Board Approves District Strategic Plan
The Navasota ISD Board of Trustees approved a district strategic plan at its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 19. The strategic plan was developed with guidance from planning consultants, Insight-4-Leaders. The plan provides direction for the district's curriculum, instruction, training, budgeting, staffing, and community partnerships for the next five years. Chairs and co-chairs from planning committees that included student learning, community and parent involvement, quality staffing, and resources and facilities presented the plans goals, objectives, and initial actions to the school board Monday night. The plan will be posted and maintained on the school district's Web site, and progress toward the plan's goals and objectives will be reported to the board regularly.

"This plan establishes clear goals and objectives that will guide Navasota ISD in its mission to provide students a high quality education through strong instruction, a rigorous curriculum, and opportunities outside the classroom to realize academic, social, and personal growth," Superintendent of Schools Rory Gesch said.

OTHER ITEMS

• The Board of Trustees recognized Navasota High School's Academic District Champions, science fair state and international qualifiers, and the powerlifting team for its second place finish at this year's regional meet. Three Rattler powerlifters competed at the state tournament led by Rodney Brown and Ariel Chatman who each placed fourth in their divisions at the state meet. Dewon Davis placed seventh.
• Superintendent Gesch reported on the implementation of a visitor management system on each of the district's campuses. The system is used by school districts across the country to track visitors, students, faculty, contractors, and volunteers on school campuses. The software screens visitors against the registered sex offender databases of all 50 states.
• The Board of Trustees approved the employment of Julie West (high school Spanish), Amanda Brawley (high school Spanish), Michelle Inocencio (high school life skills), Gay Beck (high school food and consumer science), and Markeith Wesley.

High School Junior Recognized as High Scorer by National Merit Scholarship Program 

Junior John Hill Price has been recognized as a high scorer and is expected to be among the top test takers nationwide recognized in the National Merit Scholarship Program. In September, high scorers will be notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a National Merit Commended Student or a National Merit Semifinalist.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national academic scholarship competition for recognition and college scholarships administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Of 1.5 million entrants, 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.