Texas School Performance Review Divide Independent School District June 2002

This chapter reviews the organization and management of Divide Independent School District (DISD) in three sections:

A. Governance

B. District Management and Personnel

C. Community Involvement

C. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Community involvement is an important part of a quality education system. It enables parents, taxpayers, civic and business leaders, community organizations, public officials and others with a stake in public education to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the district. It also helps the community become involved in activities and partnerships that support and promote student learning and achievement. Effective communication builds trust and support of the district and its programs and influences how residents view the district.

The district covers 340 square miles of ranchland. The district is home to 200 residents. Area residents and parents typically work on the ranches. The area does not have a town site; nor does it have any shopping or civic areas aside from the school and a church. The Divide School is the heart of the community.

FINDING

DISD involves its parents and the community through multiple activities and programs. DISD has an active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) that includes both parents and community members. The PTO meets three to four times a year and communicates mostly by telephone. The PTO surveys parents at the beginning of the school year. The survey asks parents what activities they would like to see the district initiate. It also asks for suggestions on field trips and an end-of-school trip.

The PTO organizes several events each year to promote community involvement and raise funds for the school. The PTO organizes two fundraisers annually: the Sausage Supper and Raffle in the spring and the Hunters Wild Game Dinner in the fall. The Hunters Wild Game Dinner is scheduled on the first Friday at the beginning of the hunting season in order to attract not only community residents but also people from outside the community who come to hunt in the area. PTO members sell tickets to the dinners. Each event is publicized through word of mouth, on the school's marquee and with a poster near the main road. The food for both events is donated by community residents and businesses, as is the cooking. In 2000-01, the PTO raised nearly $7,000 through these two events. The funds raised finance the annual end-of-school field trip.

DISD considers its annual field trips important educational and personal experiences because the district is so isolated and a large percentage of the children do not have opportunities to travel. The annual trip involves all students. The students are accompanied by teachers, parents and community members. The five-day trip incorporates lessons, and students have to write a journal at the end of each day, read assigned materials and complete assignments related to educational events of the day. In May 2001, students went to Port Aransas. In May 2002, DISD plans to take students to South Texas.

In addition to the fundraisers by the parents, the district has received several grants from local foundations and businesses. The Peterson Foundation provided grants to build a baseball backstop and nets, books and software. H.E.B. has been very supportive of the school. H.E.B. contributed to DISD fundraising by manning a booth at the school's fall festival, making presentations at the school on topics of interest to the students and organizing tours of the store for the students. The H.E.B. store manager provided information and advice to the DISD superintendent on building a baseball field and a batting cage. H.E.B. also organized pizza parties for the DISD students and provided them with tickets to a Spurs game. DISD students, in return, prepared decorations for the store during seasonal events and displayed their artwork at the store. The Kerrville Lions Club donated food baskets, eyeglasses and gift baskets to DISD needy families. DISD also involves parents through its Friday lunch program. Every Friday, a parent or staff member prepares lunch for the students and the school staff.

COMMENDATION

DISD involves parents and community members in activities that support the school and the students.

FINDING

DISD communicates with its board, employees, parents and community members through a mix of formal and informal communication methods. Due the school's small size, the superintendent and other district staff communicate with the parents daily either in person or by telephone. Exhibit 1-5 describes DISD's internal and external communication methods.

Exhibit 1-5
DISD External and Internal Publications
2001-02

Internal/External Publications	Description	Issued By	Target or Focus
Board Agenda	The agenda of the regular monthly board meeting is posted on the school's marquee and on the school's office window.	Superintendent	Parents and community
Calendar of Events	An annual calendar and an updated semester calendar of events are posted in the school. The calendars list all holidays and important dates.	Superintendent	District personnel
Board Briefs	A summary of the board meeting is distributed at the board's monthly board meeting.	Superintendent	District personnel, parents, community members
Articles in local newspapers	DISD sends information on activities and events at DISD to the Kerrville Daily Times and the Real American, a weekly newspaper published in Leakey. A reporter from the Kerrville Daily Times attends board meetings and reports on them. The San Antonio Express-News also publishes occasionally articles about the district.	Superintendent	Local and neighboring communities
Annual Goals Meeting	DISD conducts an annual meeting toward the end of the school year to review the district's improvement plan and set and prioritize goals for the coming year.	Superintendent	School personnel, board members, parents, community members

Source: DISD Superintendent.

DISD encourages the community to use its facilities, including the playground. Community members come into the school to use its computers and receive faxes. A local dominos club, the 42 Club, uses one of the schoolrooms to meet and play dominos. A weekly Bible class convenes at the Divide School on Thursdays after school. A community nurse uses one of the schoolrooms to do check-ups of children who live the district. Being the only public building in the area, the Divide School also hosts holiday and other social events, such as a Thanksgiving dinner and a Christmas dinner and party. DISD does not charge any of the groups for using its facilities. This type of community outreach makes the community aware of the school and encourages community members' involvement with the school.

COMMENDATION

The district effectively communicates with its stakeholders and opens its facilities to the community to provide a meeting place for community groups.