PN-G bamatex

[quote name="Diamond-J" post="1020420" timestamp="1308850570"] [quote author=BHFAN link=topic=85080.msg1020414#msg1020414 date=1308849398] [quote author=I dont play well with Jaguars link=topic=85080.msg1020411#msg1020411 date=1308846732] [quote author=BHFAN link=topic=85080.msg1020401#msg1020401 date=1308845288] [quote author=panamamyers link=topic=85080.msg1020315#msg1020315 date=1308796281] Exactly. It was probably 19-7 at the time.  That would have made it 19-14 late in the game. I'm not saying Lee should have won or deserved to win, because Lee was an absolutely, downright, deplorable team last year. I'm just saying that it's not like Barbers Hill rolled all over them like Dayton did to Lee. [/quote] I with ya Panama! Dayton would have not beaten us by a 100 if we could have gotten that 1st down in the 4th with 2 minutes to go  ;D Man Dayton was lucky 8) [/quote]I think Dayton might hang 70 on the Ant Mound this year.  :D [/quote] I can't explain what happened last year. All I can say is it was early in the season under a brand new O and D scheme with new coaches + 9 turnovers. Even Dayton’s State team didn't beat the Eagles by that much! Dayton had its year that it beat the Eagles like a step child, but it will not become an annual event I Guarantee you. [/quote]The time will come when BH lucks out and wins like that other loser to west of Dayton.........and just like that other loser the Broncs will start another "reign of terror" for a decade or so and relegate the ant mound to the ash heap of history [/quote] And for that whole decade, the smoking baby will be here saying "Remember that year that we beat Dayton? The Hill is for real!". ;D

[quote name="BMTJags" post="1020323" timestamp="1308801108"] [quote author=PN-G bandkid link=topic=85065.msg1019549#msg1019549 date=1308524835] 1. PN-G Indians ;D 2. Central Jaguars 3. Livingston Lions 4. Nederland Bulldogs 5. Ozen Panthers 6. LC-M Bears 7. Vidor Pirates 8. Lumberton Raiders The last five are all subject to change. The first three are going to be the first three, but that could come in a different order. I think PN-G is going to surprise some people this year, just like winning the last five district games surprised people last year and an undefeated regular season surprised people the year before that. Our defense is going to be greatly improved from last year, and I don't think our offense is going to miss a step. Given a little time to work out the kinks in the preseason, Coach Faircloth and his staff are going to have a stout team in district play. Central, as always, will be very good. With that said, I think they're going to take a few surprise losses (that's the nature of the sport, but it seems to be the staple of Central football; case in point, Livingston and PN-G in '09 and Memorial and PN-G in '10) that will mess up their chances for the district title. Livingston's offense is going to be red hot. The problem is Livingston's defense. What they had on defense last year just didn't make the cut, and it wasn't that great in 2009 either. If I remember correctly, most of their defensive players last year were seniors (might have to doublecheck that), and that will only hurt the defense more. Nederland will be solid as always and expect some surprises from Ozen. Hopefully, it will be an injury-free season and I'll be checking in to read about some outstanding SETX football this year. Scalp 'em. [/quote]Good analysis! [/quote] Thanks. :)

[quote name="CMON-MAN" post="1020320" timestamp="1308797727"] Raiders Bears Pirates Dogs ;D ;D ;D ;D [/quote] Predicting the bottom four, I see. ;D

[quote name="purpleeagle" post="1020163" timestamp="1308751251"] You are right PNGbandkid, when you are an Indian you an Indian to the bone.  Class of '61 (I am also an Eagle to the bone) [/quote] That's what we were taught in elementary school.

[quote name="purpleeagle" post="1020000" timestamp="1308684058"] PN-G Livingston Nederland [b]High Island[/b] [/quote] ???

