Communication is key in La Marque ISD
La Marque Independent School District Superintendent Ecomet Burley has stepped up the district’s communications efforts with faculty and staff, students and community members. During the spring semester, Burley established three groups to increase the flow of information between La Marque ISD’s central administration and both its internal and public audiences.
The Superintendent’s Communications Council includes teachers and staff members from each LMISD school, while the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee includes fifth through 12th grade representatives from the district’s four elementary schools, middle school and high school. Community, business and government leaders offer input as part of a Superintendent’s Roundtable.
The new endeavors kicked off in March with the first monthly Communications Council meeting. The purpose of the council is to serve as a forum to discuss items and issues of concern or ideas for improvement, along with district updates regarding discussed topics. The 18-member group talked about various topics and issues of concern to the district and its staff. The topics included teacher and student expectations, discipline, maintenance, technology and parent involvement among others. Future meetings will focus on specific issues. In April, the Council discussed teacher recruitment and retention.
Communications Council members include Latreace Roberts, La Marque High School; Jacqueline Perkins, LMHS; Nancy Scott, LMHS; Stephen Kohan, LMHS; Jessica Jackson, La Marque Middle School; Veronica Arneson, LMMS; Patrice Woolridge, LMMS; Sabina Fernandez, Highlands Elementary; Adrianna Ricard, Highlands; Dr. Stephen Duncan, Inter-City Elementary; Almeta Stonum, Inter-City, Betty Winters, Simms Elementary; Tanya Guidry, Simms; Joyce Bell, Westlawn Elementary; Nancy Thrash, Westlawn; Lois Jones, Early Childhood Learning Center; Irma Buentello, ECLC; and Harrilyn McMillan, DAEP.
The Student Advisory Committee met in two sessions – elementary and secondary – in April. To qualify for the committee, students had to show an interest in discussing a variety of school-related areas, including academics, athletics, fine arts, career and technical areas, student government and club leadership. They also had to demonstrate solid academic performance, strong communication and leadership skills and an ability to vocalize positive and negative concerns, as well as an interest in learning about and contributing to issues concerning LMISD students.
During their initial meeting with Mr. Burley, the students talked about the upcoming changes and further implementation of a district standardized dress code, as well as the expectations required of all students. The student representatives also brought up their own concerns, including discipline, security systems, focus on academics, textbooks and materials and playground and gym equipment.
Elementary students serving on the Student Advisory Committee include fifth-graders Lauryn Caldwell, Highlands; Tyra Doyle, Inter-City; Tia Johnson, Simms; and Kamron Williams, Westlawn. Secondary students include Deven Renner, sixth grade; Angela Qualls, seventh grade; Ebone Williams, eighth grade; Brittany Hawkins, ninth grade; Alcherie Shelton, 10th grade; and Laticia Choice, 11th grade.
The Superintendent’s Roundtable met in May to talk about “what counts” in La Marque ISD. Roundtable members talked about signs of school quality and what they, as business, community and government leaders value most about public education. The group identified key indicators of what community leaders want to see in LMISD. Chief among them were experienced teachers and administrators, high parental involvement and good discipline. Through this roundtable, the district wants to share information, gain and collect feedback on district and program needs, counter misinformation, seek solutions to problems, and keep in touch with the concerns of the community.
Rountable members include County Commissioner Stephen Holmes, Texas City Commissioner and La Marque ISD Education Foundation director Don Singleton, College of the Mainland President Homer “Butch” Hayes, Jerry Grooms with the City of La Marque and Don Carroll with the City of Texas City. Additional members include Dow’s Charles Jackson, McKinney Memorial United Methodist Church pastor Dr. Janice Gilbert, Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church pastor Rev. William Randall, Pastor Johnathan Steele with Progressive Baptist Church and Bro. David Dinkins with Highlands Baptist Church. Community representatives are Vera Bell-Gary, Jimmie Saldana, Ethel Sheldon, Diane Winston, Jose Boix, J.L. Hollowell, Edna Courville, Rev. James Daniels and Pastor Kevin Herrin.
Meetings for all three groups will resume in September, with ad hoc committee meetings planned for June, July and early August.