STAAR crashing causes minimal hassle at county schools

An online version of the STAAR test crashed statewide last week, causing delays for students across the state.

Locally, the delays were minimal lasting, except for some frustrated teacher and students, according to Jacksboro Independent School District Assistant Superintendent Brad Burnett. He said when the delay started, which affected about 80 students overall, including most of the freshman class, the decision was made to send the students back to their regular class.

“We waited about 30 minutes and when it was determined this was a statewide problem and the kids had lost their focus, we took the recommendation from our regional Education Service Center and sent the kids to class and continued with our day.”

Burnett said the students taking the test via pencil and paper were not affected and continued with their testing.

“It was just a one-day delay,” Burnett said. “Everything is back on schedule with the kids scheduled to take English II doing so online today with no issues.”

In Bryson, Superintendent Greg London said only one high school student was affected by the online issues.

“He remained patient and finished the test just fine,” London said via text. “It was about an hour and a half delay.”

Perrin-Whitt CISD Superintendent Cliff Gilmore said the only ones affected were the seventh graders doing their writing test. The 4th and 9th Graders were doing their writing and End of Course work via pencil and paper.

Gilmore said the students got through the delay just fine and are back to normal.