[quote name="lionbaseball" post="1019689" timestamp="1308585221"] [quote author=PN-G bandkid link=topic=85065.msg1019549#msg1019549 date=1308524835] 1. PN-G Indians ;D 2. Central Jaguars 3. Livingston Lions 4. Nederland Bulldogs 5. Ozen Panthers 6. LC-M Bears 7. Vidor Pirates 8. Lumberton Raiders The last five are all subject to change. The first three are going to be the first three, but that could come in a different order. I think PN-G is going to surprise some people this year, just like winning the last five district games surprised people last year and an undefeated regular season surprised people the year before that. Our defense is going to be greatly improved from last year, and I don't think our offense is going to miss a step. Given a little time to work out the kinks in the preseason, Coach Faircloth and his staff are going to have a stout team in district play. Central, as always, will be very good. With that said, I think they're going to take a few surprise losses (that's the nature of the sport, but it seems to be the staple of Central football; case in point, Livingston and PN-G in '09 and Memorial and PN-G in '10) that will mess up their chances for the district title. Livingston's offense is going to be red hot. The problem is Livingston's defense. What they had on defense last year just didn't make the cut, and it wasn't that great in 2009 either. If I remember correctly, most of their defensive players last year were seniors (might have to doublecheck that), and that will only hurt the defense more. Nederland will be solid as always and expect some surprises from Ozen. Hopefully, it will be an injury-free season and I'll be checking in to read about some outstanding SETX football this year. Scalp 'em. [/quote]another example of PNG being put out better then what they are :D but people tend to forget Livingston had the fewest yards allowed in the district last year but Livingston is only losing a couple seniors on defense most notibly Ryan McClain and Blake Burman but we are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball so I guess we will see if we can commit [/quote] We've been above Livingston in the district standings the last two years.

[quote name="BRONX ROX" post="1019562" timestamp="1308527757"] [quote author=PN-G bandkid link=topic=85070.msg1019552#msg1019552 date=1308525398] [quote author=BrenhamFan link=topic=85070.msg1019550#msg1019550 date=1308524902] [quote author=I dont play well with Jaguars link=topic=85070.msg1019546#msg1019546 date=1308524005] 1. Montgomery 2. Stratford 3. Magnolia West 4. Waller 5. Magnolia 6. north brook 7. spring woods 8. Brenham  :D lol [/quote] You know, I really wish we were 5A so we could smack PAM around! :D [/quote] I'm pretty sure every 4A team wishes Brenham was 5A as well. ;) :D [/quote] Not Kingwood Park  ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D [/quote] Why [i]would[/i] David want Goliath to compete in a different league? :D

[quote name="BrenhamFan" post="1019550" timestamp="1308524902"] [quote author=I dont play well with Jaguars link=topic=85070.msg1019546#msg1019546 date=1308524005] 1. Montgomery 2. Stratford 3. Magnolia West 4. Waller 5. Magnolia 6. north brook 7. spring woods 8. Brenham  :D lol [/quote] You know, I really wish we were 5A so we could smack PAM around! :D [/quote] I'm pretty sure every 4A team wishes Brenham was 5A as well. ;) :D

1. PN-G Indians ;D 2. Central Jaguars 3. Livingston Lions 4. Nederland Bulldogs 5. Ozen Panthers 6. LC-M Bears 7. Vidor Pirates 8. Lumberton Raiders The last five are all subject to change. The first three are going to be the first three, but that could come in a different order. I think PN-G is going to surprise some people this year, just like winning the last five district games surprised people last year and an undefeated regular season surprised people the year before that. Our defense is going to be greatly improved from last year, and I don't think our offense is going to miss a step. Given a little time to work out the kinks in the preseason, Coach Faircloth and his staff are going to have a stout team in district play. Central, as always, will be very good. With that said, I think they're going to take a few surprise losses (that's the nature of the sport, but it seems to be the staple of Central football; case in point, Livingston and PN-G in '09 and Memorial and PN-G in '10) that will mess up their chances for the district title. Livingston's offense is going to be red hot. The problem is Livingston's defense. What they had on defense last year just didn't make the cut, and it wasn't that great in 2009 either. If I remember correctly, most of their defensive players last year were seniors (might have to doublecheck that), and that will only hurt the defense more. Nederland will be solid as always and expect some surprises from Ozen. Hopefully, it will be an injury-free season and I'll be checking in to read about some outstanding SETX football this year. Scalp 'em.

