BY JONATHAN CANNON

HERALD DEMOCRAT

The Denison School Board took a few more steps toward a bond election next year during the annual retreat on Saturday. District Superintendent Dr. Henry Scott said the board discussed facility needs with the district architect on Saturday, but emphasized that the total of a bond, and if it is necessary, will up to the 40-member committee that will meet for the first time in March.

Board members also discussed a number of other issues during the annual retreat, which is much less relaxing than its name implies. However, Scott said the five-hour meeting was productive.

"I think there was a lot of sharing of information, and more than anything else, I just think that the board was briefed and updated on some issues we've got with the new accountability system coming in," he said. "That was a very important part of the meeting."

The new student assessment, the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, will replace the current assessment, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS, beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. The biggest change will be the 12 end-of-course exams replacing the current exit-level test for high school students. Scott said the testing of third through eighth graders will also be more rigorous.

Denison Independent School District board members discussed the implications of the new system on its budget and its curriculum. Scott said it will likely require the district to hire additional teachers, and if many students fail the tests, it will require even more staff for remediation. Scott said he thought the new system would put additional stress on students and teachers, but said, regardless of the challenges, district staff will be prepared. He said, administrators will work with teachers during their professional development to prepare them for the new standards.

Scott said board members also spent a significant time discussing the technology needs of the district. And while members didn't vote on any definite action, areas of discussion included a wireless campus and bringing a one-to-one student-to-computer ratio to the district.

Other areas of discussion included a plan to combat truancy and a review of the district's security emergency operating procedures.

"I really thought that it was a very good retreat," Scott said. "The board ... learned a lot and asked a lot of questions."