Published: September 24, 2008 02:50 pm            

District attains recognized status from TEA

GRANDVIEW — Due in part to the leadership of former Superintendent Harold Pinkerton, Grandview ISD has long been known for its modern facilities, strong academics and teacher-friendly campuses.

The tradition continues.

Grandview was the only school district in Johnson County rated recognized by Texas Education Agency in 2007-08. The high school was acceptable, only 1 percentage point from recognized. The middle school was recognized, and the intermediate-elementary school was rated exemplary.

Zebra adults and students are not doing collective handsprings. There is always work to do.

“The goal is always to be exemplary at every campus,” said Superintendent Keith Scharnhorst. “We’re proud to be recognized. The teachers, principals and kids deserve the recognition.

“The TAKS tests get tougher every year. We have to find ways to move with the target and make sure we’re not happy where we are.”

Where Grandview is now is pretty much where it’s been.

The community is strongly behind the school.

“The community has high expectations for the kids,” Scharnhorst said. “The staff has high expectations. Our school board is very kid-oriented. They want to try to do what’s best for the kids.

“The teachers and principals work well with the community to make the schools successful.”

Skyward is an accountability program that involves parents, whether students like it or not, and it’s working, Scharnhorst said.

“Parents can go online and look at their kids’ homework and test scores, attendance and discipline. It’s all part of the equation. The parents see the good and bad, whether the student makes 100 on a test or misses an assignment.

“Parents can check on a daily or weekly basis. That way, they can stay involved instead of waiting to the end of the six weeks. The number of assignments that students are missing has been reduced. It’s been a popular program. The parents love it, and the kids hate it.”

But for Skyward to work, parents have to want to be involved.

“We have things like Meet the Teacher Night and Open House and Title 1 parent meetings,” Scharnhorst said. “We do whatever we can to get parents to sign up for that parent access.

“I couldn’t tell you the percentage of parents who have signed up, but the percentage has increased from year one to year two. Our goal is 100 percent.”

Another academic tool is Inova, a program that analyzes data to give staff better tutorial strategies for students.

“It’s a little more scientific approach to tutorials,” Scharnhorst said.

Technological advancement is among the goals at Grandview.

“We’re making a technology upgrade,” Scharnhorst said. “I went to Godley to visit with [Superintendent] Paul Smithson to see what they were doing. I appreciate his letting me do that. We’ve made upgrades in technology so we have our kids more engaged and so they don’t have to power down when they come to school.”

Good TAKS scores are encouraged at Grandview and so is student development in other realms, Scharnhorst said.

“The TAKS doesn’t test honesty and integrity and being on time. We let kids know those are all part of the expectations in Grandview ISD. Sure, we want good TAKS scores. But we want other things as well.

“One of the many good things about Grandview ISD is that the kids rise to the level of our expectations.”

        

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