At the regular Devine ISD Board of Trustees’ meeting on August 20th, 2018, Superintendent Scott Sostarich reported on information from Darren VanFossen, (Director of Operations/Custodial Services) about the status of installation of exterior security fencing at the school campuses: “The project is progressing and is mostly complete at the Elementary and Intermediate school. Then they will start on the fencing projects at the Middle and High Schools.” He previously stated at the August Board meeting, “We are upgrading fencing and controlled access doors to help better secure our campuses and monitor our buildings. We hope to be completed by September 18th.” It was also announced that the repairs on Warhorse Drive have been completed and even came in under budget!
Devine ISD Assistant Superintendent, Daryl Wendel, gave an overview of the district’s Emergency Operation Plans (EOP) from the Texas School Safety Center. “We are re-writing our plan because of new safety measures and are working on Standard Response Protocol wording which is being done in many districts.” He stated the importance of making the wording standard throughout the state and even the nation so that in case of an emergency, a student or staff member would know the emergency procedures, no matter if they change districts. The Protocol wording is in five stages: 1. Lock In, 2. Lock Down, 3. Evacuate, 4. Shelter, 5. Hold. The district will practice these as drills and signage with this terminology and procedures for each step will be posted on the walls throughout the campuses and district.
STAAR results: Once the Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) are completed and released by TEA later this fall, the district will send reports home with the students and it will be posted in the Devine News. This report will include STAAR testing results and a number of other scores in other areas. The district will provide a link from their website that will link to the TEA (Texas Education Agency) website where the scores can be accessed by the public. (The basic STAAR – Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness – testing scores for Devine ISD can be accessed online at the Texas Education Agency 2018 Accountability Ratings Overall Summary. The score listed on the site for Devine ISD was a grade of “B” on a scale of “A-F”. You can also find a list of area schools and their scores. The website is at https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/account/2018/srch.html – NS)
In Citizen Communication, Nancy Saathoff, President of the Devine Ex-Students/Teachers Association (DExSTA), presented information on Homecoming activities for September 28-29– including the DExSTA annual social and meeting and 50th Reunion of the Class of 1968. She also informed them of the DExSTA Membership Drive and encouraged former students and teachers to join.
Board President, Nancy Pepper, reminded the Board of the upcoming annual Staff Luncheon being held at the First Baptist Church of Devine this week and invited them to come and that this is a good time to get to visit with staff members. Mr. Sostarich included that other churches in the community, including the Methodist Church, will be providing cookies and other food to the employees during this week also. He also thanked the local VFW (Post 3966) for providing lunch that day for administrators, plus principals, Social Studies, and English teachers from DHS and DMS – and for information on this year’s upcoming VFW Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests. He expressed his support for these programs which offer opportunities for scholarships for local students.
The Board approved a FEA (local) policy revision on compulsory attendance which requires the district to excuse a student who is 17 years of age or older for up to four days during the student’s enrollment in high school in order for the student to pursue enlistment in the armed services.
All Board members were in attendance: President Nancy Pepper, Wes Herring, Henry Moreno, Robert Morales, Phillip Fitch, Carl Brown and Keri James. The next regular DISD School Board meeting is scheduled (on the DISD District Activity Calendar) at 5:30-7:30pm on Monday, September 17, 2018 at the DISD Administration Building at 605 W. Hondo Ave., Devine, Tx.
