MISD Honors Sam Baxter For Contributions To MavU Dual Credit Program
October 21, 2020
Marshall ISD recognized Mr. Sam Baxter, a longtime supporter of the district and its students, for his contributions to the MavU dual credit program during Monday’s regular October meeting of the MISD Board of Trustees.
Dr. Jerry Gibson, MISD Superintendent, presented Mr. Baxter with a commemorative display that included letters from former Marshall MavU students, a photo of current MavU students and a copy of a recent article which outlined the program’s accomplishments since its implementation in 2016.
Mr. Baxter was instrumental in helping to orchestrate the creation of MavU, which is a dual credit agreement between MISD and East Texas Baptist University. The program allows MHS juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to 27 college hours in the familiar surroundings of classrooms at MHS with ETBU professors. The tuition rates are discounted to just $50 per semester hour, with textbooks provided to MISD students at no cost to students.
“It’s true that you can’t go wrong when you help kids,” Mr. Baxter said in receiving Monday’s presentation from Dr. Gibson.
Since the fall of 2016, when MavU was first implemented, MHS students have earned a total of 2,374 college credit hours while still a high school student through the dual credit program with ETBU. During the 2019-2020 school year, MavU students earned 663 credits toward their college degree.
In other business from Monday’s October meeting:
• Anika Perkins, MISD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, presented the monthly Data Review and gave board members an update on the district’s Beginning of Year Assessment data. The district administered optional beginning-of-year assessments which are designed to diagnose understanding of the TEKS from the previous school year. Therefore, the assessments were administered to students based on their prior year grade level. Data will be used to research the educational impact of the COVID-19 spring closure and to spread best practice. MISD participated with the assessment in Reading and Math utilizing last year’s tested grades.
• The district’s monthly financial reports were approved under the Consent Agenda.
• Other items approved under Consent Agenda were School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) members for 2020-2021; 2020-2021 District and Campus Improvement Plans; purchase of STAR Renaissance Learning Renewal; and purchase of I-Station Reading Program.
• Trustees unanimously approved the Board Goals as presented by Dr. Jerry Gibson, Superintendent.
• Trustees unanimously approved the nomination of trustee Ted Huffhines to fill a position on the TASB Board of Directors.
• Trustees unanimously approved four Budget Amendments: completion of the bleachers project in Maverick Gym; completion of the baseball and softball field turf projects; completion of the multipurpose pavilion project; and completion of the Ag Barn project.
• Trustees unanimously approved funding for a Flume and Retaining Wall project at Marshall High School. The flume between the Learning Resource Center and Administration Building is in need of repair, and the railroad ties serving as a retaining wall near the entrance of Marshall High School have degraded over the years. Work on the flume project will begin immediately, while the retaining wall repair will have to wait until next summer.
The MISD Board of Trustees will hold their regular November meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the Pat Smith-Gasperson Board Room. There will be a Meeting for Agenda Review prior to that meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 12 p.m.