[quote name="smitty" post="1018896" timestamp="1308268153"] But MY beliefs are consistent with the majority (75-77% if I recall right) that opposed the first bond issue.  Now, for those here:  Gotta wonder how many are employed by the NISD?    ??? [quote author=The-NHS link=topic=84302.msg1018804#msg1018804 date=1308238688] [quote author=smitty link=topic=84302.msg1018712#msg1018712 date=1308178573] When a bond passes you have no choice but to pay the tax.  A true believer would figure what his portion would have been and send that amount.  But since you haven't that means you are really not that concerned.  That's the reason you have no answers but to raise everyone's taxes.  Pass the bond and I'll pay the taxes.  Wow! That's brilliant!!   ;) [quote author=The-NHS link=topic=84302.msg1018544#msg1018544 date=1308096299] [quote author=smitty link=topic=84302.msg1018542#msg1018542 date=1308095773] You, like many, are missing the point.  If it's such a critical need and you are truly concerned then you would do YOUR part by sending your part of the bond money.  Talking the talk but not walking the walk!      ::) [/quote] Lol...this is the worst you have yet to reply with. Sending one check in doesn't solve anything. Typical small minded thinking you are repeatedly guilty of. Like I said I will gladly send a check when the bond is passed. [/quote] [/quote] [i]"A true believer would figure what his portion would have been and send that amount."[/i] - This isn't church smitty. I don't tithe to the city of nederland because I believe in building new schools. I've stated my "portion" and said twice I will be happy to pay it once the bond is passed. Your beliefs differ from everyone else on this thread because you propose cuts to the athletic budget....which has nothing to do with a bond. So right off the bat your argument doesn't even match your thread title. You propose cuts to extra-curriculars to only maintain facilities. Everyone else on this thread IS NOT TALKING ABOUT MAINTAINING. Lets repeat that. Everyone else on this thread IS NOT TALKING ABOUT MAINTAINING. If I spray perfume on a turd...it will still smell...and look...like a turd. They are talking about building new facilities (schools) for our students through a bond. I realize your reply will ultimately suck in nature but once again I eagerly await it. It has already been said that spending has been reduced in various departments and that we have not had to let any teachers go. Maybe with this reduced spending we can hire a maintenance worker to please your soul. Please reply with a relevant and intelligent post and not JUST a question. [/quote] [/quote] Ah, but are you sure they opposed the bond on the same grounds as you? Perhaps they were opposed to the bond based on the renovations as the stadium (I recall a great deal of controversy surrounding that particular part of the bond) and not the repairs to the schools.

