Category Archives: Board of Education

HISD to Recognize District’s Top Volunteers at VIPS Recognition and Awards Program

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier to deliver remarks

The Houston Independent School District is recognizing the efforts of thousands of volunteers and awarding the top volunteers of the year at the upcoming VIPS Recognition and Awards Program on May 22, 2013.

The Volunteers in Public Schools Program (VIPS) started in 1970 and to date, HISD has more than 30,000 volunteers district-wide who have dedicated countless hours to schools, programs and events across Houston.

During the VIPS Recognition and Awards Program, HISD will be giving numerous awards including the Jean Davis Meyer and Special Lifetime Achievement awards recognizing the most outstanding volunteers.

What:  VIPS Recognition and Awards Program

Who:  HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman, Trustees Rhonda Skillern Jones and Michael Lunceford and VIPS volunteers

When:  Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 9a.m.

Where:  Kingdom Builder’s Center, 6011 West Orem, Houston, 77085

HISD Board Members Encourage Parents, Teachers and Principals to Return Survey by May 20

Who: The May 2013 edition of HISD Up Close hosted by HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman features an interview with fellow trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. on the importance of the district’s customer satisfaction survey called Your Voice. All HISD parents, principals and teachers are encouraged to complete and return the survey by May 20. Students will fill out the questionnaire during the school day from May 20-31. The survey is the largest of its kind in the history of the district and is being conducted by an outside company to assure confidentiality.

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Board Members Encourage Participation in Districtwide Survey

Parents, teachers and principals need to fill out ‘Your Voice’ survey by May 20

HISD Board President Anna Eastman and Board Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. are encouraging HISD parents, teachers and principals to fill out and return the Your Voice customer satisfaction survey by May 20, 2013.  The survey is the largest of its kind in the history of the district and is being conducted by an outside party so all responses will remain confidential and anonymous.  Continue reading →

Board of Education Approves 11 More Contracts for Work Related to 2012 Bond

Selected projects include five more schools and athletic facility upgrades

May 9, 2013 – The HISD Board of Education authorized the district to negotiate design contracts with six firms on selected 2012 bond projects, including two of the district’s renowned specialty high schools – DeBakey High School for the Health Professions and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

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Board of Education Approves Two New Magnet Schools

New campuses will expand options for students seeking specialty schools with academically challenging courses 

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday approved creating two new magnet schools that will offer a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The newly created Energy Institute High School and the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan will now begin enrolling students for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. The Energy Institute High School will begin with ninth-grade students and add a grade level each year to eventually serve students in grades 9-12.  The Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan will open with a sixth-grade class and eventually serve students in grades 6-8.  Earlier this year, the Houston Independent School District Board of Education authorized the district to apply for $12 million in federal magnet school funds for these two new magnets and six others (click here for more information).

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Board of Education to Consider Two New Magnet Schools

Proposed campuses would expand options for students seeking specialty schools with academically challenging courses

The HISD Board of Education will consider a proposal Thursday to create two new magnet schools that will offer a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

If approved, the proposed Energy Institute High School and the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan would immediately begin enrolling students for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. The Energy Institute High School would begin with a class of ninth-grade students and add a grade level each year to eventually serve students in grades 9-12.  The Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan would open with a sixth-grade class and eventually serve students in grades 6-8.  Continue reading →

Board of Education to Consider 12 More Contracts for Work Related to 2012 Bond

Selected projects include 10 of the largest high schools slated for construction

Administrators are recommending that the HISD Board of Education authorize the district to negotiate design contracts with 12 firms on a dozen more 2012 bond projects, including 10 of the largest high schools. The projects represent about $750 million in bond dollars.

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Ryan Middle School Plan Approved By Board

Ryan students will move to nearby Cullen; Vote postponed on plan to merge Sterling and Jones high schools 

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday approved a transition plan that will allow historic Ryan Middle School to be repurposed as a magnet school designed to attract students from throughout the city.

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Board of Education to Consider 3 More Contracts for Work Related to 2012 Bond

Mandarin Chinese Immersion School, Grady MS, and Condit ES among selected projects

Administrators are recommending that the HISD Board of Education authorize the district to negotiate contracts with three firms on three more 2012 bond projects, including Grady Middle School, Condit Elementary, and the Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion K-8 School.

HISD officials spent several weeks reviewing qualifications submitted by 85 architectural and engineering firms seeking to do work with the district under the 2012 bond program, which will build or renovate 40 schools across the district. The $1.89 billion bond program, approved by voters in November, will also fund middle school restroom renovations, technology upgrades, and safety and security upgrades.

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New HISD Board President Anna Eastman Discusses 2012 Bond Program and Upcoming HISD Survey

Who: 2012 HISD Board President Mike Lunceford and recently elected 2013 HISD Board President Anna Eastman sit down for a discussion on the district’s recent accomplishments and upcoming priorities and initiatives for 2013. Topics discussed include the 2012 bond program and an upcoming third-party survey of HISD parents, students and staff. This is Lunceford’s last time serving as host of the monthly television program as he passes the reigns to Eastman.

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HISD Seeking Grant for 8 New STEM Magnet Schools

The HISD Board of Education voted Thursday to move forward with a plan to compete for $12 million in federal grant funding to open eight new magnet schools emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) instruction.

