[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6660023,"mediaKeyId","2438219-d243e0d2ec9f6c1fa7ab8c3f7e6359b0","parentId",2438219,"title","Waco ISD announces final public hearing on proposed attendance‑zone maps for March 4","audioSeconds",74,"startMs",1146000,"endMs",1220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2438219-d243e0d2ec9f6c1fa7ab8c3f7e6359b0&start=1146&end=1220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2438219-d243e0d2ec9f6c1fa7ab8c3f7e6359b0/thumbnail_1146000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6660023/Texas/Waco-ISD-announces-final-public-hearing-on-proposed-attendancezone-maps-for-March-4","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660023-8e377a726774d21cf68565e4207d0c90/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993421&Signature=cxsNdo9yifoDGzkWtVAioae0HylPE6VZmPwtHGqDgIEfGbKcmpIaH2MxwOydpvIfhUNLEwZ5-8vgu-FF8HSdOusJ26EgpdEdMqANVXSrJziGhxXyEd0BDRMpkUl9PaA6Na68g1Oqaelw6Q909EIvqEIc-WMTbifUCRcplikwOu6CXutifIhlVyEgUmowtWO85b7e6SoXbCwuV9ik~phIJ2QKWELTa3VYVM4NPkXHdrG0gauRtrjw2ikIUmOm60eNVSugIotuU-3e1t4~QjU2WxA0ac8cpEbVt4ld~0XOlCXP0LcMI4FUDs6VfEL5jBfi03NuQaDZWCu1WQV0eD0wnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waco ISD","date","2025-02-28T04:33:48.207Z","article","WACO — Superintendent Dr. Spicer told the Waco Independent School Board that the district’s attendance boundaries committee has developed an initial recommendation for new elementary, middle and high school zones and will hold a final public hearing next Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at GW Carver Middle School.

\"Our final public hearing opportunity is next Tuesday, March 4 at 6PM. We will be at GW Carver Middle School to provide a brief presentation and again speak with attendees to to collect their feedback,\" Dr. Spicer said during the superintendent's report. He said Spanish and sign language interpreters would be available, and the district will post a video of the presentation online for those unable to attend.

Dr. Spicer said the boundary committee has met four times and produced initial maps after months of community engagement. The district has held two or three public meetings to present maps and gather feedback; the committee will receive community input on March 18 before refining recommendations for the board.

Trustees and staff encouraged community participation at the upcoming session and noted the committee’s next deadline for consolidated feedback. No board action was taken; the presentation was informational and staff emphasized opportunities for public comment in the remaining hearings.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waco ISD School Board Meeting from February 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Dr. Spicer said the district's attendance boundaries committee has released an initial set of proposed maps and the last public hearing is scheduled for March 4 at GW Carver Middle School; the board will consider community feedback before the committee reconvenes March 18.","taxTitle","WACO ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14342,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660029,"Waco ISD finance director reports $7.1M year‑end surplus; board approves budget amendments",2234,5908000,8142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2438219-d243e0d2ec9f6c1fa7ab8c3f7e6359b0&start=5908&end=8142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2438219-d243e0d2ec9f6c1fa7ab8c3f7e6359b0/thumbnail_5908000.jpg","/articles/6660029/Texas/Waco-ISD-finance-director-reports-71M-yearend-surplus-board-approves-budget-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660029-f2cec4ae313ca56e6a8bd3b320504432/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993421&Signature=VxUnXU~27QyW4otR-5P6WuBP95m~vPXbf2dATTgnKzYsiWjDA5BWm2LvAaVwt8paext7l6cgHq4PiRbGyTkjkn6Y5zTMbg4H6mE~jDQVMyTU0orXh-qy2MeU9CIL8hlTvTLVoRQjUAFSPc2GahmsAumGKV2V2jiJPfEMpDV1-7sUgUkahNoVbLpRscuo2~cwWCXouZU5vjmqSJkqMek5TLfr9dSP-xYWgOAlCfBgTPclINUcpzmWSKsvuLVo9J72VcxKxgTtbN8P4oMfJ3sBrazPB8UjOImGmbccnSP7wxpETwBYV9wRbn8ECQwDOXUyBMpHixE6ekAfT5YmodTUTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WACO — Cheryl Davis, Waco ISD chief financial officer, reported to the board that the district closed the previous fiscal year in the black by about $7.1 million after using unspent ESSER funds, property value appeal adjustments and some one‑time items.

\"We had thought we'd end up in the red about $697,000; we ended up in the black $7,100,000,\" Davis said during her overview, describing how federal ESSER dollars and late property value adjustments affected final balances.

Davis told the board the district's fund balance totaled 32.9% of last year's expenditures and 31.8% of the current year's budget after accounting for inventories, prepaid items and purchase orders carried at August 31. She flagged ongoing fiscal pressures: a 10.6% enrollment decline and a 13.4% decline in average daily attendance over five years; an estimated $3.8 million reduction in local property tax collections tied to levy adjustments and homestead exemption changes; and rising costs for fuel, utilities, insurance and safety obligations.

Trustees discussed potential legislative changes that could affect revenues. Davis summarized pending proposals: a House bill that would raise the basic allotment by $220 per student and other provisions that, if enacted, could provide Waco ISD roughly $4.5 million next year — but she warned those increases would not fully offset the district's projected shortfall.

