[{"_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",6058526,"mediaKeyId","3297078-9c40d96727de088e2bb3718392921aaf","parentId",3297078,"title","ECISD nutrition director reports rising participation under CEP, highlights costs and capital investments","audioSeconds",1022,"startMs",3267000,"endMs",4289000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297078-9c40d96727de088e2bb3718392921aaf&start=3267&end=4289","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297078-9c40d96727de088e2bb3718392921aaf/thumbnail_3267000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6058526/Texas/ECISD-nutrition-director-reports-rising-participation-under-CEP-highlights-costs-and-capital-investments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058526-21ed3aaee6fc6eafbc035f9fb0a90f30/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971527&Signature=N0OOn5pQ2gAk0R1y0EYhMfkBwv6Vn5LcYw9EgghmC3~Z3eCyRBxhbTYSsSYngwiI4y2ueolgUwG~VCGj2Dh51~CC1duUs~xiCNICczCG~KIiE9sd6Wuu08sw3YVsU~hAtOU0zCtLok7HMSZivKNvLzkiiG4RK10mS27z6D6hwqWq4BwrCdcimMA2DQXVwhx2eH7~ncxzeOCshJ8ZQU5xFvcZq77hBOjo1fzKDKzHwmGQ5ZdzFJSpc1nNkb9lHHgKiylzXNx5uSG7mu-e-BAE-84ih56BjcZGaHxULHEBpeVXHL79FHcvmoqk0cleRXgbBJKHsjTCPqnDp2ERarqT-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ector County ISD","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","Ector County Independent School District's director of school nutrition reported on program operations, budgets and planned investments and said the district'wide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) has increased breakfast and lunch participation while the program continues to absorb a portion of meal costs not reimbursed by USDA.

The update matters because feeding roughly tens of thousands of students daily affects district budgets, staffing, and student well'being; the director said sustaining high participation is important to program viability.

Dr. Pena, director of school nutrition, told trustees the district began CEP in the 2022 school year, which enables breakfast and lunch free to all students and eliminates lunch-balance stigma. She said federal reimbursements through the U.S. Department of Agriculture cover about 81 percent of the reimbursable-meal cost for ECISD'served meals and the district covers the remaining roughly 19 percent through local operations and a la carte sales. Pena said the program serves about 14,000 breakfasts and 18,000 lunches daily; breakfast participation rose 9 percent and lunch participation rose 8 percent compared with the prior year.

Pena described a variety of feeding programs: breakfast in the classroom at many campuses, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for after-school snacks in partnership with Camp Fire West Texas at eight campuses, and summer meal operations. To boost participation amid a net loss of five serving sites this year, nutrition staff introduced a daily pizza entree and second-entrée options; Pena emphasized those a la carte and second-entrée sales are designed to meet federal nutrition standards and help close the reimbursement gap.

On staffing, Pena said the department employs about 235 people and that the district instituted a two-step hiring process in which new hires begin as substitutes for roughly a three-month evaluation period before being offered permanent positions; pay is the same during that period. The department offers stipends and bonuses for Texas Association of Student Nutrition certifications (for example, $500 for level 1, $800 for level 2) and monitors labor-efficiency metrics and food-cost targets.

Capital and procurement items included a warehouse refrigerator-to-freezer conversion that expanded frozen storage capacity by 2,500 cases and produced recurring savings (staff estimated about $10 per case compared with distributor sourcing, or roughly $25,000 per shipment). Pena said the department is planning to install generators to protect walk-in refrigerators and freezers after a recent overnight power outage required staff to move food to the central warehouse.

Trustees asked about pay competitiveness, program participation strategies and safety; Pena said a la carte items meet nutrition standards and reiterated that the department reinvests excess fund balance into equipment and dining-area improvements. Pena said the food show community events had attracted about 900 attendees previously and the department aims to exceed 1,000 at its next show to increase transparency and menu feedback.

