(Seguin) – A local parent is publicly voicing his concerns with the lack of overall growth and success reported last year at both Seguin ISD middle campuses. Luis Moreno, the father of a local seventh grader and the husband of a Seguin ISD educator, expressed those concerns about the campuses during a recent meeting of the Seguin ISD Board of Trustees. Moreno says his words, at the board meeting, came a couple of weeks after sitting in on the district’s public accountability update meeting, in which the Texas Education Agency accountability system was reviewed.
Moreno before trustees stated, “Let me tell you why I am so upset. The facts are what they are. I am blunt and not here to sugarcoat the F rating at AJB. The documents in front of you shows you that AJB is at a zero when it comes to closing the gaps. We met zero targets in Academic Achievement. We met zero targets in Student Success. We met zero targets in Growth Status in Math. When I ran the report to compare AJB to similar schools, out of the 42 middle schools, AJB ranked 39.”
Now although Moreno felt he had shared what he needed at the public hearing, he admits to Seguin Radio KWED and the Seguin Daily News that his appearance at the school board meeting was also to defend himself against statements that were posted soon after that accountability meeting by Seguin ISD Superintendent Dr. Matthew Gutierrez.
In his post on the Seguin ISD Superintendent Facebook page, Dr. Gutierrez states, “When we held our Accountability Update last week several attendees attempted to demoralize the hard work (that) our teachers, campus leaders, and central leaders are doing to improve student achievement. I expect accountability and questions from the community, but it is never appropriate to be combative towards staff who simply aim to support our schools.”
After reading that post, Moreno says he felt as though he had no choice but to address the district as a whole.
“I was one of three in attendance, and I want to set the record straight.
1. I remain unapologetic when it comes to advocating and standing up for the children of this district.
2. If my comments come across to you as combative, it is because I am extremely disappointed with the terrible ratings at our middle schools.
3. I will remind you that I am a Matador, married to a Matador who is also a teacher, and we have a daughter who is currently a Toro.
I have the utmost respect for our teachers and know how hard they work every day.”
While Moreno expects changes and a more favorable year, it should be noted that the Seguin ISD even before the initial accountability update was given, the district had already begun taking action as Moreno had suggested, and was already in the midst of rolling out its plans for an overhaul of learning and culture at both its AJB and Barnes middle schools.
In May, the district began sharing with parents and the community its new innovative blueprint for academic success and total student well being with the implementation of the TEA’s System of Great Schools Middle School Redesign. The program is part of a grant opportunity that helps to address COVID learning gaps and other issues negatively impacting learning in middle school classrooms.
In its introduction of the program, district officials said this new approach works to bridge gaps in both learning and behavior. Not only was the school day extended for the middle schools, but the district also incorporated what is known as Flex-Fridays. The schedule provides each student with an entirely different set of classes – classes that are different than those in their Monday through Thursday schedule. District officials say these classes are also set to inspire and build a new love and confidence in learning.
All in all, the redesign concept is said to offer several opportunities to enhance learning and to begin the district on a road to success at the middle school level.
Not only are teachers and campus administrators involved in this process but Seguin ISD central staff members have also been appointed to a respective role for this new culture of learning at the middle schools.
To ensure that even more eyes remain on the campuses, the Seguin ISD Board of Trustees is also staying on top of the progress with new monthly reports on the secondary campuses during its regular board meeting.
Moreno’s comments were made during the “public to be heard” portion of last week’s Seguin ISD school board meeting.