BISD Receives 15 Gold Performance Acknowledgements

Bandera ISD received 15 Gold Performance Acknowledgements from the Texas Education Agency this past week for the 2007-2008 year. Gold Performance Acknowledgements recognizes districts and campuses for high academic performance on various indicators. These indicators include: commended performance on college admission tests, Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate examinations, and the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

At the District level, Bandera ISD received three Gold Performance Acknowledgements for:

• Advanced Course/Dual Enrollment Completion

• Commended Performance in Reading

• Commended Performance in Social Studies

Bandera High School received two Gold Performance Acknowledgements for:

• Advanced Course/Dual Enrollment Completion

• Commended Performance in Social Studies

Bandera Middle School received four Gold Performance Acknowledgements for:

• Commended Performance in Reading/English Language Arts

• Commended Performance in Mathematics

• Commended Performance in Writing

• Commended Performance in Social Studies

Alkek Elementary School received one Gold Performance Acknowledgements for:

• Commended Performance in Reading/English Language Arts

Hill Country Elementary School received five Gold Performance Acknowledgements for:

• Commended Performance in Reading/English Language Arts

• Commended Performance in Mathematics

• Commended Performance in Writing

• Commended Performance in Science

• Comparable Improvement in Math

Three calendar drafts for the 2009-2010 academic year were presented to the Board of Trustees as an information item during the October 14, 2008 Regular Meeting. Proposed calendars are now posted on-line  for stakeholder comment. Proposed calendars will be presented to Campus CIC by principals in November. The administration will submit a recommendation for the 2009-2010 calendar to the board in December. Go to the Bandera ISD Web Site at www.banderaisd.net and click on the link that says "2009-2010 Draft Calendars".

Bandera Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “Superior Achievement” under the Texas Schools FIRST financial accountability rating system. The Superior Achievement rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Bandera ISD’s financial management and reporting system.

This is the sixth year of Schools FIRST (Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999. The primary goal of Schools FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

“We are very pleased with Bandera ISD’s Schools FIRST rating,” stated Superintendent Dr. Kevin Dyes. “It shows that our district is making the most of our taxpayers’ dollars. Our schools are accountable not only for student learning, but also for achieving these results cost-effectively and efficiently”.

The School FIRST accountability rating system assigns one of four financial account-ability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “Superior Achievement,” followed by “Above-Standard Achievement,” “Standard Achievement” and “Substandard Achievement.”