[quote name="True Blue" post="1018691" timestamp="1308168834"] [quote author=PN-G bandkid link=topic=84302.msg1018685#msg1018685 date=1308167379] [quote author=True Blue link=topic=84302.msg1018667#msg1018667 date=1308162381] [quote author=The-NHS link=topic=84302.msg1018584#msg1018584 date=1308137580] [quote author=True Blue link=topic=84302.msg1018568#msg1018568 date=1308111298] Maybe Smitty and his Tea Party.. AKA (KKK) members can hire Sarah Palin to teach history at Nederland, Because that all she can say is cut Taxes, and she just makes up the history as she goes. [/quote] Cutting federal and city taxes are two totally different things. A city bond that raises taxes brings real results almost immediately. [/quote] The Results may take alittle longer ,but the Tax cuts given by the Rep party Slick Rick, have the same results every time. Not enough money to play the bills at the end. The gas companys made a 30 billion$ proffet last year and they still get Tax cuts and Tax ensentives  when our schools are falling down and every school dist. is having to lay off teachers. But Just keep Voting for the party of the rich, and we will nolonger need schools. [/quote] Because Lord knows that the other party is doing a great job at the national level. ::) The national economy is in the tank while the Texas economy continues to grow. Those darn Republicans! ;D Back on topic... Nederland's schools suck and smitty is crazy. ;) ;D [/quote] Yea the Texas economy is doing so good that we are having to lay off 30% of the school teachers because we have no money...  I guess we need to give the top 1% another Tax break and the Reagon Trickel down will finialy make it down here :D :D I love the Tea you fools are drinking, And I dont think GOD ARE THE LORD has any say in the matter. In 8 yrs YOUR George took this country from a surplus to the largest  deficiency this country has ever known by giving giving the top 1% their tax cuts. And Slick is doing the same thing to TEXAS. I know that know one is teaching history but for those that were around, When Clinton razed taxed this country grew and prospered and unemployment went down, and when Bush cut taxes we went to  sh1T and lost more jobs than any time in history.. And all you can say is that he got a blow job. If anyone could get this country out of the Sh1T we're in now I would not care if they got one every day on the white house lawn. [/quote] I wasn't aware of any recently publicized sexual acts aside from Congressman Weiner's. Have I missed something? If you want to talk about deficits and debt, I suggest you stop blaming President Bush and start looking at President Obama. President Obama's deficit in his first term greatly outweighs the deficits of any other single term of any other presidency in US history. I would also suggest looking up the congressional "power of the purse" and the explosive increase in the US deficit following the Democrats' takeover of Congress in November of 2006. Furthermore, if President Bush's tax cuts were the cause of the economic collapse this nation suffered in 2008 as you say they are, why didn't it immediately follow the cuts when they were issued in 2001? Also, why were economic conditions favorable in the years following those cuts leading up to 2008? I would also suggest looking up the causes of the growth in sub-prime lending, as they aren't as one-sided as some have been led to believe. That growth resulted from diversity requirements imposed on lending institutions by various congressional actions over the last twenty years. When the Bush administration-run Department of Housing & Urban Development highlighted this problem in 2003 and 2007 and pushed for reform, Congress did nothing. You can say what you want about Governor Perry. I have stated multiple times that what he has done to this state in terms of education and insurance is an outrage. However, there is no doubt that Texas has fared the current economic situation far better than any other state. In fact, it is well known that Texas is the only state that showed net economic growth in 2009. This is in no small part thanks to the conservative leadership displayed by Governor Perry and a Republican-dominated state legislature. In addition, as bad as the cuts are now, they would no doubt be worse if it were not for the state's "rainy day fund," which was instituted by the same conservative leadership. You can also say what you want about "trickle down" economics. I'll let 21 million jobs created between 1981 and 1989 speak for themselves. With that said, this thread's topic is the condition of Nederland's schools, the makeup of the Nederland ISD school board, and the possibility of another Nederland ISD bond proposal. Any discussions regarding the national or state political scenes should take place in another thread. If you would like to carry on that debate, I suggest visiting the Southeast Texas Locker Room forum (located near the bottom of the main page); you will be presented with many opportunities to do so.

[quote name="True Blue" post="1018667" timestamp="1308162381"] [quote author=The-NHS link=topic=84302.msg1018584#msg1018584 date=1308137580] [quote author=True Blue link=topic=84302.msg1018568#msg1018568 date=1308111298] Maybe Smitty and his Tea Party.. AKA (KKK) members can hire Sarah Palin to teach history at Nederland, Because that all she can say is cut Taxes, and she just makes up the history as she goes. [/quote] Cutting federal and city taxes are two totally different things. A city bond that raises taxes brings real results almost immediately. [/quote] The Results may take alittle longer ,but the Tax cuts given by the Rep party Slick Rick, have the same results every time. Not enough money to play the bills at the end. The gas companys made a 30 billion$ proffet last year and they still get Tax cuts and Tax ensentives  when our schools are falling down and every school dist. is having to lay off teachers. But Just keep Voting for the party of the rich, and we will nolonger need schools. [/quote] Because Lord knows that the other party is doing a great job at the national level. ::) The national economy is in the tank while the Texas economy continues to grow. Those darn Republicans! ;D Back on topic... Nederland's schools suck and smitty is crazy. ;) ;D

[quote name="BHFAN" post="1018436" timestamp="1308064956"] [quote author=PN-G bandkid link=topic=84732.msg1018374#msg1018374 date=1308024613] [quote author=HillGuy link=topic=84732.msg1017048#msg1017048 date=1307482018] [quote author=Scalp'em link=topic=84732.msg1017019#msg1017019 date=1307472845] [quote author=BHFAN link=topic=84732.msg1016708#msg1016708 date=1307365256] [quote author=PNGFan link=topic=84732.msg1016205#msg1016205 date=1307137865] Blue and white squares or blue and white checkers with some stripes?? [/quote] The two most important things about the turf. 1.) It will not be Purple 2.) There will not be a gay Indian hoping around on it [/quote] 3. It will not make your team any faster ;D 4. The dads at BH can't run through the blow up wishing they were still in high school playing football. 5. It won't help the coach bashing that goes on every year at BH and finally #6, It won't make the the Hill is for real. :D [/quote] Doesn't need to...The Hill is already for Real  ;)  Where have you been?  ;D [/quote] Across the field watching the Hill lose four times in three years. ;D [/quote] Oh i bet you weren't sitting ;D All of those games were good ones [/quote] Of course I wasn't. I was in the band. ;D

