Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD schools receive top accolades in EPA’s Energy Star National Building Competition

School at St. George Place ranked top in nation for energy savings amongst K-12 school buildings

Nine campuses from across the Houston Independent School District were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reducing energy consumption by at least 20 percent over the last year.

The schools were recognized in June as part of the EPA’s 2015 Energy Star National Building Competition Battle of the Buildings Team Challenge, which encouraged organizations across the country to compete in their efforts to reduce energy and water consumption.

Continue reading →

Board interviewing candidates for superintendent position 

Applicant pool consists of candidates who match leadership profile developed with public input 

The HISD Board of Education is interviewing candidates for the position of superintendent of schools to replace former Superintendent Terry Grier, who stepped down on Feb. 29.

The Board, working with the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, narrowed down an initial list of 35 applicants to a select pool of candidates for a first round of interviews, which is underway. Continue reading →

Codwell ES students benefit from summer partnership 

Tutors/mentors work with students, develop meaningful relationships

Camp counselors from Camp Fuge celebrated the end of their three-week program with a summer part at Codwell Elementary on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

Camp counselors from Camp Fuge celebrated the end of their three-week program with a summer party at Codwell Elementary on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

The heat and humidity wasn’t about to slow down students at Codwell Elementary. They had earned this party. As summer school was nearing its end, students gathered for an afternoon celebration with their new friends, a group of middle, high, and college students from Fuge Camp, who spent the past three weeks tutoring and mentoring them.

Kristy Love, principal at Codwell, said she was amazed how quickly bonds developed between her students and the camp counselors.

“We’re a ‘Leader in Me’ campus, and one of the principles we follow is, ‘Working together, and together is better,’” Love said. “It’s been crazy to see the benefits. These are kids who don’t have a lot of communication with people from other backgrounds. So it’s been great to see them develop these relationships.”   Continue reading →

Construction on new Askew ES to begin as early as September

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000r_WqnakcJdQ” g_name=”20160621-Askew” 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” ]

Site work at Askew Elementary School is underway with construction of the new building scheduled to begin this fall, according to design and construction plans presented to community members on Tuesday.

Existing temporary buildings are being removed to make room for construction of the new school on the north side of the campus. Crews are preparing to install two temporary classroom buildings on the southwest side of the campus to accommodate students during construction.

“This is the exciting part of the job when everything starts to come to life,” Project Manager Ron Keller said to about 40 people who gathered for an update on plans for the $26.6 million facility, which is part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond.

Continue reading →

State Board of Education seeks public input on assessments and accountability 

Make your voice heard regarding STAAR testing, school ratings, and other state accountability programs.

The State Board of Education has launched an online survey to get public feedback, concerns, and suggestions on the state’s current programs.

The survey is available in English here and in Spanish here through June 30.

Continue reading →

Extreme Makeover: Middle School Restroom Edition

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000_vqPcrCd2zI” g_name=”20160620-FondrenPershingMS-BondRestrooms” 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” ]

Student restrooms at 31 middle schools across HISD are being renovated with funds from the district’s $1.89 billion bond program. When completed, the remodeled facilities will be fully ADA accessible and include much needed upgrades.

Renovations at each campus will vary, but the total scope of work includes installation of new plumbing, sinks and fixtures, new toilets and urinals with automatic flush valves, and electric hand-dryers, as well as repairs to existing walls, and installation of new wall and floor tile, lighting, and painted gypsum board ceilings. New toilet partitions will be black with a textured surface to deter students from marking on them. Continue reading →

Board of Education approves HISD budget

Spending plan addresses loss of $162 million of local taxes because of Texas school finance system

The Houston ISD Board of Education on Thursday approved a 2016-2017 budget that seeks to minimize the classroom impact of the loss of an estimated $162 million in local taxes to the Texas school finance system.

The budget proposal passed on a 5-2 vote, with trustees Manuel Rodríguez, Wanda Adams, Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Jolanda Jones and Michael Lunceford in favor. Trustees Greg Meyers and Anna Eastman were opposed, while Trustees Harvin Moore and Diana Dávila  were not present.

Continue reading →

Lamar students prepare for intensive IB program in the fall 

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000lbhkH2PMKto” g_name=”20160615-Lamar-Summer-Academy” 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” ]

Lamar High School’s International Baccalaureate Summer Academy got underway this past week. Every summer, incoming ninth-graders are introduced to the IB Middle Years Programme through an interactive interdisciplinary blending of English, math, science, technology, arts and humanities, and physical education in a project-based, non-graded curriculum.

Continue reading →

Teacher at Arabic Immersion Magnet School to be recognized on World Refugee Day

Asinja Badeel

Asinja Badeel

Every refugee has a story, and they do not all have happy endings. Former refugee Asinja Badeel, however, came to the U.S. in 2008, and hers is a story of perseverance and success.

Badeel is being honored at World Refugee Day 2016 on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Houston Community College, 1300 Holman. She will speak about leaving Iraq with her family and spending a year in Istanbul before coming to Houston.

Continue reading →