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Bryson ISD Superintendent Greg London, right, speaks on new testing platforms while Board President T-Bob Hauger,center, and Vice President Travis Thorne listen during the board’s Nov. 21 meeting. Photo/Brian Smith
Bryson ISD is looking to enter into an agreement with the city of Bryson for maintenance on the school’s baseball field.
The agreement, which would run for five years beginning Jan. 15, 2023 would pay the city a certain amount. The city would be responsible for utilities and mowing during the offseason with the school having the first use option for games and practice from Jan. 15 through May 15.
Extra money would be paid to ensure the fertilizing of the field was professionally done during the offseason. Board member Danny Lewis said he wants the city held accountable if it’s not mowed.
“I want them held to the same standard they hold their citizens by,” Lewis said. “They’re going to want to hire this out anyway.”
Board member Sheila Birdwell said mowing about once a month during the offseason of the field and concession stand but once it is determined it would be specified in the contract. Superintendent Greg London will be bringing the proposal to the city and negotiating terms of the contract.
The deal should be finalized at the December meeting.
London also gave an update on how the state’s A-F grading scale was being updated for the future, beginning this school year. Last year about 30% of schools/ districts received an ‘A’. This year will be more of traditional “bell curve” with only about 15% of districts getting an ‘A’, London explained.
Three ways it will be harder to get a higher grade, London explained, will be the state is making it harder to get CCMR credits, increasing the passing rate for tests from 70% to 74-76% and grading on the improvement on a district’s lowest two sub populations.
“It’s definitely going to hit smaller schools harder,” London noted because of the lack of sub populations of many smaller schools and districts. “There will still be a spattering of ‘A’s.”
London also noted that many of the new rules districts will have to follow are being made up on the fly. Commissioner of Education Mike Morath will be visiting all of the state’s Education Service Centers to provide information the changes, London explained.
Board President T-Bob Hauger said the district should be fine as long as it keeps doing what it’s doing.
