Rick Cruz selected to lead Major Projects department, replacing retiring Don Hare
Houston Independent School District Major Projects Officer Rick Cruz has been selected to lead his division, replacing retiring Chief Don Hare.
Cruz, a former fifth-grade teacher who was tapped to serve in the HISD administration after launching the district’s successful EMERGE program more than five years ago, will officially assume his new role on Jan. 25. In his new position, he will be tasked with managing the College Readiness and Counseling and Guidance departments, as well as major initiatives designed to transform education in the district, such as the EMERGE and Futures Academy programs, and Linked Learning. read more…
Beginning Monday, Jan. 11, Academic Services Memos (ASM) will be published using an internal, secure site within the district’s myHISD SharePoint intranet. The previous external site, www.hisdacademics.org, will automatically begin redirecting to the internal site on Monday, Jan. 11.
All departments that submit ASMs should now use the new SharePoint site, https://connectapps.houstonisd.org/smemos. The same deadlines apply: all memos must be submitted by 5 p.m. Thursday in order to be included in Monday’s postings.
The SharePoint site is accessible to all employees who are on an HISD network and is best viewed using Internet Explorer 9.
To read ASMs, click on “Academic Services Memos” under the Employee Quick Links section on the myHISD homepage. To submit an ASM click the “Submit New Memo” or go straight to the online submission form by clicking here. Complete the required fields, which now include a ‘Brief Description’ box (a one- or two-line summary of the message), then hit “save.” Remember to obtain departmental approval before submitting any communications.
A confirmation notice will be sent when the form has been successfully submitted. Pending items may be edited for grammar, spelling, and punctuation prior to approval.
Previous ASMs will be accessible in an archive available on the new SharePoint site.
If you need technical assistance while submitting an ASM, email ServiceDesk@Houstonisd.org. If you have additional questions about Academic Services Memos, email AcademicServices@houstonisd.org.
Still time to sign up for Jan. 9 Literacy Summit or New Teacher workshop
New teachers looking to become stronger at implementing classroom management approaches, differentiating instruction or utilizing student performance data should register for the New Teacher Saturday Learning Workshop on Saturday, Jan. 9. Topics covered at the half-day training range from tight transitioning to A4E and TADS Participants will receive a $50 stipend. Register in eTRAIN via #PD1134. Click here to download a flyer.
In addition, the Elementary Curriculum and Development Office is holding several upcoming Saturday conference-style events for PK through fifth grade teachers, including one this Saturday, Jan. 9. See below for more information.
- Literacy Summit
- 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 at Kingdom Builder’s Center
- eTRAIN: TT2735
- Click here to download flyer.
- Math/Science Summit
- 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 at Kingdom Builder’s Center
- eTRAIN: TT3403
- Click here to download flyer.
Recent legislative changes effective January 1, 2016, make it lawful to openly carry firearms in the state of Texas under certain circumstances. The new open carry legislation is currently being reviewed and interpreted by various governmental entities, including but not limited to the Attorney General of Texas. Therefore, the interpretation and release of information concerning the application and effect of these laws with respect to public schools is ongoing. Please refer to the FAQ below when addressing your school community.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Catosha Woods, (713) 556-7245, cwoods@HoustonISD.org, or Erica M. Graham, (713) 556-7245, egraham1@HoustonISD.org.
Sincerely,
HISD Legal Services
Open Carry FAQ
Can handguns/firearms be carried openly or concealed into a school building?
No. Texas law prohibits open or concealed carry of handguns and other prohibited weapons on physical premises of a school or educational institution. The term “premises” is defined by law as a building or a portion of a building.
Can handguns/firearms be carried openly or concealed on school grounds and other buildings on school property?
Texas law also prohibits open or concealed carry of handguns and other prohibited weapons on any grounds or buildings on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted. While Texas law does not define the terms “grounds” or “school sponsored activity,” HISD interprets these terms to include all district property where students are regularly present during regular school hours, including, but not limited to:
- Playground areas
- Practice fields
- Sidewalks and courtyards used by students that connect buildings and temporary buildings on school campuses
- Outdoor areas used for science experiments
- Areas of parking lots in which temporary buildings are located
- Parent drop-off and pick-up lanes and/or areas as determined by each campus [at a minimum of one hour before the start of school and one hour after dismissal].
Can handguns/firearms be carried openly or concealed in school parking lots, driveways, and other parking areas?
Yes, but only during times when a school-sponsored activity is not being conducted in the parking lot, driveway, or other parking area. For example, if the school parking lot is used for band practice after school, handguns/firearms or other prohibited weapons cannot be carried openly or concealed in that parking lot when the band is practicing. However, during the time when the parking lot is used solely for vehicles, open and/or concealed carry by parents and other visitors is lawful in these areas.
Can handguns/firearms be carried openly or concealed on public sidewalks or walkway surrounding school campuses?
Yes, as long as no school-sponsored event or activity is being conducted.
Can handguns/firearms be carried openly or concealed at school-sponsored activities or event?
Texas law prohibits open or concealed carry of handguns and other prohibited weapons at school-sponsored events or activities regardless of whether the events or activities occur on or off school property.
Are HISD campuses required to post signage regarding the prohibition against open carry in school buildings?
At this time, HISD will not be requiring campuses to post any signage to address open carry, because the law expressly prohibits the carrying of handguns (openly or concealed) inside school buildings, any grounds or building where a school-sponsored event/activity is taking place, in school district passenger vehicles, and at board meetings without posted signage.
Are HISD employees allowed to possess and/or carry handguns (openly or concealed) on district property?
No. Current Houston Independent School District Board Policy prohibits employees from possessing and/or bringing handguns/firearms and other prohibited weapons on district property, including parking lots.
A board item addressing open carry legislative changes will be presented to the Board at the January 2016 regular board meeting.
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a funding proposal that would add up to $212.4 million to the bond program to cover significant increases in inflation and construction costs.
The proposal passed 8 to 1 with Trustee Juliet Stipeche casting the dissenting vote.
The additional money will help the district ensure all bond projects are completed as described to voters in the 2012 election. Voters overwhelmingly approved a $1.89 billion bond calling for the reconstruction or renovation of 40 schools across the district, including 29 high schools. read more…
Whether you’re just starting your career or nearing the end of it, it’s wise to be planning for your financial future during retirement.
Eligible Team HISD employees already pay into the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, which is a state program that provides retirement benefits for public employees of state-supported educational institutions. However, all HISD employees are eligible to participate in two voluntary retirement plans – a 403(b) and 457(b). read more…
Bonner and Bush ES featured in WOW! Moment video
Teacher and school leaders from Bonner and Bush elementary schools are sharing their best practices around the effective use of Education Value-Added Assessment Systems (EVAAS) to improve instruction in a new WOW! Moment video featured at the districtwide Dec. 9, principals’ meeting.
[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/147899764″] read more…
Group working on large scale project that will upgrade SAP and migrate PeopleSoft
If you have spent any time at Hattie Mae White during the past few months, it’s hard not to notice the dozens upon dozens of people who have taken over most of the third floor. Who are all these people and what are they doing? The short answer—they are making sure the district has a successful launch of a large scale project that not only will upgrade SAP but will migrate all PeopleSoft functions to SAP. read more…
Olga Ortiz, Employee of the Month for December, is an administrative assistant at Burnet Elementary School, a position she has held since 2001.
Her dedication to that campus, which she also attended as a pre-kindergartener, is so strong that when she was offered an unsolicited promotion from HISD’s Elementary Schools Office last summer, she turned it down. read more…
