The importance of school attendance turned out to be an integral factor in data on student growth reviewed by Ector County ISD board members this week.
Superintendent Scott Muri discussed this, the location of a new high school, his appointment to the State Board of Educator Certification and other items during Wednesday’s media call.
“As we looked at the growth of our students in the first semester, we recognized that there’s a direct correlation between the amount of days a child is absent from school and the growth of that child,” Muri said. “The more that they’ve missed school in that first semester, the less they grew and it was very clear last night (March 22). Those students that grew the most during the first semester were kids that missed between zero and five days of school, and that next tier, six to 10 days grew the second most; so a clear correlation between the amount of time students are attending school and their academic performance.”
“We have always known that, but once again, the data that we looked at this week was a stark reminder of the critical importance of attendance in the education of our children,” he added. “The first semester was difficult for our kids because of COVID. Not only were we missing thousands of students, sometimes for weeks at a time, but we also missed quite a few of our teachers during those times due to COVID.”
Muri added that COVID has “significantly subsided” in ECISD and the district wants to encourage parents to make sure their children are attending school every day because attendance “is just critical to the success of our kids academically.”
“Once again, we saw that especially during the first semester,” he said.
Asked how you prompt students to attend school, Muri said that has been a challenge for more than 100 years.
“First and foremost, I think it starts with making sure that our families know and understand the importance of school attendance. … We all need to understand just the importance and the value of being in school every day. Our data indicate that it’s critical to the success of our kids,” Muri said.
“Secondly, we as a school system need to make sure that school is a place where our kids want to be. It needs to be exciting and engaging. Our teachers do great work to make sure that our kids are engaged and motivated. We also offer programing beyond just regular academic program. We have an extensive athletic opportunity for kids. We have opportunities in the fine and performing arts for students and we offer a lot of clubs and activities. We call those hooks, if you will. Many times a child may not be interested in science. They may be interested in athletics, or the arts and so combining academics, extracurriculars, co-curriculars together makes school a meaningful opportunity for kids. The last piece I would lift up is our community itself — mentors — those that are involved in the lives of our children that may not serve in that parental role, but simply may know kids in the neighborhood or work in a mentorship capacity with kids; just encouraging our kids and motivating them to understand that education is the ticket to success in life,” Muri said.
He added that adults need to help students understand that having a positive, powerful experience in prekindergarten through 12th grade will provide many open doors once they enter the postsecondary world and, ultimately, life.
“Education is the ticket to a successful future and we want to make sure that as a community we know that and understand that. But attendance is critical. Daily attendance is critical to success in school.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, the board also decided on a location for a new high school, should the May 7 $398,255,000 bond pass.
The location chosen was 100 acres that the district already owns at Yukon and Faudree roads across from Parks Bell Ranch. The land was purchased in September 2015 for a little more than $2 million.
Proposition B, for $183,000,000, would pay for a new comprehensive high school for 2,500-2,800 students. Proposition A for $215,255,000 would include maintenance and life-cycle repairs/replacement for school district buildings ($130,255,000); construction of a new Career & Technical Education Center for $70 million; and classroom technology upgrades for $15 million.
Early voting is April 25 through May 3 at the Ector County Courthouse Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St.
If it passes, the high school would open in the summer of 2025. About a year to a year and a half out, a group of stakeholders would be formed to begin the naming process.
Muri said the board of trustees has a policy in place that defines how a facility is named in ECISD and that process will be used to name the new high school.
Maintenance and repair work will be scheduled “over time” with the life safety work going first and then other types of repair and maintenance and repair work would follow.
This would probably be the start of a five-year bond cycle, he said.
“It does take time to gather these architects, engineers and contractors together. We have to go through a bid process to select those individuals,” Muri said.
Muri also said he has been appointed to the State Board of Educator Certification by Gov. Greg Abbott.
He added that it is an “incredible honor.”
“I’m excited to represent not only Ector County but the entire West Texas region in this opportunity. This board provides oversight for all educator certification in the state of Texas and (includes) institutions that develop our future teachers and leaders, the colleges and university programs that are developing those individuals that will serve our students in this capacity,” Muri said.
“I’m excited to be a part of this board; excited for the work that’s happening in Ector County. We know that the governor and (state education) commissioner have both been very interested in the type of human capital work that is happening across our school system and (I’m) grateful that that work has been recognized at the state level and now is an opportunity to take the work we’re doing locally and share that work with other districts across the state and begin to influence policy …,” he added.
