Editor’s note: This profile is part of an occasional series on minority or women-owned companies that do business with HISD. The district’s minimum M/WBE goal levels are 20 percent for all levels of purchasing and construction, and 25 percent for professional services. In the 2007 bond program, that commitment reached nearly 34 percent. In the 2012 program, the contracts awarded to date reflect a nearly 51 percent M/WBE commitment.
Yearly Archives: 2013
HISD Partners with Houston Community College to Open Two Middle College High Schools
Schools designed to serve students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out
The Houston Independent School District is partnering with Houston Community College to open two Middle College High Schools focused on serving students who are in danger of dropping out of school or who have already dropped out.
Emergency Drill Puts Drivers to the Test
The derailed train and overturned school bus may have looked like a scene out of a disaster movie, but it actually was part of a very real hands-on training exercise for HISD’s Transportation Services Department.
“Hands-on exercises are a much more effective way to train our employees,” said HISD Transportation Manager Chester Glaude. “To make things more realistic, we’ve added real smoke, fire, and an actual overturned bus.”
Houston ISD Meets Tougher State Accountability Standard
The Houston Independent School District earned an overall Met Standard rating under the new Texas school accountability system, the Texas Education Agency announced Thursday.
More than three-quarters – 78 percent – of individual HISD schools earned a Met Standard rating under the new system that seeks to measure whether students are on track to graduate ready for college and the workplace. Of the 210 HISD schools that were awarded a Met Standard rating, 154 earned an additional distinction designation for especially strong student progress, or achievement in math and/or reading/English language arts.
Board of Education to Consider Partnership with Houston Community College to Open Two Middle College High Schools
Schools designed to serve students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out
The HISD Board of Education will consider a proposal Thursday to create a partnership with Houston Community College to open two Middle College High Schools focused on serving students who are in danger of dropping out of school or who have already dropped out.
Families Required to Complete Application for HISD’s Free and Reduced Price Meals Program
Application available online and at all HISD campuses for 2013-2014 academic year
Families must complete an application for their children to qualify for free-and reduced-price meals and ensure their children start the school year with access to healthy meals.
Families can fill out their application at any HISD campus, at the HISD Food Services Support Facility (6801 Bennington Street), or online at www.mealapps.houstonisd.org.
HISD boasts only CALEA accredited public school district police department in the nation
The Houston Independent School District Police Department has again been awarded the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation. HISD boasts the only accredited public school district police department in the nation.
The accreditation, which was first achieved in 2006 and has now been renewed for a second time, was accomplished through a highly regarded and broadly recognized body of professional standards and a review conducted by independent assessors and CALEA’s commissioners.
HISD Charter School Opens District’s First U.S. Marines JROTC Program
What: HISD’s Energized for STEM Academy, Inc. is announcing the creation of the first
U.S. Marine Corps JROTC program in district history. The U.S. Marine Corps has committed $1 million to help fund the program’s first five years.
Principals Get Fired Up by Keynote Speaker
Fantastic! Inspirational! Amazing!
These are a few of the comments overheard after keynote speaker Alan Hooker ended the Welcome Back Team HISD event for principals and their staff on Wednesday morning, Aug. 7, at Chavez High School.
Hooker, HISD’s Leadership Development Officer, talked specifically about how to be successful in realizing your dreams. His childhood dreams included becoming a basketball star in high school, even though he was only 5 foot 6 inches at the time. He grew tall and made the team. His college dream was playing football for the Dallas Cowboys, and sure enough, they recruited him.
Architect for Sterling High School Seeks M/WBE Subcontractors
Sterling High School will be rebuilt by SHW Group, which is reaching out to the community to work with certified M/WBE subcontractors.
SHW Group, an educational facilities design firm, is seeking certified M/WBE subcontractors to assist with their work at Sterling High School, which is set to get a new campus under the district’s $1.89 billion bond program.
SHW Group’s Principal-in-Charge Jennifer Henrikson said the firm’s biggest goal in the 2012 bond program, which will replace or rebuild 40 schools across the city, is to do great work with the best team possible.