The presentation was informational; no board action was taken. Pena said sustaining CEP participation, monitoring procurement and completing planned capital investments are priorities for the coming year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ector County ISD \tBoard Workshop\tMay 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ector County ISD's school nutrition director reported that the district'wide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) has increased meal participation, described operations and budget pressures, and outlined capital investments including freezer conversion and planned generators to protect food during outages.","taxTitle","ECTOR COUNTY ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14250,"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},6058531,"Texas Tech'ECISD partnership finds early attendance patterns, highlights teacher effect",1764,1335000,3099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297078-9c40d96727de088e2bb3718392921aaf&start=1335&end=3099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297078-9c40d96727de088e2bb3718392921aaf/thumbnail_1335000.jpg","/articles/6058531/Texas/Texas-TechECISD-partnership-finds-early-attendance-patterns-highlights-teacher-effect","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058531-6f84d487ad94df993690b0d217683706/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971527&Signature=Q1SYMugs9eolg59NmUP7L5mxKKuVQHemL7XRMhzeLF31qCUhJJOwfmk~ZlEb48~lELEynE4PezolhjZgu~jJ6NsbE9NSj3N1s17y6DFc8YEG4yPz2fPfqvKyIFtsIvWWv3Z-FJsaV3a6CY7ic5COtA8Fk0nDSKvewe~ZO7eAvSYtfRFFYT1c6nf~~Kc6tUvNGcCRlaPwX-G8hC0wLeWzKKb-wCItX8SjvcGaOh8S06pgPkHgEeBbyE2f3BAuQi5tP-WB4lgaDGXmg57ACG3m46nZj3C~WKQeiScRpsjIR-M1kvWDrUShoE6Q-xTh75hZhwUjoAoVCbr0EQlKhos0rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Researchers from Texas Tech presented phase one of a research-practice partnership with Ector County Independent School District analyzing attendance trends, campus practices and early-warning indicators; they recommended continuing to phase the work, adding family and student voices in phase two, and studying teacher and principal practices that appear to reduce chronic absenteeism.

The work matters because ECISD reported a rise in chronic absenteeism after the COVID'19 pandemic and school leaders seek evidence-based steps to restore attendance levels linked to academic outcomes.

Dr. Boyer introduced the Texas Tech team and said the district asked for research to \"do something different to move the metric for kids.\" Jessica Gottlieb, a Texas Tech researcher, described the partnership's three-phase structure and noted the definition of chronic absenteeism the team used: students who miss 10 percent or more of enrolled school days, including excused and unexcused absences. The research team combined literature review, more than 30 interviews with principals, teachers and attendance clerks across 13 campuses, and quantitative analysis of district and state data.

Key quantitative findings presented included a district chronic-absence peak of about 30 percent in 2022 with a modest decline to roughly 28 percent in 2023. The researchers said first-six-weeks attendance is a strong early predictor: students missing 1'2 days in the first six weeks had an elevated likelihood of yearlong chronic absence, and students missing 6'9 days in that window had markedly higher risks (the team reported an example where elementary students missing 6'9 days were about 65 percent likely to be chronically absent for the year). The researchers emphasized that these early-warning patterns held across demographic subgroups.

The study also identified strong positive associations between teacher effectiveness and subsequent attendance. Researchers reported that students who had been severely chronically absent the previous year were up to 20 percentage points less likely to be chronically absent if assigned a highly effective (TIA master) teacher, after adjusting for background characteristics and prior outcomes. The team highlighted the district's investments in teacher quality, the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designations and the Opportunity Culture roles as plausible levers to improve attendance.

Qualitative interviews surfaced recurring themes: consistent campus-level attendance processes and strong appreciation for the district community outreach center; perception of parental disengagement at some elementary campuses; challenges tied to economic conditions, mobility and industry-specific local labor opportunities; safety and transportation concerns for students who live within walking distance but face hazardous crossings; and logistical constraints at large comprehensive high schools (multiple exterior doors, students leaving for dual-credit or CTE coursework). Texas Tech flagged mobility, local labor-market incentives and school climate as important contextual drivers.

Trustees discussed additional considerations including post'COVID anxiety among students, student rebellion and out-of-school congregation (trustees mentioned parks as places students gather), and the need to interview students directly. Researchers confirmed phase two will incorporate family and student voices, develop teacher and principal surveys to isolate effective practices, and produce cross-campus comparisons to identify bright spots.

