levels below where they should be, down from 54 students previously.
Thirteen students were judged to be three or more grade levels below expectations, down from 24 in previous testing.
In math, 34 students were ranked at mid or above grade level, up from 11 in previous testing. Sixty-five students were assessed to be operating at one grade level below what was expected, up from 42 students previously.
One hundred and twenty-three students were assessed to be operating at one grade level below what was expected, down from 147 previously. Nineteen students were rated at two grade levels below where they should be, down from 40 previously.
Fourteen students were judged to be three or more grade levels below expectations, down from 16 in previous testing.
“We haven’t finished our testing,” Gomez said. “We still have another two weeks.”
For the eighth year in a row Devine Intermediate were named “Elementary Literacy Champs” at the University Interscholastic League’s District 30-AAAA competition, Gomez said.
“We hosted UIL last year,” he said. “It was a huge event.”
To recognize outstanding school staff members Devine Intermediate now awards its weekly Bronco Buckle award, Gomez said. The winner gets to pick their successor the following week.
“It is a symbol of their leadership and pride for our school and celebrates their work,” Gomez said.
Devine ISD Superintendent Todd Grandjean reported that the district has received its Texas Academic Performance Ratings for the 2021-22 school year. The rating is determined by the Texas Education Agency based on the STARR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) tests.
STARR is a standardized test that helps teachers and students identify strengths and weaknesses in an academic year. STARR tests are compulsory for students in grade three through 12.
An extensive report on the results is planned for the board’s February meeting, Grandjean said.
Following a closed executive session the board, on a motion by Chris Davis seconded by Henry Moreno, voted to approve a new contract for Grandjean for a term beginning July 1 through June 2026. The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.
Trustee Renee Frieda was absent from the meeting.
Also, the board voted to hire Renee Dougherty as an ELAR (English language arts and reading) teacher at Devine Middle School, Kate Finch as a third grade teacher and Isabel Arevalo as a kindergarten teacher.
In other action, the board voted to approve payment of $82,375 to AB Construction for holiday break repair work at Devine Middle School. In late August staff discovered a leak in science classroom 101 and 103 coming from the “casework,” i.e., cabinets, drawers or bookcases, a report to the school board states.
After shutting down the supply valves it was determined there was a leak on the low pressure drain side, a school report states. A temporary reroute of HVAC condensate lines was performed and the custodial staff has to empty the condensate water from a trash can twice daily.
Due to a $9,500 change order, the final cost for the project rose to $82,375 taken from the fund balance. Because the cost exceeded $25,000 official board action is required. On a motion by Chris Davis, seconded by Keri James, the payment was approved.