[quote name="HillGuy" post="1017048" timestamp="1307482018"] [quote author=Scalp'em link=topic=84732.msg1017019#msg1017019 date=1307472845] [quote author=BHFAN link=topic=84732.msg1016708#msg1016708 date=1307365256] [quote author=PNGFan link=topic=84732.msg1016205#msg1016205 date=1307137865] Blue and white squares or blue and white checkers with some stripes?? [/quote] The two most important things about the turf. 1.) It will not be Purple 2.) There will not be a gay Indian hoping around on it [/quote] 3. It will not make your team any faster ;D 4. The dads at BH can't run through the blow up wishing they were still in high school playing football. 5. It won't help the coach bashing that goes on every year at BH and finally #6, It won't make the the Hill is for real. :D [/quote] Doesn't need to...The Hill is already for Real  ;)  Where have you been?  ;D [/quote] Across the field watching the Hill lose four times in three years. ;D

[quote name="PoppaBearstarr" post="1018219" timestamp="1307981645"] I hope smitty never moves to HJ... :D [/quote] I hope he moves to Beaumont. At least it'd be fun to watch. ;D

Lumpy is one of the best. I think his football career will surpass Kilgore with a little luck and some injury-free football.

We should do a caption contest-style competition where we suggest new usernames for him and then vote on them. ;D

[quote name="GOP - Anti Intellectual, Science, and Women Since Forever" post="1017400" timestamp="1307639962"] Hey guys, seen there's a few special offers for some tractors right now. Figured I'd alert my fellow Texans in preparation for the new harvesting season [Hidden Content] ;D [/quote] Thanks for the notification, but I've already got one. :D

[quote name="sandman86" post="1016965" timestamp="1307456960"] Im not saying the two students are liars bandkid. Im just telling you what the real qualifications are, as someone who help set those regulations and carried them out, and not some passer by that spread a rumor they heard from another student. It happens all the time in school, its called gossip. Some kids don't even know they're spreading rumors, but think its the honest truth. Also, not that it matters, but I graduated 4th in my class and went on to graduate college on the dean's list which would throw me in there as an honor student, and yet, I have lied on occasion. Not perfect, no one is, just something that happens when 1500 students talk while passing by each other. But I say let it drop, maybe they thought thats what got people in and maybe that year a lot got in and it was assumed thats why, who knows?[/quote] Right.... [quote] On another note, smitty, just because someone has an opinion other than yours doesn't mean they are drinking the "kool aid" or whatever. Passing a bond is not the end of the world. Typically, most bonds only add very little monthly to the taxes and are a great [u]Investment[/u] in our schools future. You can't build a $30 million school by cutting a budget that is slightly higher than that. Our district has made cuts in all areas this year and last, with a promise of more to come. We have lost coaching positions, charter buses, teachers who retired and were not filling positions, budgets all around. So its getting to the point where there is not much else to cut. So find another solution and quit saying cut an athletic budget that combined between all schools would only hire a couple teachers, not build a school. [/quote] If anyone's drinking anything, it's smitty. ;D

[quote name="sandman86" post="1016930" timestamp="1307415548"] True, and yet they did. Go figure. [/quote] Let me get this straight. You're openly stating that two former Nederland honors students lied? Or have I misunderstood something?

[quote name="sandman86" post="1016920" timestamp="1307413425"] Oh and if I trusted everything students said the number of dogs eating homework cases would become an epidemic, along with bathroom breaks and there would never be any need for discipline in school because simply, "they didn't do it." [/quote] You, being a teacher, probably best understand that honors students normally (although certainly not always) do not tell lies. At least, they don't often lie at PN-G. ;) And when you have more than one student saying it, it's hard to believe that there's absolutely no truth to it.

