News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 5, 2001 Page: 3 of 12
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Thursday, July S, 2001 News Bulletin Page 3
Low TAAS scores concern school board
Changing times
Adelina Gonzales
Staff Writer
With Medina
students’ 2000-2001
explained the impact those omores are required to pass To illustrate those changes,
numbers will have on future the test to graduate. Murrey told trustees they have
Valley TAAS II testing at a June 23 TAAS II will add an extra already received word from the
Texas board meeting. year of testing, with the exit state that students will begin
TABS Exit Level
Assessment of Academic Skills “We keep talking about the level administered at the elev- needing graphic calculators for
test scores below the state aver- tests being more aggressive enth grade. The following the tests.
ages and a tougher TAAS II test and raising the bar,” Murrey 2003-2004 school year, the elev- Trustees have agreed they
just around the corner, trust- said in explanation of the TAAS enth grade exit will become a need to be prepared for the
ees are looking for new ways to II test, which goes into effect graduation requirement. tougher testing. Murrey said
Use Basic Operations
ensure students are properly during the 2002-2003 school
equipped for the future.
Superintendent Willard
Murrey informed trustees of
year.
This year’s eighth grade is the district will continue work-
the first group of students who ing to align the curriculum,
Currently, third through will have the exit exam given and put more into staff devel-
tenth grade students take the
the recent low results and TAAS test every year, and soph-
The numbers
With preliminary TAAS state and district results in for
the 2000-2001 school year, Medina Valley trustees got a
sneak preview at how their students measured up and were
a little disappointed.
“In Texas, 82 percent of students have passed all parts of
the TAAS test, and you’re not going to find that at Medina
Valley,” Supt. Willard Murrey told trustees recently.
He said preliminary TAAS results showed 75 percent of
MV students passed all parts of the TAAS test.
Those numbers dip lower when only Hispanic and
economically disadvantaged students are compared. Sixty-
five percent of Hispanic Medina Valley students passed
all parts of the TAAS test, while 75 percent in the state
passed.
When considering only economically disadvantaged stu-
dents, the numbers drop even lower. Sixty-two percent of
economically disadvantaged Medina Valley students passed
all parts of the test, compared to 73 percent in the state.
The smallest gap between the two is seen in white
students’ scores. Eighty-five percent of white Medina Valley
students passed all parts of the test, while a slightly higher
90 percent passed statewide.
at the eleventh grade. opment.
“At this point in time, they Trustees seemed interest-
need to pass that in order ed in pursuing alternate teach-
to graduate,” Murrey said. “If ing ’methods that bring out
we’re not making progress, a desire to learn in children,
then a train* wreck is coming as opposed to basic classroom
down the road.” teaching.
Currently, students have Murrey said he would con-
about five attempts at passing tinue to research such pos-
the test, but with the final test sibilities and focus on ways to
moved back to the eleventh better prepare Medina Valley
grade, Murrey estimates stu- students.
dents will only have three tries “Basically, the state legis-
at passing. lature said raise the bar in
In addition to having fewer Texas. How do we prepare
opportunities to pass the test, our students so that they can
subject material will become be successful as they move
more difficult. through our system and when
Murrey distributed copies they leave the system as well?”
of exit level questions from for- Murrey said.
mer state tests (TABS, TEAMS) “We’re working on it but,
and today’s TAAS to illustrate as you can see, we’ve got a
the progression. ways to go."
"In sixth grade, their scores are just not where
they’re supposed to be. That’s just the raw truth.”
Superintendent Willard Murrey
Sixth-graders pose largest district TAAS problem
Adelina Gonzales Murrey. percent passing in mathemat- ing at that age, whereas other
Staff Writer
Those students consistent- ics, while state averages indi- countries, such as Germany
It’s an awkward age and ly had the lowest average in cate 85 percent passed the and Japan, begin to focus on
a tough time in a kid’s life, the district in all categories,
but Medina Valley trustees Preliminary TAAS num-
are wondering just how to bers indicate a 15 percent
improve the biggest problem lag between Medina Valley
area: the sixth grade.
“Sixth grade students did Texas.
sixth graders and the rest of
reading section and 91 per- more collaborative studies to
cent passed the mathematics interest their students and
section. cultivate a desire to learn.
