THOUGHT:  “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

DATES:            August 31        THS VB vs. Timpson – H

                        September 3    THS VB @ White Oak Tournament

                                                THS FB vs. Gilmer – T

                        September 4    THS VB @ White Oak Tournament

Enrollment

·         The table below represents the enrollment for day 1 and day 2 from the past several years. The enrollment today, Friday, is 1,551 with 514 at TPS, 358 at TES, 232 at TMS and 447 at THS.

·         The average enrollment for 2009-10 was 1,487 students and the 2010-11 budget was developed based on an estimated average enrollment of 1,502 students. There has been a 1% decline between the first week attendance and yearly average over the past three years. Applying that decline the average enrollment for 2010-11 would be 1,537. This is an increase of 35 students over the budget estimate that would result in an increase of approximately $185,000 in revenue.

Transfer Students

·        There are 272 transfer students or 17.5% of enrollment.

Honors Class Admission 

·        For the 2010-11 school TISD has increased the requirements for student admittance into honors or advanced classes. The previous requirement was meeting minimum expectation on TAKS. For 2010-11 a cut score for admitting the top 20-25% of the class was developed based on a combination of TAKS scores and class averages. This combination gives credit to a student for test taking ability and working hard to achieve high classroom grades.

·         The decision to change to a higher cut score was based on the following:

1. The TISD vision, mission and goal 1 of high expectations for all students have been firmly embedded in the culture.
2. By 6^th grade TISD has provided intervention, extended day, summer school, etc. for those students needing additional time and support to move them up with little distinction for the higher performing students.
3. The top “cut score” will be in a homogenous group, but the remaining students will be group heterogeneously.
4. All students will be expected to master minimum expectations on TAKS and to show growth from their previous year on vertical scale scores. The organization will be held accountable for these measures on all children.
5. All students will be provided instruction in 21^st century skills.
6. Dual enrollment for 11^th & 12^th will have a lesser cut score as defined by the college entrance requirements.

·         This has created several situations where a student qualified in 2009-10 and didn’t in 2010-11.

1-1 Distribution

·        Tatum High School will begin distributing HP netbooks to juniors and seniors on Tuesday, August 31. By the end of the week all students that have met the registration requirements will have received a netbook that includes 24/7 Verizon internet access. The staff at THS has is prepared to infuse technology into the teaching and learning process for student acquisition of both core content knowledge and skills. The skills emphasis is based on the communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, media and information literacy. 

Champion Center

·        On Tuesday the stadium turf had a surface temperature of 152 degrees and the air temperature on the stadium turf was 105 degrees. Inside the Champion Center the turf temperature was 87 degrees and the air temperature was 92 degrees.

Stadium Turf

·        The turf at Eagle Stadium has developed some indentions that looked like dimples on a golf ball. The initial determination was water leaking under the plastic lining that caused the dirt to create these holes. The District hired a machine that is designed to “mash” out the dirt and smooth down the dimples, a process that didn’t fix the indentions.

·        The turf was pulled back to the plastic liner earlier this week and the ground is as hard, eliminating water as the culprit. Right now it’s any body’s guess to what has caused the ground to dimple. To eliminate the dimples would cost an estimated $100,000 and it has been decided that the best course of action is to continue to watch the field for any additional changes in the contour. If none occur that jeopardize the ability to play on the field the district will wait until the entire field needs to be replaced after an estimated six more seasons.

Commissioner’s TASA Cabinet of Superintendents Meeting

·        Superintendent Dee Hartt will travel to Austin on Wednesday and Thursday to participate in activities pertaining to the Commissioner’s TASA Cabinet. The Cabinet is elected by fellow superintendents and is designed to allow superintendents the opportunity to interact with the Texas Commissioner of Education, Robert Scott. The Cabinet meets quarterly.

Dee W. Hartt, Ed. D.

Superintendent

Tatum ISD

(903)947-0161