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GISD good in parts, bad in tests
By Phil Lipnick
Contributor
Published October 31, 2009
Recently, I have seen and heard reports from various Galveston Independent School District board members about how wonderful things are and how much we have progressed. Yet, greater than 30 percent of our district students are struggling and failing. I am therefore concerned about the children of Galveston Island and their future.
Because of my concern, I created a nonprofit corporation, Galveston Youth Creating Their Own Future Inc., that focuses on at-risk youth. During the past four years, I have worked with at-risk children and their parents who are struggling financially to provide the best for their children.
My experience has proven to me these truths: all children are eager to learn; most failing children lack fundamental skills in reading, writing and math; all parents want their children to succeed both in school and life; and struggling students believe they could do well if they had more help.
On behalf of the children in my program, I have observed and interacted with the Galveston Independent School District during the past four years.
Regarding GISD, here is what I have found: We do well in exciting our students about learning in our specialty schools, and for some of our advantaged students, we successfully launch them in their lives and careers.
However, GISD performs poorly when it groups children to optimize test results; garners public input and then disregards that input; places students in overcrowded facilities when other facilities are available; and spends $60 million a year with no substantial rise in fundamental skills.
Accordingly, I believe the GISD school board should: provide more remedial classes to help our children become proficient in basic skills; implement a program that teaches life skills to those students who need such skills; place all fifth-graders away from seventh- and eighth-graders, except for specialty schools; support stronger discipline in Ball High and all schools in the district; and revise the district’s 10-year plan.
I support the building of a quality athletic complex for Galveston. I believe that a quality athletic facility can be obtained through a GISD-coordinated effort with Texas A&M University, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston College and the city of Galveston.
The school board must ensure that all school board and administrator actions are based on the district’s mission statement and goals. School board members have the duty to be informed so they can guide the actions of the administrator.
I believe we all have the unavoidable obligation to provide the best education to our children, regardless of ability and life circumstances.
Philip Lipnick is a candidate for the Galveston school board.
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