“Is there any research on “Their approach is com-
when students get to the fifth, pletely different than ours is
sixth, and seventh grade; any- and they are the best coun-
not do well this year and Overall, 67 percent passed thing saying how we’ve been tries. We have a tendency to
we’re having a lot of discus- all tests taken, compared to teaching students wrong?” drill and kill,” he said, point-
sion about that. In sixth an 82 percent passing aver- Trustee Roland Ruiz asked. ing out how much teaching
grade, their scores are just age for the state. Murrey said international at that level centers around
not where they’re supposed to - Medina Valley sixth grad- studies indicate the United paperwork and chalkboard
be. That’s just the raw truth," i ersscored a 70 percent pass- States may be taking a more lectures.
said Superintendent Willard ing rate in reading and a 79 traditional approach to teach-
Medina County Commissioner Stanley Gustave ‘Pud" Keller, of Castroville; sisters-in-law: Peggy Allen and her husband,
Jr., age 60, of Castroville, TX, passed away Saturday evening, Russ, of Mesa, Arizona, Sue Peterson and her husband, Don, of
June 30, 2001, in Castroville. Stanley was born April 24, 1941, Colorado City, Colorado, and Mishell Lynch and her husband,
in Castroville to Fanny Applewhite Keller and the late Stanley David, of D’Hanis; numerous nieces and nephews.
G. Keller, Sr.
"Pud" was the county commissioner for Precinct
#2 in Medina County at the time of his death.
He had served his country in the U.S. Air Force,
and was currently a member of St. Louis Catholic
Church, Castroville Golf Club, Hermann Sons
Castroville Lodge #71, American Legion Weiss-
Wurzbach Post #460 and Quihi Gun Club.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Beverly
Nester Keller of Castroville; daughter and son-in-
law, Kami and Michael Besson of New Braunfels;
son: Kory Keller of Castroville and his girl friend,
Trina LaBarbera of New Braunfels; three grand-
children: Blake, Haley and McKenna Besson, all
of New Braunfels; mother: Fanny D. Keller of Castroville;
brother and sister-in-law: Gerald “Gerry” and Bonnie Keller
of Castroville; sister and brother-in-law: Carolyn and Larry
Bourdeau of San Antonio; father-in-law and mother-in-law:
Ivan and Romell Nester of Hondo; brother-in-law: Joe Nester
Visitation was held Monday, July 2, 2001 from 11 a.m.
until 2 p.m. at the Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home in
Castroville. Mass of Resurrection was celebrated by
Rev. Mike Horan, Monday, July 2, 2001 at 7 p.m.
at St. Louis Catholic Church. A Prayer Service was
led by Rev. Mike Horan, Tuesday, July 3, 2001 at
10 a.m. at the Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home Chapel
in Castroville. Graveside services and interment
followed the prayer service at St. Louis Catholic
Cemetery, with military honors provided by the U.S.
Air Force Honor Guard. Pallbearers included his son,
Kory Keller, also William T. "Billy" Tschirhart, Kelly
Carroll, Jimmy Neuman, Norman Jungman, Mark
Cashion, Tim Saulter and Kevin Saulter.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home, Castroville.
ARRANGEMENTS MADE By
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7,001
- 6,325
A. 1,076
B. 776
C. 676
& 1,976
Sample
question.
Sample
question,
1990
• Identify equivalent fractions,
decimals, and percents.
Express .235as a percent ■
A.
B.
C.
D.
23566 35%
.235%
2.35%
TAAS Exit Level
. Determine Solution Strategies and
Analyze or Solve Problems.
Evelyn invested $1,500 in a savings account. The
bank pays simple interest once a month. If Evelyn
leaves the money in teraccount for one month,
mRCi#TALE COTCVAIL WXAToa/N 2 "ocessary to
A. The average daily balance for the account
B. Evelyn's checking account balance
C. The interest rate on the savings account
D. The number of savings accounts Evelyn
has opened
E. The bank's prime lending rate
Not Measured on TEAMS
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Barnes, Thomas. News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 5, 2001, newspaper, July 5, 2001; Castroville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1689412/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Castroville Public Library.