Odessa R‑VII board approves 95% Group reading program, tech class and audit contract; sets calendar extension

The Odessa R‑VII Board of Education approved several staff and program recommendations and took steps to meet state reporting and calendar requirements at its recent regular meeting.

Board members voted to adopt the 95% Group reading intervention as the district’s Title I resource, approved a new high school technology maintenance class, recommended continuation of the district audit contract with Gurding, Corte & Chitwood CPAs, and accepted a job description to create a database/system manager role that will centralize student information system (SIS) and core data responsibilities. During the meeting administrators also confirmed the district must extend the school year to May 23 to meet state-required instructional hours after missed days.

The district’s Title I team presented the review that led to selecting 95% Group. Teachers piloted three programs (referred to in district materials as SIPs, Reading Horizons and 95% Group) and scored them on classroom fit, instructional materials and available manipulatives. The presentation said 95% Group scored highest because it includes teacher manuals, manipulatives and an online component that can carry student data across…