On formal actions during the meeting, the board approved the consent agenda (with item 7B pulled for separate consideration) and then unanimously approved an amendment to the 2024–25 budget that included a $350,000 allocation for a new Waco High School weight room funded by bond proceeds. In that discussion, trustees and staff said the district's practice is to place new equipment in the new facility and redistribute older equipment to campuses with needs.

Motion summary: trustee Patrick Patton moved to accept the consent agenda except for item 7B; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Later trustee Tony Guillory moved to accept item 7B as presented; that motion also passed unanimously.

Davis and trustees also discussed the district's adopted 2024–25 budget, which includes an $8 million planned deficit; Davis said the district expects some underspending that may reduce the realized deficit. She reviewed several risk areas for 2025–26 including potential increases in the homestead exemption, rising property and health insurance costs, and transportation funding that covers only a fraction of the district's $6 million estimated transportation expense.

The board moved into closed session at 8:20 p.m.; no further budget actions were taken in open session.

","Chief financial officer Cheryl Davis told trustees the district closed the prior year with a $7.1 million surplus after moving and spending federal ESSER funds; trustees unanimously approved consent agenda and a $350,000 budget amendment for Waco High weight room drawn from bond funds.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660033,"Waco ISD midyear reading report shows uneven gains across campuses",3397,2821000,6218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2438219-d243e0d2ec9f6c1fa7ab8c3f7e6359b0&start=2821&end=6218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2438219-d243e0d2ec9f6c1fa7ab8c3f7e6359b0/thumbnail_2821000.jpg","/articles/6660033/Texas/Waco-ISD-midyear-reading-report-shows-uneven-gains-across-campuses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660033-6be68d628ec3e1a99e9355b7fb47ddae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993421&Signature=Pk9beC1GvuaYt61AtPackY6OTHy~b8147W1bocWYw~ds8kaC~1pDPHLt~CisV16SwHthcVqQWbzgaF3MG3AubtIVdFI5QcZDmyq2-MYrnKO-ZSD2VYTPqJv4z1CfWU9YLFTZDiUbZ4GDS1jCQaGnj-xWBDzFDNJ3kd5Ukj0rBRwh4LjBOaVFbhhNktktupwAc8ex7ppheVNowgLIz7qSvXb3b96B79tOElPq93yEFDdfg3N~wkFIcEvcyEDzma8WkFbDEdHq0EhSl-3bmb1lg58X9Fx0uo1D0JndjzEv2J8UlFMKSPk8V97gyqwahbSRxcGodexpn-ppU19OUvqpDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WACO — District staff told the Waco Independent School Board that midyear i‑Ready reading results show a mix of progress and continuing gaps across elementary and middle schools.

The i‑Ready data presentation Wednesday detailed campus‑level averages, percentages of students who improved placement, and how many students have already met \"typical growth\" or the district's more ambitious \"stretch growth\" targets for the school year. Dr. Dina Kornblum, the district curriculum lead, said the assessment projects each student's expected end‑of‑year trajectory from their beginning‑of‑year score.

The report matters because board members and staff said they will use the results to target interventions and revise curriculum. \"What would help you most as I present this data?\" Dr. Dina Kornblum asked trustees as she opened the presentation, and she walked the board through how to interpret grade bands and growth bubbles that appear on each campus slide.

Kornblum emphasized that i‑Ready provides diagnostic detail across fluency, vocabulary, phonemic awareness and comprehension and that the program produces individualized \"pathways\" teachers can use for tiered interventions. She told the board the system gives teachers lessons, scripts and prerequisite skills tied to student needs and that the district has been training campus staff to use the tool in PLCs.

Trustees pressed for clarity on meaning and reliability. Trustee Marcus Ochoa asked whether typical growth equates to one year of progress; Kornblum replied it depends on where a student started and that typical growth is a projection specific to the student's starting point. When asked about correlation to state testing, Kornblum said i‑Ready includes a Texas proficiency projection and that the district can share a correlation chart showing how i‑Ready predicts STAAR outcomes.

Board members and staff discussed implementation details: principals said many campuses have built intervention time into the ELA block and that the district provides a mix of computer‑based and face‑to‑face lessons for tier 2 and tier 3 supports. Trustees urged administrators to identify high‑performing teachers and \"bright spots\" so successful practices can be spread; Dr. Kornblum said campus systems that use weekly student work and monitor small‑group instruction consistently produce larger gains.

Trustees also used the presentation to press for operational supports. Several trustees asked for clearer, campus‑level comparisons to identify which schools need extra support; Kornblum and Dr. Spicer said the district is reviewing its organizational supports and allocating additional coaching and budget resources where needed.

Board members were reminded that STAAR testing begins in April and runs through May; Kornblum said the district will continue to use i‑Ready data to refine interventions through the end of the year.

The board did not take formal action on the data presentation; staff described the report as an update and said follow‑up items include targeted support for lower‑performing campuses and continued teacher training on the i‑Ready pathways.

","District staff presented middle‑of‑year i‑Ready reading data to the Waco Independent School Board, highlighting pockets of strong growth at some campuses and continuing below‑grade performance at others; officials said the results will guide interventions and curriculum review ahead of STAAR tests in April–May.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waco ISD announces final public hearing on proposed attendance‑zone maps for March 4

Waco ISD finance director reports $7.1M year‑end surplus; board approves budget amendments

Waco ISD midyear reading report shows uneven gains across campuses