[quote name="The-NHS" post="1016898" timestamp="1307409099"] This thread makes me want to [img][Hidden Content]] Smitty's small minded/acceptance of mediocrity [img][Hidden Content]] PNGbandkid's 964 attempts at hijacking the thread into a png celebration [img][Hidden Content]] [/quote] Not a celebration, just a comparison. ;) :D In all seriousness, there are some things Nederland does right. I like their dedication to middle school extracurricular activities, and I've always felt that PN-GISD has ground to gain in that area. I've never said that Nederland is overall a bad school (Lord knows there are far worse out there) or even that it's mediocre. My only point is that there are areas where Nederland has fallen behind and unless NISD starts taking steps to catch up, Nederland is going to feel the consequences in the future. Contrary to what smitty and others here might believe, old schools, bad budgets and lax policies aren't going to provide excellence. [quote author=sandman86 link=topic=84302.msg1016912#msg1016912 date=1307412800] Awesome post The-NHS! I don't know how a thread about bond supporters turns into the bashing of Nederland ISD students and teachers. As a current teacher at NHS, I can tell you that this year Nederland HS tied or surpassed PNG in every category for the TAKs. Having worked at other school districts I can tell you there is nothing wrong with the educational standards at NHS. One thing students typically struggle in is the block scheduling we are on. When you go from having class for 1 1/2 hour every other day to 50 minutes each day it is different. I had two students from Lumberton come over and nearly flunk the first six weeks due to the change in scheduling, but they recovered and did just fine. I hope you realize not every student is a genius and students lie. I listen to my students complain one day about the amount of work and then a week later tell someone they do nothing in my class. So relying on students for educational analysis is crazy. Also, bandkid, the GPA requirement is correct, but the student must have approval from the faculty before they can be considered and even then not all get in. It is a combination of grades, attendance, participation in extracurriculars and moral character and leadership. I personally filled out 10 forms for students and all met those requirements in my book and only 3 got in, so maybe the policy has changed since you last heard. Nederland's teachers participate in numerous activities at the school and saying otherwise means you are misinformed and ignorant to what is really happening. Finding a teacher not involved in any organization, extracurricular activity, academic event, or AVID would be a very difficult thing to do. I wish I had a list of the academic achievements our kids had this year, but I don't and there are too many to remember. [b]I just remember it took our Super almost 20 minutes to read them all.[/b] We do need new facilities, but cutting extracurriculars won't pay for that no matter how many times you go outside that box smitty it just wont work. We didn't fire any teachers this year when districts all around were letting people go. Our district has done the best it can with what it has and the only chance for growth is passing a new bond, which may not happen right away, but it will. Sorry to go on so long, but I just couldn't sit back and watch people who don't know bash our schools, students, and my co-workers. Hope everyone has a great summer and good luck to schools everywhere and the hundreds of teachers who are now unemployed. [/quote] [i]Just[/i] twenty minutes? ;) The former NHS member I referred to graduated about three years ago, but I assumed his information still applies because the Nederland NHS member who graduated last week standing next to him nodded, seemingly confirming it.

[quote name="phunter308" post="1016843" timestamp="1307397537"] One thing to think about is that we are getting transfers from P.A. and not all of them have a strong educational foundation. This is not a excuse just a fact. PN-G is a school that these kids will not go to because they are looked down on but hey we will take them and all and try our best to make them better men and women. Do not get me wrong Pn-G and Nederland are very close on the Academic landscape according to state records, it is just harder for us because we have less money to start with. I think it is wrong PN-G has to give away so much money but even with that they start with more then we do period by alot say a million. One thing I can say for Nederland is atheletically especially this past year I do believe we beat them in every Uil  atheletic event except boys golf. So maybe it is true if we focused the business end which is academics we would be even more dominate so come on Dogs lets get it done in the class room. LOL On a side note my son has a 3.43 GPA on a standard 4.0 scale no Honors or Ap as of this yr and he is 191 out of 397 in his class so they must have one group of smart sophmores. LOL . [/quote] Not according to the budgets. After the state gives and takes, Nederland has $40 Million to work with, whereas PN-G has $33.5 Million. This is why we were $4 Million in the hole this year. PN-G beat Nederland in girls' soccer, softball, boys' and girls' golf, and volleyball this year. PN-G not taking Port Arthur kids? Our district's borders extend into Port Arthur. We may not have as much of Port Arthur as Nederland, but we still have a portion. GPAs can't really be considered a good standard of comparison between districts because of the apparent differences in the quality of teaching. If you really want to compare education between districts, you have to take a look at their average PSAT, SAT, ACT, and TAKS scores. I don't know what the exact numbers are for the PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores, but PN-G had two National Merit Commended Students in the Class of 2011, and eligibility for that is dependent on PSAT scores. These were two of the six total in Region 5 and we were the only school in that region with more than one. Also, PN-G's TAKS ratings fell just short of "Exemplary" for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. Nederland was "Academically Acceptable" for 2008-2009. The number of dual credit classes offered can also be taken into account, and PN-G has more than any other high school in Southeast Texas. Also, UIL Academics success can be looked at. I'll let 11 consecutive years of district championships and eight 2011 state qualifiers (two of which placed) speak for themselves.