No board action was taken; the presentation was informational. The research team recommended next steps: continue to phases two and three, incorporate family and student surveys, investigate specific teacher and principal practices that reduce chronic absence, and explore operational solutions for transportation and safe-passage for short-distance walkers.","A phase\u0001one research-practice partnership presented by Texas Tech researchers found chronic absenteeism rose after the pandemic and remains elevated in ECISD; early attendance in the first six weeks strongly predicts yearlong chronic absenteeism, and effective teachers were associated with large reductions in chronic absence risk.",{"_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},6058536,"ECISD presents 2025–26 gifted-and-talented plan, proposes screening shift to second grade",1046,301000,1347000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297078-9c40d96727de088e2bb3718392921aaf&start=301&end=1347","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297078-9c40d96727de088e2bb3718392921aaf/thumbnail_301000.jpg","/articles/6058536/Texas/ECISD-presents-202526-gifted-and-talented-plan-proposes-screening-shift-to-second-grade","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058536-b17cbf32158afebd6a25946f6d323d18/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971527&Signature=hQdNH~z91to5gB9lCR2z3IeGzjmmttFWie-ySr-HOcEpAztZ1ZgEMLfjEo9TP2jSLCDL8zWlkcZz3Y05oUBPW~qHfHAysh1YseeTRP22e2vB8Ft8U01brxxpHj9kH8RqrhO2Auja6tBjmv~RKV1cwzkbw81Dr07BoDfQeGKqX7G3KSMIRSMmah~pSu0Reyl8WhG2CTQJAX5-8JEzblgbe-1QvrbTf6fCn1JQFPb3lc6fjuMkKNJs0VjKti7z4DMemm2RsVJ~KBBmZ~JL3AFEAUF7eYurmbYOUmCCH75WFtfPGnNLOGVJV66PspeO8lzsyQkKoQvQm8GBiJ1C~eDOtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ector County Independent School District officials presented the district'level gifted-and-talented plan for the 2025'26 school year and recommended several \"enhancements\" to identification and teacher support, while saying no programmatic changes are being requested at this time.

The plan matters because the district tracks GT access and outcomes against the Texas Education Agency'defined GT state plan and state accountability expectations; staff told trustees the district is currently in compliance and is working to return to an \"exemplary\" designation.

Kristen Beasley, director of advanced academics for Ector County ISD, led the presentation and described program structure, student demographics and three proposed enhancements: move the universal screener from third to second grade; expand the GT showcase program into secondary schools so older students can present products and performances; and require depth-and-complexity training for every teacher who has a GT student in their class. \"We are not asking to make any programmatic changes in the approval. There are no program changes,\" Beasley said, framing the items as improvements rather than a change in core service delivery.

District data presented by Beasley showed ECISD identifies about 10 percent of its students as GT, which staff said is within the statewide range and within the TEA guidance that GT subgroup percentages should be within 10 percentage points of the district population for most demographic categories. Beasley said identification gaps have narrowed over the past five years and that referrals have increased, especially at the elementary level.

On services, Beasley described a two-pronged delivery model: cluster classrooms led by GT-trained, certified teachers, supplemented by pullout instruction. At elementary grades three through six the district offers a weekly two-hour pullout; certified GT specialists provide support and also co-teach to help students transfer skills back to the general classroom. At the secondary level GT services are provided through honors, AP and IB courses, with three content-specific specialists supporting those teachers.

Trustees asked operational questions. Beasley said the district currently has four elementary GT specialists and three secondary specialists, noted staffing is constrained and said the district plans to ask for additional personnel in the future but must weigh requests against state legislative and budget conditions. On screening, Beasley explained the universal screener is administered to every child in the tested grade and recommended screening second graders (in addition to kindergarten and fifth grade) beginning next year so the district will screen kindergarten, second, third and fifth grades during the transition year and then move to kindergarten, second and fifth thereafter.

Board members also raised equity and newcomer concerns: trustees asked how the district will avoid missing newly enrolled students or students who arrive midstream, including emergent bilingual learners. Beasley said the secondary showcase and other outreach efforts will help identify students who were not screened earlier and that staff will present additional clarifying procedures as the plan is implemented.

Beasley summarized the district'level focus for next year as sustained teacher training and support, stronger secondary supports through the expanded showcase, and improved coordination with special education and bilingual services so GT needs are represented on IEPs and LPAC discussions. She said those enhancements are intended to strengthen Tier 1 instruction and teacher capacity rather than change service models.

The presentation was informational; Beasley explicitly stated the board was not being asked to adopt program changes at this meeting. Trustees requested additional operational details and follow-up on screening logistics and on how the district will identify newcomers and emergent bilingual students outside the universal-screening windows.

Looking ahead, staff said any formal policy or staffing requests that derive from the enhancements would come to the board for future consideration, with implementation details and timelines provided at that time.","Ector County ISD staff presented the district'wide gifted-and-talented (GT) plan for 2025'26, reported improved identification equity over five years, and proposed three non-programmatic enhancements including moving universal GT screening from third to second grade.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

ECISD nutrition director reports rising participation under CEP, highlights costs and capital investments

Texas Tech'ECISD partnership finds early attendance patterns, highlights teacher effect

ECISD presents 2025–26 gifted-and-talented plan, proposes screening shift to second grade