Soup Notes

Change and its Challenge

February 2012, by Dr. Jerome Stewart

Midlothian ISD has experienced tremendous change in the recent past.

Like all Texas K-12 public schools, the state tests have dramatically changed. The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests are going away. They will be replaced by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR).

Our freshmen this year will take end of course (EOC) examinations, not TAKS tests.

The state budget crisis hit MISD. We are in the first year of a two year budget cycle in which MISD planned for over $4 million less revenue in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Every two years the University of Interscholastic League (UIL) realigns districts. MISD will probably be with some of the same school districts and some different districts in this realignment.

This is exciting news and it represents a major change: Midlothian will have a second high school starting with the 2014-15 school year.

And there are more changes ... too many to list in this column.

The challenge with change is to embrace it for what it is and to excel under new conditions. Change cannot be an excuse for seeking anything but the best for MISD ... for Midlothian ... for our students.

Change. Everyone and every organization experiences it. The defining moment is in how one chooses to deal with it.

MISD chooses to strive for excellence in the midst of change.

© 2012 - Property of Midlothian Independent School District
L.A. Mills Administration • 100 Walter Stephenson Dr. • Midlothian, TX 76065 • 972-775-8296 • F: 972-775-1757

Midlothian High School: 972-775-8237 • Frank Seale Middle School: 972-775-6145 • Walnut Grove Middle School: 972-775-5355

J.A. Vitovsky Elementary: 972-775-5536 • J.R. Irvin Elementary: 972-775-8239 • LaRue Miller Elementary: 972-775-4497

Longbranch Elementary: 972-775-2830 • Mt. Peak Elementary: 972-775-2881 • T.E. Baxter Elementary: 972-775-8281