A Letter from Dr. Joe Gonzales, Superintendent
February 12, 2013
Dear Parents and Guardians of EAPrep Students,
We are off and running on a new semester, thus I thought it would be a good time to update you on the status of our schools. There are several improvements that the staff and administration have made at both campuses. The improvements have focused on academics and co-curricular activities, as well as finances.
Academics
With much input from parents, students, staff, and administration, the decision was made to focus on core subjects and state and national tests. With that idea in mind, our classes were increased from 52 minutes to 63 minutes at MLK and from 52.75 minutes at Jain Lane so that students and staff could spend more time on task. In addition, a higher level of rigor was introduced throughout the curriculum.
•
Students were placed in pre-AP classes through the recommendation of their teachers.
•
All pre-AP classes will be taught at one grade level above the students' actual status.
•
Portfolios were established for all students and tutoring is being done throughout the campuses.
•
Reading and writing classes were implemented through our new literacy grant.
•
A new library is being readied at MLK, a mobile library is also in the process of being prepared, and the volume of the library at Jain Lane will be increased.
•
A librarian has been hired under the literacy grant.
Tutoring
Students at both campuses are receiving wide-spread tutoring services.
•
At the current time, 169 students are being tutored at MLK as a result of teacher referral, parent request, student request, teacher request, and portfolio data.
•
We have 14 tutors who are tutoring before school, during the day, after school, and on Saturday mornings.
•
All teachers are also tutoring.
•
At the Southwest Key campus, we are also using tutors and staff is providing intervention services throughout the day and after school.
•
Some Saturday tutoring has begun at the Southwest Key campus and we will be adding to the number of tutoring sessions that are currently in place.
In the final analysis, all students who are not at grade level academically will be required to attend tutoring and, if need be, summer school sessions.
Co-Curricular Activities
Research and best practices have consistently demonstrated that students engaged in co-curricular activities have fewer discipline problems, attend school more regularly, and receive better grades. We are now offering more than 36 co-curricular activities to our students. Everything from sports to fine arts to a gardening club is in evidence at our schools. None of this happens by accident. Our teachers and tutors are consistently volunteering their time to coach or sponsor these activities.
Finances
Like any school, it costs to offer a myriad of programs. Our schools are financed based on average daily attendance. We do not have the ability to assess property taxes as do traditional Independent School Districts (ISD's). We do not want our children to be short-changed in any way. Therefore, we are asking all of you to help raise funds for extra activities. Currently, we are having a fundraiser to increase the number of tutoring sessions available. Raffle tickets are $5.00. We are asking each student to do their part by selling 20 tickets for a total of $100. All staff and administrators are being asked to do the same. There are a number of incentive prizes built into our fundraiser. If everyone does a little, we will have a very successful endeavor.
Superintendent’s Suggestions for Increased Learning
1. Do not pull your student out of class and/or school unless absolutely necessary. Try to make doctor's appointments after school or on the weekends. A student who is not in class cannot learn the lesson and will fall behind academically.
2. Do not allow your student to stay home unless they are absolutely unable to attend school.
3. Check the parent portal, check the website, and phone teachers to get up-to-date homework assignments. Encourage your student to do extra work so that they can excel in their academics.
Field Trips
We will begin to have more field trips and college visitations as the weather is improving.
Recruitment
We have begun our spring recruitment for next year and at this time the interest is impressive. We will automatically add a 10th grade and we have petitioned the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to allow us to educate 2nd and 3rd graders next year. We will have an answer from TEA within the next 45 days. Please consider selecting us to educate all students in your household and speak to your friends and neighbors about our school.
Parent Advisory Committee
Ms. Cel Garza, President of our PTSA, is working with school officials to help us form a Parent Advisory Committee which will meet with me, the superintendent, at least once a month. This committee will be crucial to decisions we will make about the current and future path for our schools. We do not want to operate in a vacuum without meaningful community and parental input. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Jennifer Pierson, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, at 512-287-5081 or
[email protected].
Our schools and kids are good and getting better every day. Help us to reach the level of "BEST IN THE STATE".
"Dr. G" - Dr. Joe E. Gonzales
Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer (CAO)
East Austin College Prep