As many as 288 Nacogdoches ISD elementary students could compete in academic UIL contests in 2013-14 as part of the district’s efforts to expand its offerings.

UIL coordinator Dr. Jo Lynn Corley invites parents to get a closer look at the growing program during a Nov. 12 UIL meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Support Center, 420 S. Shawnee St.

“We would like to invite parents and guardians of second through fifth graders to come learn about the NISD UIL Phase-In and to offer their input that will help us in the planning process,” Corley said.

This school year marks the final step of a three-year plan to bring elementary UIL competitions to the district. It began in 2011-12 with 60 participants in a one-day competition for second graders in creative writing and storytelling.

Then, in 2012-13 it grew to 126 participants from second through fourth grades and added reading writing, music memory, spelling and number sense to the events.

For this final year of the phase-in process, Corley expects to add fifth grade students and see 288 participants using the 6 competition areas established last year to hold 16 contests.

For more information on the Nov. 12 meeting or the Nacogdoches ISD’s UIL competitions, please call Corley at 569-5000 or email her at jcorley@nacisd.org.