August 28, 2018 - Superintendent Dana West presented a report on AISD’s performance in the 2018 State Accountability ratings system. All AISD campuses achieved a ‘Met Standard’ rating and the District earned an overall score of 87 out of 100. Dr. West said she is proud of AISD schools for earning 114 distinctions out of a possible 322 for outstanding academic achievement. She also pointed out AISD has significantly increased the number of high school students who earn college credit through Advanced Placement classes and exams.
Trustees heard a report from the Hastings Project Team regarding recommendations for converting the District-purchased former Hastings warehouse facility into a state-of-the-art STEM/career-technical academy for high school students. At a cost of $34.3 million (to be paid for with existing District reserves), the school would offer hands-on training and classes in at least seven career clusters in high-tech, high-skilled, high-demand areas. The Board expressed interest in the career academy concept, authorized Administration to spend the next 60-90 days engaging the community in discussions about the proposed plans, and said they may consider moving forward with hiring an architect for the project at the December Board meeting.
The Board adopted a revised District mission statement and core values along with Board belief statements and new commitment statements to define more specifically what the core values signify. The revised mission statement and core values are a result of recent strategic planning by the Board.
In other business, trustees adopted a 2018 tax rate of $1.239 per $100 property valuation which includes a 5-cent increase over last year’s rate as a result of the 2017 voter-approved bond election. For the owner of a home valued at $100,000, AISD taxes will increase $37.50 per year. The Board also approved design plans for bond projects at Palo Duro, Amarillo and Tascosa high schools, Mann and Travis middle schools, Allen 6th Grade Campus, and Coronado and Lee elementary schools. The Board also approved construction phase documents for the Fannin Middle School/Lamar Elementary School bond project and authorized Administration to bid the project.
Trustees announced they would interview four candidates for the current vacancy on the Board and they hope to have a new Board member in place by the September Board meeting.
Trustees accepted gifts and donations totaling $63,301.73 given to various schools this month from Betenbough Homes, Olsen Park PTA, Coye Duncan, Happy State Bank, Tascosa Road Fellowship Church, America-Celebrate, Honor & Serve program, Ashley Hughes, Jostens, Cry Baby Ink, Julia E. Garcia with Wells Fargo Bank, Mullin Hoard & Brown, LLP, Kelly and Angie Delgado-Goudschaal, and the following Kidsfest sponsors who gave school supplies to all campuses: Atmos Energy, Happy State Bank, Roberts Foundation, Xcel Energy, Education Credit Union, Amarillo National Bank, Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust, Underwood Law Firm, Amerigroup, Walmart 4464, Access Credit Union, First Capital Bank, Asarco, Potter Randall 911 ECD, Superior Health Plan, First Bank Southwest, Street Automotive Group, ProCrete Construction, Mercy Church, Amarillo Medical Services, Downtown Kiwanis Club, Leadership Amarillo, and Tobacco Free Amarillo.
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