Cameron ISD moving in right direction with accountability

State accountability ratings were released on Aug. 15 and Cameron Independent School District is headed in the right direction.

The district as a whole received a score of 77 or a C rating. That is a step up from last January’s preliminary rating of F.

“We are excited about the progress that the district has made,” CISD Superintendent Allan Sapp said. “But we are not done yet. We will continue to work.”

Cameron ISD did received three distinctions this year that show progress is being made. Cameron Elementary received a distinction for comparative academic growth and Cameron Junior High received distinctions for comparative academic growth and postsecondary readiness on their campus.

The report does not give an overall grade to a school district or specific campus. Instead, it gives four grades on the areas of student achievement, student progress, closing performance gaps and post-secondary readiness. 

Domain I or student achievement is based on STAAR/EOC scores on tested students that scored satisfactory, postsecondary ready or advanced standard. Cameron ISD received a 74 or C in this domain.

Domain II or student progress is measured by students meeting or exceeding the progress measure set forth by the state. Cameron ISD received an 82 or B in this category.

Domain III is closing performance gaps. Cameron ISD received a 66 or D in this area.

Sapp said the district is very proud of how much progress has been made and it shows in the score the district received in school progress.

He said the district did see growth in performance gaps in Domain III but they didn’t quite get to meets standard.

He gave credit to the staff at Cameron ISD for all of their hard work over the past year.

“The leadership has really stepped up from Assistant Superintendent Susan Pommerening all the way down,” he said. “We are not yet done and will continue to work to improve.”

“We understand that state testing is not the end-all-be-all,” he said. “There are a lot of great things going on at every campus that aren’t measured by tests. But, when the state puts a grade on that you pay attention to it.”

Milam County school’s results were: Rockdale ISD – C; Milano ISD – B; Thorndale ISD – B; Buckholts ISD – Met Standard; and Gause ISD – Met Standard.

You can find more detailed  results at TXschools.org.

School safety

CISD is still working to address school safety issues as the school year begins.

Sapp told board members at a meeting on Aug. 13 that the district has hired someone for the new family liaison position – Tia Garrett. She will be working to help students and families cope with situations and help with mental health issues in the district.

The district is also still in talks with the City of Cameron and the Cameron Police Department to partner to place a school resource officer on the district’s campuses.

The board also heard a report from Pommerening about the CISD Literacy Plan. She said a board of teachers has been working on the plan and it will be implemented this year.