Board Recognizes Local Reporter
Tyler Independent School District placed the name of Megan Middleton with the Tyler Morning Telegraph on the statewide Media Honor Roll, calling attention to the ongoing responsible and exemplary nature of reporting on this community's public schools. The Media Honor Roll, a program sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), recognizes Middleton and other media representatives statewide who deserve recognition for fair and balanced reporting of news about public schools.

Board Authorizes and Accepts Donations
The Board of Trustees authorized and approved the acceptance of the following donations through the Tyler ISD Foundation totaling $ 35,000:

$25,000 from A.S. Genecov Foundation to Owens Elementary for Playground Equipment.
$10,000 from Kevin Eltife, James L. Perkins Family Foundation, Sam Greenberg to Hogg Middle School for the Gym.

Board Approves Software for Response Process
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of eStar software, in the amount of $30,000 for use in monitoring and tracking student progress within the Response to Intervention (RTI) process throughout the district. When a child is struggling in school-whether it's behavioral or academic-teachers may need to consider special education. It's a delicate, detailed process that requires gathering information from a variety of sources. Only the eStar RTI application provides teachers and administrators a robust, well-organized solution to ensure that each student is evaluated thoroughly and effectively, as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. The eStar RTI application has already proven to decrease the number of referrals to special education, while at the same time providing teachers and administrators with a structured approach to helping students "at risk".

Board Approves Software for Response to Intervention (RTI) Program
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of Earobics web-based software package in the amount of $332,024 to be paid to assist all PK-3 teachers in providing individual and small group instruction in order to increase student achievement in reading. Earobics software is listed as one of the effective programs on the National What Works Clearinghouse for students in PK-3rd grade to provide intervention for students who are struggling with reading, particularly the phonemic awareness and listening skills. The Tyler ISD RTI committee researched and identified Earobics as a Tier II and Tier III level intervention to be utilized in the intervention labs, as well as in the classrooms and during after school programs. The approved amount utilizes funding from multiple sources: Technology, Title III, Special Education Funding, Title 2A, and Title 1.

Board Approves Purchase of C-Scope Materials
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of the additional C-Scope Curriculum materials using the Superintendent sustainment funding in the amount of $525,000.

The implementation of C-Scope curriculum for the core areas of Mathematics, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies is dependent upon providing the necessary resources as they become available. The use of the Superintendent sustainment fund will address this area of concern and provide additional resources for use this year.

This extensive plan for the use of C-Scope, the implementation of the 5E instructional model, and the on-going staff development will provide the consistency across our district and ensure students have equal access to quality resources and instruction. This systemic reform will address our critical areas and raise the level of instruction and engagement in the classroom.