Extra Credit

Mansfield experiments with Twitter

For the first time Tuesday night, Mansfield school administrators used the social networking site Twitter to notify the public that they'd be closed Wednesday for weather. News of the closing was also carried on television, radio and the district's home page and the district sent out an e-mail to staff and some parents.
Spokesman Terry Morawski said the number of people following the district's Twitter account, @mansfieldisd, grew from the about 42 to 92 from Tuesday morning to Wednesday afternoon. Mansfield has about 30,000 students. Morawski said Twitter isn't likely to replace other means of letting people know about school closings, but "that's how some people like to communicate and get their news so we're trying it."  

- Traci Shurley

Arlington superintendent getting pointers

Arlington Superintendent Jerry McCullough attended the Texas Association of School Administrators mid-winter conference earlier this week and seized the opportunity to pick up some tips on becoming a state-recognized district.
McCullough, (at left) who was named superintendent earlier this month, has set a goal of making Arlington recognized in the next few years. Currently, the Texas Education Agency rates Arlington academically acceptable, one rank below recognized.
The rankings are based on test scores, dropout rates and other factors.While in Austin for the conference, McCullough and interim deputy superintendent Marcelo Cavazos attended sessions led by officials from large districts that have already been recognized. They also met informally with North East ISD Superintendent Richard Middleton to talk about achieving recognized status. Middleton’s district, which is in San Antonio, was recognized in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
“Those contacts and just hearing them talk about things they do – all these different things help us in getting our plans and our emphasis on what we want to do,” McCullough said. “Because they’ve been successful and we want to hear what they have to say.”

- Traci Shurley

New teacher study gives Texas D+

A new report on how state policies affect new teacher retention gives Texas a D +, noting the state doesn’t require mentoring of new teachers and allows teachers who have not met licensure examination requirements into classrooms on a provisional basis.
The “State Teacher Policy Yearbook What States Can Do To Retain Effective New Teachers” was released Thursday by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
Study authors said states should do more to keep quality teachers from quitting after about three to five years and to get ineffective teachers out of the classrooms.
South Carolina had the highest grade in the study, a B-. Six state received a C. Eight got a C-. Thirty were in the D range and six scored Fs, according to the council.
On the bright side, study authors highlighted a Texas incentive plan that pays teachers a bonus of $3,000 to $10,000 for students’ success, as a positive step. Texas also was one of three states that met the group’s goal of using instructional effectiveness as the primary measuring stick when evaluating teachers. 

- Traci Shurley

Your Thursday roundup of ed news

Bad weather had most area schools closed Wednesday, but it didn't stop some big local education developments. The House passed President Obama's stimulus package, which now moves to the Senate. If it gets final approval, Tarrant County schools could be eligible for about $204 million in additional federal funds. Mansfield trustees selected their lone finalist for superintendent, current deputy superintendent Bob Morrison (left, who you may remember from his summer blog posts here on his trip to China). Then there's columnist Bud Kennedy's take on the infamous 100-0 game between the Covenant School and Dallas Academy.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Former educators start Northwest Retired School Employees Association

Former employees of the Northwest school district are getting into the business of education again with a new group: Northwest Retired School Employees Association.

The group is headed by Sherry Buchanan, a former Northwest special education coordinator.

Members plan to work to support Northwest schools students, perform volunteer work, serve as mentor and work on retiree finance and health insurance issues. They met with Northwest superintendent Karen Rue last week to learn updated information about the school district

The group is a local unit of the Texas Retired Teachers Association. All school district and Teacher Retirement System retirees are eligible to join the group whether they retired from Northwest or another school district.

Jessamy Brown

Mansfield trustees still planning to meet Wednesday

Mansfield's school board meeting, which was rescheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday night because of inclement weather, is still on for 7 p.m. The district canceled classes and after-school activities today.

Some items on the original agenda, like a board appreciation dinner and student recognitions, will be delayed until next month's meeting. A vote on suggested names for several new schools and possible naming of a lone finalist for the superintendent's job are still planned.

- Traci Shurley

Mansfield schools closed Wednesday

Mansfield school officials have canceled classes Wednesday due to the weather. School offices will be closed too. A school board meeting, rescheduled from Tuesday night to Wednesday night, is still on "tentatively", according to spokesman Terry Morawski.

- Traci Shurley

FWISD sees spike in web traffic today

Visitors to the district's site has nearly doubled today as families have kept tabs on what schools were doing because of the weather. (In case you haven't noticed, it is uh-gly out there). District spokeswoman Barbara Griffith said visitors are also clicking on other photo galleries and other news while at the site. Parents may want to consider stopping by the Parent-At-A-Glance area that gives updates on what students are learning in class each six weeks and what they should ask their children to help with lessons at home.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Cancelled: College night for home-schoolers

The Home Educators Alliance for Resources and Training(H.E.A.R.T) of Texas has cancelled its second-annual college night, which had been scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Grapevine Convention Center. Organizers say they are hoping to reschedule for March.

The organization's Web site: www.HEARTofTex.org

--Mark Agee

Carroll and Keller cancel afternoon activities

Neighboring school districts Keller and Southlake-based Carroll plan to run their after-school buses on time but have cancelled afternoon and evening activities and events.

In Carroll, high school students can dismiss at 2:30 p.m. but students can stay on campus until it is time to take the bus. For more details, check our severe weather blog Storm Troopers.

Jessamy Brown