Yearly Archives: 2015

HISD Board of Education Runoff Election Results

Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. were re-elected to the Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Saturday, according to final, but unofficial results of the trustee runoff election.

Skillern-Jones, who has served on the board for four years, defeated challenger Larry Williams to retain her District II seat. Rodriguez, who has served on the board for 11 years, defeated challenger Jose Leal in the race for the District III spot.

Both will serve a four-year term, which formally begins when they are sworn in during the first 2016 Board of Education meeting on January 14.

In addition to serving as board president, Skillern-Jones also represents HISD on the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Board of Directors. The native Houstonian earned both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in clinical sociology from Texas Southern University.

Rodriguez, who serves as first vice president of the board and was first elected in 2003, is the founder and president of the MARVAA Corporation, which provides assistance in education, housing, and community involvement. A graduate of HISD’s Stephen F. Austin High School, Rodriguez earned an associate of arts degree in social sciences from Solana Community College and studied organizational behavior management and marketing at University of Houston.

Joining Skillern-Jones and Rodriguez are Diana Dávila and Jolanda Jones, both of whom were elected to the board in November’s general election.

Jones won a seat on the board for the first time, beating out three opponents to fill the District IV spot being vacated by departing Trustee Paula Harris. Jones owns the Law Office of Jolanda Jones and previously spent four years on the Houston City Council, where she served as a council member at-large in District V. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Houston and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

A former HISD teacher, Dávila previously served on the HISD Board from 2003 to 2010. She defeated incumbent Trustee Juliet Stipeche for the District VIII seat. A graduate of HISD’s Milby High School, Dávila earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on bilingual education from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in educational management and principal certification from University of Houston-Clear Lake.

HISD Board of Education votes to hire search firm tasked with finding new superintendent

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday to hire a search firm to help find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier.

Trustees hired Ray and Associates, an Iowa-based firm that specializes in searches for educational executives and leaders. The firm was among four companies that responded to a request for proposals issued in October. All four were interviewed by the board last month. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves $212.4 million additional bond funding proposal

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. Continue reading →

Trustee Paula Harris honored before last board meeting

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00003D1We9NcbNk” g_name=”2015-Harris-Reception” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

HISD Board of Education Trustee Paula Harris, before stepping down from her District IV seat and attending her final board meeting on Thursday, was honored for her leadership and dedication to children.

“There are so many things I have learned through this journey,” said Harris, who has served for eight years on the board. “I really want to say a special thank you to this board because we all want what’s best for children.”

Continue reading →

First wall goes up at new Milby High School

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000K.gyFdHLgXE” g_name=”20151210-Milby” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

The construction work at Milby High School took a major step forward on Thursday when workers lifted the first wall of the new school.

“It’s really a ballet,” said HISD’s Project Manager Mark Crippen. “Once the first wall is up, it just keeps going. That crane can’t stop.”

Milby is among 40 HISD schools being renovated or rebuilt as part of the district’s $1.89 billion bond program. The 267,000 square foot project is a combination of new construction and renovation. The school will maintain its historical façade along Broadway in Houston’s East End, while creating a modern learning environment for up to 2,000 students.

Continue reading →

‘Crack the Code’ STEM event set for January 9

The Innovative Curriculum department will hold its first ever invitational coding event for its TIF 4 STEM grant schools on Saturday, January 9, 2016 from 9 a.m. to noon, called “Crack the Code.” Students, teachers, and chaperones from 18 of the grant’s middle schools and elementary schools will convene at Southmayd Elementary School, the host campus, for the day’s festivities.

Over 200 people are expected to participate in the day’s coding activities. A unique aspect of this event is that participants will learn, test, and refine their coding skills alongside each other, highlighting the ability of students and teachers to be co-constructors of STEM-based knowledge and skills.

The purpose of the invitational, is to serve as a “pilot” coding event for HISD. Any business entities, philanthropic organizations, or non-profits interested in helping to support the vision for a district-wide coding event in the future, should contact Annie Song in HISD’s Strategic Partnerships Office at 713-556-7218.

Current funding provided by the TIF 4 grant supports the TIF 4 STEM team, responsible for leading and preparing the day’s activities, busing to the event location, and recognitions for all participants.

HISD Board of Education to consider $212.4 million in additional bond funding

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday will consider a funding proposal that would add up to $212.4 million to the bond program to cover significant increases in inflation and construction costs.

If approved, the additional money would 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. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education to vote on search firm tasked with finding new superintendent

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is scheduled to vote Thursday on a plan to hire a search firm to help find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier.

Trustees are recommending the hire of Ray and Associates, an Iowa-based firm that specializes in searches for educational executives and leaders. The firm was among four companies that responded to a request for proposals issued in October. All four were interviewed by the board last month. Continue reading →

Last school choice open house on Saturday and first magnet deadline approaching

One of the great things about HISD is that parents have a wide variety of choices regarding where to send their students to school, but time is running out to be in the first round of consideration. Parents who still aren’t sure which school they want their child to attend should go to the final school-choice open house this weekend from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at Northwest Mall. Representatives from HISD magnet schools will be there, and attendees can even get help submitting their application.

The deadline to apply is Dec. 18 for guaranteed consideration in the first round. Any applications received after the Dec.18 deadline will be considered only for schools where there is still space available.

Completed applications can be submitted in the following three ways:

* Submit it online at hisdchoice.com (online applications provide more options for tracking and staying up-to-date)

* Hand-deliver or send by U.S. mail to the Office of School Choice at 4400 West 18th Street, Houston, TX 77092

* Scan the paper application and e-mail it to magnet@houstonisd.org, along with the required documents

The big day is March 24, 2016. That’s when parents will learn the status of their application – results will be available online and also sent by mail. If a child has been offered a seat in a program, the parents have two weeks to provide proof of residence and sign an entrance agreement.

If their student is placed on a waiting list, parents can monitor changes in application status throughout the summer, at which time they may be able to submit additional applications to programs with available seats.

For more information on the magnet application process, please contact HISD’s Office of School Choice at 713-556-6947.