The measure passed with a 7-1 vote with Board President Anna Eastman opposed.

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Board of Education to Consider Contract Recommendations on 2012 Bond Projects

HISD Administrators recommend eight firms for selected projects; more recommendations to come

Administrators are recommending that the Board of Education authorize the district to negotiate contracts with eight firms on selected 2012 bond projects, including four schools and middle school restroom renovations.

HISD officials spent several weeks reviewing qualifications submitted by 85 architectural and engineering firms seeking to do work with the district under the 2012 bond program, which will build or renovate 40 schools across the district. The $1.89 billion bond program, approved by voters in November, will also fund middle school restroom renovations, technology upgrades, and safety and security upgrades.

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New HISD Magnet Schools Proposal to be Considered

School board to weigh applying for $12 million grant to open eight magnets focused on science, technology, engineering and math

The HISD Board of Education is set to decide this week whether to compete for $12 million in federal funding to open eight new magnet schools emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) instruction.

All eight new STEM magnets would be whole-school programs, meaning every student in those schools would benefit from an instructional approach that emphasizes a rich STEM curriculum. Current magnet programs at existing schools included in the grant proposal have struggled to draw students and would be replaced with the STEM magnet.  The Board of Education is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to authorize the grant application. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2013 in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

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Trustee Anna Eastman Elected President of the HISD Board of Education

Trustee Anna Eastman was unanimously elected 2013 president of the Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday.

Eastman, who was elected to the board in 2009, pledged to create an environment of “healthy, spirited, and respectful debate” with a focus on raising the level of academic achievement for all students.  Eastman said she will make a priority of ensuring that more HISD students graduate prepared to succeed in college.

“Thank you to all of my colleagues for your support tonight,” she said.

Eastman holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Texas, and a master of social work degree from Our Lady of the Lake University.  She and her husband, Brad, have three children in HISD schools.

Ms. Eastman thanked 2012 President Michael Lunceford for leading the board through the largest successful bond election in Texas history, and for helping the board strengthen its ethics policy.

Other school board officers for 2013 are First Vice President Juliet Stipeche, Second Vice President Manuel Rodriguez Jr., Secretary Rhonda Skillern-Jones, and Assistant Secretary Michael Lunceford.

Board President Television Show Takes an Up Close Look at Next Steps in 2012 Bond Program

Who: The January 2013 edition of HISD Up Close hosted by HISD Board President Michael Lunceford discusses the next steps in the 2012 HISD Bond Program, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in November. The program also takes a closer look at Istation, an online tool that elementary school teachers across the district are using for literacy assessment and intervention. Fellow Board Trustee Paula Harris also stops by with three principals to talk about some of the exciting things happening at schools in the neighborhoods she represents.

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HISD to Increase Reading Intervention with Additional 4,110 Laptops at 115 Schools

Board of Education approved $5.7 million initiative

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education approved the $5.7 million proposal to add 4,110 laptops at 115 schools in an effort to aid in reading instruction.       

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HISD Board of Education to Vote on Proposal to Buy 4,110 Laptops to Aid in Reading Instruction

Initiative to benefit 115 schools district wide

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is expected to vote Thursday on a $5.7 million proposal to add 4,110 laptops at 115 schools in an effort to aid in reading instruction.  The meeting begins at 5 p.m. on December 13, 2012 in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

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HISD Board President Television Show Takes an Up Close Look at HILZ Program

Who: The November/December 2012 edition of HISD Up Close hosted by HISD Board President Michael Lunceford gives viewers an inside look at the Houston Innovative Learning Zone academies at Jane Long and Scarborough High School, two of six HISD schools that have these new career and technical education programs on their campus. The show also features a tour of the district’s Las Americas Newcomers School, which has students from 32 countries who speak 29 different languages.   Continue reading →

HISD Property Tax Rate to Remain Lowest in Harris County

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education today unanimously approved maintaining the lowest school property tax rate among the 26 school systems in Harris County.

Superintendent Terry Grier recommended keeping the HISD property tax rate of $1.1567 per $100 taxable value despite the loss of $125.1 million in state funding over the past two years.  Since 2002:

  • Districtwide general fund spending is down $170 million, when adjusted for inflation.
  • HISD building utility costs have climbed $18.6 million, a 40 percent increase.
  • Spending on central administration has declined from 6.5 percent of the budget a decade ago to a projected 4 percent for the current 2012-2013 school year.

Harris County school districts with higher tax rates in 2011 than HISD include: Aldine, Alief, Channelview, Clear Creek, Crosby, Cypress-Fairbanks, Dayton, Deer Park, Galena Park, Goose Creek, Huffman, Humble, Katy, Klein, La Porte, New Caney, North Forest, Pasadena, Pearland, Sheldon, Spring, Spring Branch, Stafford, Tomball, and Waller.

HISD’s property tax rate is a full 20 cents below the county average of $1.3576 per $100 taxable value.  This means the owner of a home with a taxable value of $200,000 in HISD pays about $400 less per year than the owner of a $200,000 home in another Harris County school district.  The savings are even greater in many cases, because HISD is among just eight Harris County school districts that grant homeowners an additional 20 percent homestead exemption.

HISD’s property tax rate would remain the lowest in Harris County, even if voters approve the proposed school construction bond referendum on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.