Superintendent of Schools'
State of the District Address Highlights Annual Breakfast

March 30, 2005

Nearly 200 district advisory committee members, Plano ISD Education Foundation board members and students attended a District Recognition Breakfast on March 30 at the Sockwell Center to hear Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto deliver his annual "State of the District Address" and to be recognized for their service to Plano schools. Attendees also heard an update on the Plano ISD Education Foundation.

Breakfast Program
State of the District Address
Education Foundation Update
Related Links

Breakfast Program

advisory committee members The District Recognition Breakfast program, to honor members of district advisory committees (including Multi-ethnic committee members, pictured) included greetings from Karla Oliver, executive director for government and community relations, and Duncan Webb, school board vice-president. Bob Robertson, Plano ISD Education Foundation president, brought greetings from the Foundation, and Danny Modisette, deputy superintendent, provided an inspirational message.

Guests also heard a Foundation Update from Martheil Mauthe-Clanton, executive director, and viewed a video presentation about the Foundation's programs. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto provided his annual State of the District Address as the keynote presentation.

State of the District Address

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto shared with the approximately 200 guests at the District Recognition Breakfast his annual State of District Address, thanking the many staff and community leaders for their commitment to serve on district advisory committees and helping to maintain the excellence that is the hallmark of Plano schools.

'All Means All'

"I am the number one cheerleader for this school district," he told the group, citing examples of how Plano ISD has maintained its excellent reputation while, at the same time, exploring new avenues for ensuring that "all" students succeed.

"Public education must be an obsession in this community, if we are to continue to maintain excellence and attract people to our city," he said, sharing the following statistics with the group:

Current enrollment is 51,500 students.
Expected enrollment w/in next few years is 54,000 students.
PISD will open its 66th and 67th schools in August (Hunt and McCall elementary schools).
Changing demographics have resulted in an increase in the student population to 25% (one in four students) who are economically disadvantaged.

"Excellence in education for all children is our mission," said Dr. Otto, emphasizing that, "all means all." He said that, the district is putting meaning behind the phrase "closing the achievement gap" with a focus on ensuring that all learners rise above economic and socioeconomic challenges.

Closing the Achievement Gap

An initiative in place in PISD for several years, the district's STARS schools program, concentrates extra district resources and support to four campuses with large bilingual populations: Hickey, Forman, Meadows and Mendenhall elementary schools.

Dr. Otto explained that, in a new initiative this school year, the district has identified three campuses -- one in each of the district's three clusters: east, central and west -- as "Key Schools" which are in transition due to higher than average numbers of students who live in apartment housing, higher than average student mobility rates and increases in the numbers of students who are economically disadvantaged.

student advisory committee

Danny Modisette, deputy superintendent, and Karla Oliver, executive director for government and community relations, helped host members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Committee.

No Child Left Behind

"Due to the federal 'No Child Left Behind' act, there is a great paradigm shift in our country to not only ensure equal access to public education resources in our communities, but to ensure 100 percent proficiency in learning subjects such as reading, writing, math and science," said Dr. Otto.

Citing the high achievement levels of PISD students on recent state TAKS reading exams, Dr. Otto said, "Now, we must focus equal attention on raising the bar for students in the areas of math and science to 100 percent proficiency by the year 2012 - a daunting task but one that is possible in PISD."

Celebrating, Raising Achievement

Plano ISD is one of the few school districts in the state which maintained its "Recognized" rating during the Texas Education Agency's implementation of a much more rigorous accountability system this past school year, noted Dr. Otto. "The bar was raised quite a bit, and we stepped up to the plate and did the job," he said, thanking teachers across PISD for the great work they continue to do to ensure that all students succeed.

Noting that PISD senior high schools continue to rank at the very top of the state and southwest region in numbers of Advanced Placement Scholars, and lauding the schools for "continuing to excel in all areas," Dr. Otto said that, "We will continue to raise the highest-level students, while focusing on low-achieving and poor students, bringing them up to higher levels of achievement."

Maintaining Quality Schools

With the Plano ISD Education Foundation to help close financial gaps, a school district that has embraced national PTA affiliation at every one of our 65 campuses, and a community that is committed to quality education, PISD will continue to excel, said Dr. Otto.

"Three things are needed to continue to maintain quality schools in Plano ISD," noted the superintendent.

Trained, highly qualified teachers who deliver a consistent curriculum across the district and first-rate facilities renovated in a timely manner to accomodate the newest curricula.
Focus on closing achievement gaps.
Consistency across the community that these goals are important. "When everyone agrees, we have a 'win, win' situation," said Dr. Otto.

Budget & Legislative Update

Dr. Otto continued his address with a budget update and information about the Texas Legislature's proposed House Bill 2, "This has been one of the most difficult legislative sessions for me, personally," he told the group. "A lot of decisions are being made without input from educators."

He noted that the proposed new funding in HB2 comes with strings attached and state mandates that will force PISD into deficit spending, telling the audience that, "The 'cookie cutter' approach to educating students only goes so far. We need a new financial system that allows us to spend dollars to meet our community's expectations. That is our plea to legislators: access to new funds, but the ability for school districts to put the dollars where they are most needed."

Hiring and retaining the best teachers continues to be a number one priority for the district, he said. "It all starts with the teacher. Our teachers must see every child who enters their doors as a potentially college-bound student."

Dr. Otto closed his address with affirmation that, "Plano ISD is a 'lighthouse' district in Texas, if not in the entire southwest and nation. It is a great pleasure to serve as superintendent."

Education Foundation Update

Martheil Mauthe-Clanton provided an update on the Plano ISD Education Foundation's programs and initiatives for the year. "The Foundation continues to work creatively to build alliances and partnerships with businesses and the community to provides resources for PISD teachers and students," she said.

Programs include the Educator Incentive Grants, which provided $45,000 this school year to teachers for their innovative classroom projects. Grants are funded in part through the Foundation's annual "Ski Plano!" event, which, this year, raised $75,000.

Ms. Mauthe-Clanton shared with guests the many initiatives of the Foundation, which include funding access to myPISD.net for several economically-disadvantaged students in the district, which benefits not only the student, but his/her siblings and other relatives.

The Margaret F. Reynolds Fund for Plano ISD staff in crisis is an additional Foundation program which provided teachers and other staff members with $18,000 this past year to help toward medical and other expenses during times of personal/family crisis.

Ms. Mauthe-Clanton reported that the Foundation surpassed its goal this year of a 200 percent increase in revenues to 300 percent, due to the Foundation board, companies and corporations and volunteers who have given time and supported financially the Foundation's vision, commitment and leadership.

video presentation