The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 8

8-A THE GALVESTON DAILY NEWS SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 24,1993 County TAAS test scores compared; Friendswood tops By ROBERT HOUGH The Daily Naws FRIENDSWOOD Gary Clay, superintendent of the Friendswood Independent School District, said judging a district strictly on the basis of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills scores is like comparing a photograph and a movie. It might be understandable if Clay suggested otherwise. His district's TAAS scores topped those of all other districts' in Galveston County, and on average, easily bettered statewide scores. While Friendswood topped the county list, Hitchcock's scores were at the bottom. Galveston Independent School District students were in the middle.

Statewide, 54 percent of the students tested passed all three sections of the test math, reading and writing. Only three Galveston County districts met or exceeded the state average. They were Friendswood, with 70 percent; the Clear Creek Independent School District, 64 percent; and the Dickinson Independent School District, 61 percent. Below state average The following school districts fell below the state average: Galveston, 52 percent; Santa Fe, 51 percent; La Marque, 48 percent; Texas City, 47 percent; Hitchcock, 29 percent; and High Island, 29 percent. Clay and other educators agreed that, while the scores are important, it is wrong to say one district and its students are better than others.

"I cautioned the board to be very careful in comparing by test scores," Clay said. "Every community in the county is different. CASSSH There are a lot of other factors in determining what makes a good school." Grades, discipline, attendance and post-high school achievements are some of the other factors contributing to a district's quality, Clay said. "I also look at the attitude of the kids in school. I think a relaxed attitude gives you a sense that a school is good.

Parental involvement is important All these things are not measurable with hard data." HISD lowest Bill Banks, Hitchcock Independent School District superintendent, heads the district with the lowest scores in the county. With the exception of High Island, Hitchcock had far fewer students taking the test than did other districts. Banks said smaller districts can be hurt in two respects. "With a smaller district, it takes less students to impact scores," Banks said. "Also, a small district like ours, without any major industries, doesn't have a tax base that really compares with some of the other districts." Clay said looking at a district's degree of improvement from one year to the next yields valuable insight into a school's performance.

On that front, Banks has something to be proud of. Exit-level score increases in Hitchcock are in the 10 percent to 50 percent range, compared to last year. Exit-level exams are tests llth- graders must pass to graduate. Scores in Galveteton are up as well. Exit-level averages there have increased in a range from about 5 percent to 20 percent.

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Banks said educators strive for improvement on TAAS scores, regardless of how high they may be, something which can lead to more effective teaching techniques. "We work with teachers in staff development," Banks said. "We work with developing concepts and presenting them, and their (classroom) questioning techniques." Continual reexamination Ken Booth, director of planning and evaluation for the Galveston district, said his district's TAAS increases have come through a continual reexamination of teaching techniques and curricula. "If we see a weakness in a particular area, say reading and math, on a consistent basis, we look at the curriculum for that grade level to make sure it's adequate," Booth said. "If the curriculum is good, we talk with the staff about whether or not they have skills strategies to teach that skill.

If they don't feel that they do, we would have the necessary staff development," Booth said. Clay said students' outlook toward the test is another important factor in the process. "I think one of the biggest is making the kids believe in themselves," Clay said. TAAS tests have been used in Texas public schools since the fall of 1990. The tests measure levels of proficiency on specific objectives, according to a spokesperson at the Texas Education Agency.

The TAAS tests replaced TEAMS, the Legislature-mandated standardized tests that were used between 1985-1990. A report by the Taxpayers Research Council of Galveston County said the TAAS tests are not designed to compare students or districts with each other. "Since they measure specific objectives, the tests are useful in instructional planning. Areas of high and low student performance are easily identifiable and remedial programs focusing on areas of weakness can be devised," the council reported on January 13. School districts must provide remedial education to all students who fairto pass any section of the test, the council report said.

The TEA spokesperson noted that the test is subject to continual scrutiny and change. Each test contains certain questions that check for relevance, appropriateness and ethnic and sexual bias. Those questions don't count toward a student's score, but help the TEA evaluate how well the test is testing. GALVESTON The following public records were filed at the Galveston County Courthouse last week: Divorces recorded Sandra L. Bergerson and Clark K.

Bergerson Kim Clark and Walter J. Clark John H. Neuman Jr. andJSomra M. Neuman Lorena L.

Lamere and Theodore W. Lamere Tern L. French and Jerry L. French Belinda L. Kennedy and William P.

Kennedy Marriage licenses issued Joshua W. Dickerson and Michele E. Benedetto Ronny L. Jackson and Jane E. Annable Elmer J.

Hanna Jr. and April D. McCulley Marcos Maldanado and Kattia M. Hidalgo Fred D. Raschke and Kimblyn A.Noto Christopher L.

Galvan and Priscilla A. Flores Lawrence T. Schaefer and Patricia L. Johnson Edward D. Nichols and Petra S.

Rodriguez Eric C. Herrera and Denise D. Lackey Bren E. Blackburn and Elizabeth A. Austin Kevin J.

Lenz and Bernice L. Brice Christopher D. Wilson and Lori A. Cannon Kevin O. Cauley and Conception Arcos Ernest Conway and Joyice E.

Long Heinz Dubaniewycz and Berta C. Smith Donald M. Ledbetter and Maria A. Stevens Bruce A. Kilinski and Denise K.

Estes Joseph Jaclc and Carolyn G. Thompson Leighton E. Lott and Glenda S. Allen Per I. Bach and Mary B.

Appleton Gregory W. Clark and Gloria M. Gutierrez C. Garrison and Tamara L. Jackson Dennis D.

Ferestad and Sharon Bares James D. Reegan and Lynie Braunsdorf Chris R. Collaco and Ying Guo Bobby J. White Jr. and Kimberly C.

Lee Civil suits filed Kathleen Alford vs. Joe Carolyn Duran Pete Pontikos vs. Fuel Tank Contractors Felipe Hernandez vs. Powers Hill Homes Inc. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co.

vs. Donna S. Pulver Daniel C. Cody vs. Spring Branch Medical Center Employers Insurance of Wausau vs.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. Nonna Flores vs. Shawn R. Jones Teny A. Gibbons vs.

Western Atlas International Lanita Parker vs. Dorothy Johnson Robert G. Peterson vs. Monroe Systems for Business Sharon A. Maceo vs.

Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. Jo Bryant vs. South Clifton King vs. Stanrans Claudine Monroe vs. Fidelity Casualty Co.

of New York Stella Watson vs. U.T. Systems Elizabeth White vs. Amoco Corp. Lelan P.

Danos vs. Dixie Carriers Inc. Alversia M. Jones vs. Suzanne Falkenhagen Michael Partridge vs.

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