[quote name="dawgnut" post="1016670" timestamp="1307326618"] [quote author=PN-G bandkid link=topic=84302.msg1016434#msg1016434 date=1307230685] [quote author=smitty link=topic=84302.msg1016425#msg1016425 date=1307225483] Maybe, like ol' Smitty has been saying, too much emphasis has been put on non-priority things!  I remember a couple of years ago we gave the HC a 17,000 dollar raise because he threaten to go to LaMarque.  We didn't really have the money but it was given anyway.  Foolish decision!  Would they have done the same for a teacher that threatens to leave?  I think not!   So, if KDOSullivan is right, the people with blinders on, like NHS and Penny -- you'll become a dollar one day! -- will understand that what they believe is causing NISD to become just mediocre academically!   [quote author=KDOSullivan link=topic=84302.msg1016315#msg1016315 date=1307194088] [quote author=James Mosley link=topic=84302.msg1016084#msg1016084 date=1307094689] Penny is dead on right with everything. Sad to say but I tell young men we hire who are moving into our area with family to raise their kids somewhere besides Nederland. Currently Nederland does not understand how to prepare for the future. Very sad. [/quote] This is just from the few kids we see transfer to my "former" rural district. About 5 years ago now, we had a small influx of kids transfer from Nederland to the district. The district I was in was 2A, in a rural setting. It has an "open" enrollment, and there is no out of district tuition charged. The kids generally lived with a relative or even drove to the school. Most would say " We had to get out of there." I was surprised at how far behind the kids were academically. I don't know what is going on there, but a kid who transferred from Nederland with A's and B's, would make B's and C's in our district. The kids would even make comments at how "hard" we were. I don't know what is going on there, I had always thought of Nederland ISD as good district, but in the last 5 years, I have changed my mind. It makes me wonder????? [/quote] [/quote] No, the extracurricular budget doesn't have anything to do with it. Nederland is hurting academically because, frankly, Nederland's policies allow it. For instance, exemption policies at Nederland allow students to exempt a mid-term or final with as low as a 70 average and I believe all Nederland students, underclassmen included, are allowed to exempt all classes all of the time as long as that requirement is met. PN-G, on the other hand, only allows underclassmen to exempt three classes per semester without repeating an exemption in a class for the second semester (with special circumstances applying to math and science classes based on TAKS scores) and only allows students to exempt classes in which their averages are at 80 or above. Another difference between NISD and other districts is the condition of facilities. Students tend to focus better and give more effort in clean, well-kept environments. As has been said a dozen or so times in this thread alone, Nederland's schools are in bad shape. That has an effect on student morale and focus. Examples of this concept can be found by comparing NISD with districts that have kept their facilities in good shape over the years and even within NISD itself; Nederland's academics have fallen behind while NISD's band and theatre groups have excelled in their new facilities. Another factor in academic success is extracurricular participation. Studies have shown that students who participate in extracurricular activities have better grades, better conduct, and a higher level of focus than students who do not. Although NISD does have some award-winning extracurricular programs, such as the band and Westernaires, NISD's extracurricular groups are not as big or as numerous as those of many other schools of similar size. I would argue (and bear in mind that this is an outside perspective) that about half of NHS students participate in at least one extracurricular activity - a portion which could be much larger if the right steps were taken. Standards and curriculum difficulty also come into play. [color=red]I know that Nederland's chapter of the National Honors Society grants automatic membership to anyone with a 3.75 GPA or higher[/color]. Other schools typically add in an application process of some sort that requires a demonstration of leadership, community service, and success in areas outside of academics; special considerations are also normally given to students in honors classes. Curriculum comes into play in that it appears (again, outside perspective) that NISD has settled for the minimum state requirements. The student that transferred into PN-G that I mentioned earlier talked about how he had never seen many of the things in our reviews and even said at one point that he had written more in our English classes in the two months he was here than he had the whole previous year at Nederland; considering what we had done in those classes up to that point, I feel certain that Nederland is settling for the state minimum providing that he was a good example of Nederland's average honors student. Typically, schools establish a district curriculum that exceeds the state requirements, and they also normally provide extra curriculum resources (NISD may or may not provide them, I'm not sure). Another factor is teacher participation. NHS teachers, for one reason or another, do not seem to sponsor as much outside of the classroom as they could. I remember a conversation with a now retired PN-G teacher in which I asked why Nederland didn't bring as many students to academic competitions as other local schools and his reply was that there just weren't enough Nederland teachers willing to sponsor the different academic events. That shocked me. I was amazed at the fact that Nederland couldn't get enough teachers to volunteer as most of the other schools in our district. I mean no offense to any Nederland faculty members because there are several good, dedicated teachers in NISD, but that, in my opinion, is deplorable. When the teachers won't participate, the problem isn't funding. A simple modification to the teacher contracts could fix that. And for the record, Nederland's revenues may not be as high as PN-G's, but we're a Chapter 41 district. After the state takes our money away each year, we actually have less to work with than NISD. [/quote] You need to check your facts on this one Band Kid, my daughter had a higher GPA than that and she couldn't get in :o [/quote] They've already been checked with a former Nederland NHS member.

