BISD changes transfer policy

BRYSON – During its Monday night meeting, Bryson ISD School Board approved a change in the district’s transfer policy for grades K-5 which will cut off access to transfers once numbers in a particular grade reach 20. The cutoff was placed at 20 in case people move into the district and need to get into a class.

The policy is effective with the next school year and beyond. People with children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of BISD employees are exempt. Transfer students are evaluated on an annual basis and can be turned away based on discipline, academic performance or attendance, Principal Eric Wilson said.

Stout reported a schedule change to the board in the present 16-17 calendar. Because the number of minutes required by the state will be exceeded by the district, students will be excused for the year at 3:30 p.m. May 25 instead of 12:30 p.m. May 26. 

May 26 will be used a teacher workday and allow teachers and staff to have additional time to finish items for the six weeks and school year. If students need to be at school for day care reasons, they will be monitored, Stout said.

An item concerning placing seat belts on school buses was tabled as two board members were absent. Board members seemed to have issues with placing the belts on the buses as studies have shown they are dangerous in certain situations. 

Board member Laurie Kelley said she was unsure they would do any good.  Board member Frank Hefner said it was not an issue of spending the money, which would force the reframing of two buses used by sports and academic teams for travel, it’s the thought of does the end justify the means.

Bryson ISD is now a Level II certified school under the Marzano High Reliability School program.

Superintendent David Stout said he was “super proud” of the certification, which was given during a meeting April 13 with certification staff. He says he has been amazed on how school staff and teachers have adapted to the program and how it has become “a living, breathing thing” within the district.

Work on Level III certification will commence immediately and is working on a guaranteed viable curriculum throughout the district. Stout said the best time for teachers to do proficient scale writing for the project is during the summer.