New accountability formula questioned

SHEPHERD — A new way of figuring school accountability scores could affect the B rating the Shepherd School District achieved in the last school year.

Superintendent Jason Hewitt told the SISD Board of Managers at Thursday’s meeting that the school received information about the new methods, and a “what-if” ranking using the new matrix.

Hewitt said that in the “what-if” method, the information from the last year was put into the new system, and the levels in the three campuses dipped.

The overall score for the high school dropped from 82 to 75; for the middle school, 83 to 80; and for the intermediate school, the score fell from 87 to 80.

Hewitt stressed that the numbers fell only because of the new system and not because of student performance. However, the “what-if” numbers will be used to determine improvement inr the review of the 2022-23 school year.

In other business, the board:

•approved the list of T-TESS appraisers for the new school year;

•approved the new year’s code of conduct and district improvement plan; and

•approved new prices for adult and visitor meals, which increased between 16 and 35 cents per meal. Students will continue to eat at no charge.