[quote name="KDOSullivan" post="1016523" timestamp="1307274851"] [i]Another factor is teacher participation. NHS teachers, for one reason or another, do not seem to sponsor as much outside of the classroom as they could. I remember a conversation with a now retired PN-G teacher in which I asked why Nederland didn't bring as many students to academic competitions as other local schools and his reply was that there just weren't enough Nederland teachers willing to sponsor the different academic events. That shocked me. I was amazed at the fact that Nederland couldn't get enough teachers to volunteer as most of the other schools in our district. I mean no offense to any Nederland faculty members because there are several good, dedicated teachers in NISD, but that, in my opinion, is deplorable. When the teachers won't participate, the problem isn't funding. A simple modification to the teacher contracts could fix that.[/i] That one sort of shocks me. Maybe it is because I was at a small school, but I and most other teachers were involved in extracurricular activities.  I know this year, knowing I was retiring, I gave up somethings, but I was still a senior sponsor, helped organize graduation,  helped and planned with the homecoming parade, helped, planned the Christmas Formal, and then coached 3 UIL academic teams. One of the things I will miss about teaching will be the kids outside of class. Those in UIL Academics, those kids who worked to help set up dances and parades, and those are not just the "nerds." Maybe it is a small school, but we had athletes, band kids, those in FFA all work because they wanted a good dance or parade. The modification of the contract might be difficult. If these events are held on weekends, it is sort of hard to force them to do so. Teachers are only paid for 187 days. Part of your problem might be you are not hiring the right people? I know some of the younger people that my former district has hired are reluctant to do anything extra. Part of concern about retiring was " who is going to pick up some of the extra jobs I did for the district?" [/quote] I know at PN-G, teachers are required to work at least one event, but they all still do more. There are very few teachers who don't sponsor some sort of extracurricular activity, and they're typically the older ones who are "winding down" as you were in your last year. With that said, many sponsor multiple activities and work multiple events - they [i]want[/i] to get involved. It's rare that you find a teacher that isn't willing to sponsor the students as long as they're willing to compete. Apparently, it's just not that way at Nederland. And you're right. That may be more of a personnel problem than a contract problem. It still seems like the NHS administration could do something about it, though.