Officials cautiously optimistic after TEA meeting

Image
Body

Snyder ISD officials sounded a note of cautious optimism after meeting with the state education commissioner concerning state sanctions against the school district.
SISD Superintendent Dr. Eddie Bland, along with School Board President Ralph Ramon and Board Vice President Brad Hinton, met with Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath in Austin Thursday to discuss the possible sanctions and to press their plans for closing Snyder Junior High School and reopening it with the majority of grade levels realigned and students in grades two-eight assigned to one of two instructional pathways.
In a letter dated Wednesday, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath informed Bland and Ramon that he was ordering the appointment of a board of managers and a conservator to oversee operations at the school district.
The reasons for his actions, Morath stated, was five consecutive years of unacceptable academic performance at Snyder Junior High School.
SISD officials, however, said the letter was preliminary in nature and that Morath will not make a final decision until December.
The district will also present petitions signed by more than 300 junior high school parents supporting closing the junior high school instead of replacing the school board. One the petitions are validated, Morath must follow their recommendations, the state education code states.
Ramon said the commissioner was receptive, but cautious after hearing the school district’s plan Thursday.
“The commissioner listened to us and was open to our plans,” Ramon said. “He did have some questions about how we intend to make the plan work in time (when the new school year begins in August). There were some things he was happy to see that we were doing, but there were some things he was concerned about, such as how we would assign students to which pathway.”
Ramon said Morath wants to make sure the realignment plan is both feasible and can be implemented in time for the new school year.
“He wants us to make sure we did our homework,” Ramon said. “A plan is only as good as the people who implement it and I think we have some very talented people working to make sure it happens as smoothly as possible.”
Ramon said the district still has a lot of work to do in order to convince Morath to approve the realignment plan. Early next week, local officials will hand-carry the parent petitions to TEA and meet with the commissioner again.
“We do want to reach out to (TEA),” Ramon said. “Here is our plan. How can TEA help us to accomplish it? We appreciate whatever support we can get from them.”