Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Kerens ISD (KISD) trustee Tyrone Bailey (left) receives a certificate from KISD Student Services and Operations Director Brad Atkeisson noting Bailey’s efforts as Navarro County Precinct 2 road and bridge foreman to check the school district’s bus routes during the winter storm earlier this year

KERENS–Kerens ISD (KISD) trustees heard Feb. 27 that a snapshot of young children’s learning in Navarro County showed KISD exceeded county kindergartners assessed on what’s called an early development instrument (EDI).
Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services Program Director Rachel Gillespie told the school board that the EDI’s five developmental areas include physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, and communication skills and general knowledge.
KISD Superintendent Martin Brumit attributed the high marks to “two of the best pre-K (pre-kindergarten) teachers in the state.” Board President Teresa Jennings said that after learning of the survey data, “I was extremely proud of our teachers and students.” Kerens Elementary School Principal Dr. Cindy Satterwhite remarked that in addition to excellent teachers, another reason for success is the fact the district offers all-day pre-K to the entire community.
The EDI surveyed 636 Navarro County children with help from seven school districts during 2021-22, Gillespie said. The Navarro County EDI is led by The United Way of Navarro County and The Navarro County Early Childhood Coalition, Gillespie shared. The local effort is part of a national EDI community hosted by the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), she continued. The EDI involves more than 80 communities nationally, according to the report.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the 2023-24 school year calendar, with classes starting Aug. 16.
• Approved an order for a May 6 general election for two board seats.  
• Approved purchasing 80 Dell Latitude 5530 laptop computers using ESSER II (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) federal funds at $1,400 each, totaling $112,000.
• Approved buying 50 OptiPlex microcomputers and cables at $810 each for a total of $40,500 from ESSER II funds.
• Approved purchasing 110 air purifiers with HEPA filtration for offices and classrooms at $400 each using ESSER II funds, totaling $44,000.
• Approved acquiring with ESSER II funds 10 air ionization units for large areas at $3,000 each, totaling $30,000.  
• Approved buying 14 commercial-grade air purifiers with HEPA filtration for the library, gyms, cafeteria, band hall and common areas at $2,000 each, totaling $28,000 using ESSER II funds. 
• Approved resolutions making Kaitlyn Cotten a signer for Powell State Bank and Lone Star Investment Pool
• Recognized Tyrone Bailey for maintaining student safety during winter storm.