When it came time to develop the new district and campus improvement plans for Mineola ISD, Superintendent Cody Mize said district leaders worked to narrow down the academic goals so that they can come back and say, “This is where we are at” and be able to measure that success.

Those plans were presented and approved by the Mineola School Board Monday.

Curriculum Director Jennifer Knipp outlined the four goals, which focus on reading; Algebra I; college, career and military readiness; and a range of topics outside the academic arena that make for well-rounded students and staff.

Knipp explained that students need to be proficient in reading by the end of the third grade, otherwise it can impact the rest of their academic careers.

The goal is to improve third grade reading scores at a level five percent above the state average each year through 2025 and maintain that level of proficiency through graduation.

The goal for Algebra I is 10 percent above state average by 2025.

Success in algebra translates into better success in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Knipp said.

The area known as CCMR is one the district is rapidly gaining on reaching the stated 100% goal, although the school shut-down in the spring left some students unable to complete planned industry certifications that would have qualified.

”There’s a lot more to educating kids than academics,” Knipp said in introducing the final goal, which involves the health, well-being a security of the students as well as the staff. It incorporates what she termed a “well-rounded education program” to include a wellness plan, personalized instruction including integrating technology, at-risk dropout intervention, methods of retaining excellent employees and more.

Each campus principal then outlined how they would coordinate with the overall district goals.

For example, at the elementary school, even though students are several years away from taking algebra, “It starts with us,” said Principal Brittany Thompson.

Board President John Abbott, also a longtime educator, told the principals, “We know what’s in the plan,” terming it a “necessary evil,” but the proof is in the recognitions students achieve, such as honor rolls and success at various competitions.

Earlier in the meeting the board took two steps that could help with employee retention, adding two extra personal days for this school year and creating an employee sick leave pool.