KINGSVILLE, Texas — Kingsville ISD hosted their fourth annual State of the District luncheon Thursday morning.
The luncheon sold out this year as community members, staff and Senator Morgan Lamantia celebrated the school district's achievements while also getting an update to the new four-and-a-half-day calendar and the Texas Education Agency accountability lawsuit.
This year the school district implemented a new four-and-a-half-day school calendar and Kingsville ISD Superintendent Dr. Cecilia 'Cissy' Reynolds-Perez said the results were great.
"Our attendance rate improved by 2 percent for our students, but also, our teachers, we had 1,307 fewer substitutes used this year, which means we our teachers were in the classroom more," Reynolds-Perez said.
With the new school calendar, Fridays are optional for students but many attend school for fun activities or as a study hall. Teachers used Fridays as an instructional day.
"At the end of the year, we did surveys with our teachers, students and our staff," Reynolds-Perez said. "And it was an overwhelming support to continue it next year."
Last August, Kingsville ISD took the initiative to file a lawsuit over changes to the TEA rating system, which now more than 200 school districts are also taking part in.
"In October, a judge granted a temporary junction because the judge, we believe, saw that there is some unfair or unlawful things that might have occurred with the sudden changes," Reynolds-Perez said.
Senator Morgan Lamantia, who has been a supporter of education changes in Texas, attended the luncheon.
"The same underlying goal...provide our students with the best possible education and the best opportunities to chase their dreams," Lamantia said.
Reynolds-Perez said the lawsuit is a big step for Texas schools to be rated fairly.
"Right now, it's in the appeals court, but we at least have the attention of some of our legislators and TEA to know we believe in accountability, we really do, we just want it to be fair and lawful," she said.
Reynolds-Perez said the school district will continue to use the four-and-a-half day schedule for the next school year.