July 20, 2012
New Granbury ISD superintendent Dr. James Largent addressed the state of education at the Granbury Chamber of Commerce luncheon held July 20, 2012, at the Pecan Plantation clubhouse.
Largent said that there has been a paradigm shift in education towards the ability to access information and away from memorizing facts. Educational content has advanced so much that today’s sixth graders are learning what was taught in high school a generation ago.
Although stressing the need for accountability for public schools, the new superintendent called it a “crime” that our current state system requires kids to take so many multiple-choice standardized tests.
He said that strong schools are important to the community and local businesses, and that he will seek a strong partnership between GISD and the chamber of commerce.
One initiative that will involve the community will be a new speaker’s bureau that will allow individuals to register in order to speak to students about an area of expertise. Participants will be able to designate their topic and the age level of students that they would like to address. When lessons or events require speakers, teachers and other school personnel can utilize the list to invite community members to speak.
Largent spoke about the recent school board budget workshop, indicating that school trustees and administrators reviewed a balanced budget proposal that includes a half-cent property tax rate reduction and a 2% average pay increase for district employees.
The superintendent said that GISD has a lot of potential and that he hopes to make it the premier school district in the state of Texas. He said that would be measured by the number of students graduating and prepared for college, technical school, and life in general.
Largent (left) is pictured above with chamber president Mike Scott.
Photo courtesy of Granbury Chamber of Commerce/Sondra Walton
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