JISD approves AEIS report, '07 start date
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

The Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees conducted a public hearing Monday, March 5 to present the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) and Adequate Yearly Progress (APY) for the 2005-2006 school year. Following the hearing, the Board met in special session and approved the 2007- 2008-school calendar.

Curriculum Director Gwen Guilford presented a brief summary of the two reports, explaining that the AEIS is a very detailed state report by grade level and sub groups, and the APY is a Federal report card based on the state's report. The APY measures improvement from one year to the next and is part of the No Child Left Behind Act.

JISD schools were judged Academically Acceptable for the 2005- 2006 year.

"The high school was not originally designated Acceptable," Guilford said. "Three areas were below the standard: African American students in math, E c o n o m i c a l l y Disadvantaged students in math, and African American students in science. Because of Hurricane Rita, we were able to get the high school exempt from grading and so our rating is Acceptable. I want to remind everyone that it was a one-time exemption."

Jasper High School showed a drop in percentage of students passing all academic areas measured on the TAKS for the 2005- 2006 school year in comparison to 2004-2005.

Of the 2,882 students enrolled, Jasper has 1,195 that are considered Economically Disadvantaged and 1,301 At Risk students.

Two schools were awarded the Gold Performance Recognition: Jasper Junior High in writing and math and Rowe Intermediate in reading. Gold performance is designated to schools whose scores have improved significantly.

"We have a lot of work to do, but I am excited to tell you that we have just gotten the 2007 scores for third and fifth grades in reading," Guilford said. "These are the tests taken in February. Eighty-three percent of fifth graders passed and 91 percent of third graders."

2007-2008 School Calendar

It will be a long summer. Jasper students will begin Monday, Aug. 27, the earliest start date as mandated by the last session of the Texas Legislature. A break is scheduled for Labor Day, Sept. 3.

Teachers, however, will begin a series of staff training and workdays Aug. 15. The first six weeks grading period ends Friday, Oct. 5 and Parent Conference Day is set for Monday, Oct. 15.

The Thanksgiving Holiday is set for Tuesday, Nov. 20 through Friday, Nov. 23. Students will be released early on the 20.

Christmas vacation- Winter Break begins Monday, Dec. 24 and extends through Dec. Friday, Jan. 4. School resumes Jan. 7.

Another significant change is that the first semester does not end until Jan. 18. For the past few years, semester's end has coincided with the Christmas break.

Second semester begins Jan. 22, immediately after the observance of Martin Luther King's birthday on Monday, Jan. 21.

Easter Break-Spring Break begins Monday, March 14 with early release and extends through Friday, March 21.

School ends Friday, May 30 and graduation is scheduled for that evening.