School’s Enrollment Continues Decline
GCISD’s enrollment continues downward, according to the latest figures released at the school board meeting April 14. There are 141 students in grades 7–12, down 2 from last month and down 14 from the same time last year; 147 in grades K–6, down 3 from last month and down 9 from last year, for a total K–12 enrollment of 288, down 23 from last year.
The school board voted to “…terminate the employment of Terry Jones at the end of the contract term, based on the Board of Trustees’ judgement that the best interest of the District will be served by this action….” Jones teaches industrial & vocational arts and according to Superintendent Steve Long, did not meet the March 31 deadline for completion of certification requirements.
District’s TEA Evaluation Positive
School Superintendent Steve Long reported that the Texas Education Agency District Effectiveness and Compliance (DEC) team, which visited the school during the week of March 31, gave the district a 100 percent rating, as it met all required indicators. He said the team, which was made up of three people from TEA and one principal from another district, was very complimentary about the school’s operation. Long said the evaluation and the preparation for it were good for all the staff. He said some weaknesses were found and corrected and strengths were reinforced
Each school district in the state is supposed to have a DEC visit every 6 to 8 years, but board members agreed one has not been done here in much longer than that. The visits are designed to see that schools are complying with both federal and state regulations to ensure that all students’ needs are being met, and the school must provide documentation to that effect.