Alto ISD's special ed shows improvement
BY LELAND ACKER STAFF WRITER

It seemed like another fourth-and-goal situation during Monday's regular meeting of the Alto ISD Board of Trustees, as board members tried to decipher the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) policies for special education. Dr. Ray DeSpain, superintendent, told the board TEA assesses special educational programs using the Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System (PBMAS).

PBMAS consultant Travis Jones told the board that on a scale of zero to four, with zero being the best rating and four being the worst, Alto had a score of three. Mr. Jones said level zero meant there were no areas of risk and level four meant there were areas of risk that had been present for a substantial amount of time and TEA was going to come and "help" the school district.

Mr. Jones told the board he felt good about the areas he had examined. Among the issues with Alto's special education system were the number of students taking the State Development Alternative Assessment exam and the over-representation of African American students in the program.

Mr. Jones said the state mandates that the percentage of African Americans, or Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students enrolled in special education should match the same percentage of the total school population, plus one percent. So if 40 percent of a school population is African American, then 41 percent of the special education program can be made up of African American students. The same applies to LEP students, Mr. Jones said.

"We are looking for systematic changes," Mr. Jones said. "We want slope of change that is steady and in the right direction. This district is headed in the right direction. You should be pleased."

Mr. Jones pointed to the fact that the number of African American students in the special education program is declining.

Mr. Jones also told the board that TEA's information on the PBMAS can be out-of-date by as much as two years in some areas, so much of what the district is facing right now is the result of where the special education program was one to two years ago.

In other action, the board voted to adopt a resolution to hold joint elections with the City of Alto, as required by state law. During the resolution discussion, the board members stated their hours of continuing education, showing their compliance with state law.

Accumulated over the years of service were 111 hours for Randy Sturrock, 77 hours for Teddy Pearman, 75 1/3 hours for Britton Tilley, 67 1/2 hours for G.L. Skinner, 66 hours for Greg Duplichain, 19 hours for Randy Low and 17 hours for Freddy Johnson. Mr. Sturrock has 12 years of service to the district.

During the meeting, board member Greg Duplichain recognized Dr. DeSpain and his wife for their outstanding service to the school, saying they had gone above and beyond the call of duty. He pointed out that Dr. DeSpain requested the board not raise his salary during the previous board meeting when his contract was rolled over for next year.

"We respected his request, it was not hard to do," he said.

Mr. Duplichain presented Dr. DeSpain with a Rolex watch and a stay at a bed and breakfast for him and his wife. Mr. Duplichain then noted that no school money was used to purchase the gifts.

The All-District football players were recognized during the meeting. Athletic Director and Head Coach Keith Gardner presented the board with state championship medals.

In other business, the board rolled over the contracts of Principals Melody Witt (Alto Elementary), Kelly West (Alto Middle School) and Donald Patton (Alto High School).

Mrs. West is currently serving as interim principal at Alto Middle School, but she will be ratified as the principal full-time effective July 1, Dr. DeSpain said.

The Board also rolled over Coach Gardner's contract, as well as those of the school counselors.

The campus principals reported on a number of school activities, but all made mention of the TAKS testing, which began Tuesday.

The Alto ISD Board of Trustees will meet again at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 19 at the Alto ISD Administration Building.