Category Archives: 2012 bond

Don’t forget to finish the ballot: Early voting is Oct. 22 – Nov. 2

Click image above to see school-by-school projects.

Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 22, and ends on Friday, Nov. 2. During early voting, registered voters can head to ANY early voting polling location during the following hours:

* Monday Oct. 22 – Friday Oct. 26: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

* Saturday, Oct. 27: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Click image above for complete list of early voting locations.

* Sunday, Oct. 28: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

* Monday, Oct. 29 – Friday, Nov. 2: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Don’t miss your chance to vote on the 2012 Houston Schools Bond Proposition – it’s at the very end of the ballot. The $1.89 billion proposition would rebuild or renovate 38 schools in neighborhoods across Houston and upgrade technology in all HISD classrooms.

The measure also includes:

  • $44.7 million to replace regional field houses and improve athletic facilities
  • $35 million to renovate middle school restrooms
  • $17.3 million for district-wide safety and security improvements

Please share this post – and don’t forget to vote early and complete your ballot. For more information about polling locations, visit harrisvotes.com.

Photo gallery: A glimpse inside HISD’s oldest and newest campuses

With 38 schools — including 20 high schools — scheduled to either receive new campuses or major renovations, the question of what new schools would look like and what features may get built has been asked countless times.

Below is a slideshow of some of the newest Houston ISD high schools, including Carnegie Vanguard, Chavez and Westside. The latter two were built following the 1999 bond program and Carnegie Vanguard was built as a result of the 2007 bond program. The other schools in the slideshow — Lee, Milby and Davis — would receive major renovations in the 2012 bond program.

Early voting continues through Nov. 2 and Election Day is Nov. 6. Regardless of when you vote, it’s important to remember that the HISD bond program is the final item on your ballot. Make sure you finish filling out your ballot to have your voice heard on the bond election.

See the latest dedication of a building constructed with funds from the 2007 bond program. Sam Houston Math Science & Technology Center recently dedicated a technology and science wing to its building.

[slideshow]

Don’t forget to finish the ballot: Early voting is Oct. 22 – Nov. 2

Click image above to see school-by-school projects.

Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 22, and ends on Friday, Nov. 2. During early voting, registered voters can head to ANY early voting polling location during the following hours:

* Monday Oct. 22 – Friday Oct. 26: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

* Saturday, Oct. 27: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Click image above for complete list of early voting locations.

* Sunday, Oct. 28: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

* Monday, Oct. 29 – Friday, Nov. 2: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Don’t miss your chance to vote on the 2012 Houston Schools Bond Proposition – it’s at the very end of the ballot. The $1.89 billion proposition would rebuild or renovate 38 schools in neighborhoods across Houston and upgrade technology in all HISD classrooms.

The measure also includes:

  • $44.7 million to replace regional field houses and improve athletic facilities
  • $35 million to renovate middle school restrooms
  • $17.3 million for district-wide safety and security improvements

Please share this post – and don’t forget to vote early and complete your ballot. For more information about polling locations, visit harrisvotes.com.

Schools get creative in getting out the vote

Schools across the district are getting into the voting spirit with campus-based campaigns  to raise awareness about Election Day and the opportunity to vote early, from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2.

Voters will not only be choosing a new president this election but will decide whether to approve HISD’s $1.89 billion bond proposition that would focus on rebuilding and modernizing the city’s high schools, as well as provide safety and technology upgrades across the district.

At Hobby Elementary School, parents and students decorated the campus in red, white and blue colors to promote voting.  Principal Stephen Gittens says the goal was to build awareness about the importance of casting a ballot.

“We’ve sent home fliers, we’ve done call-outs, we’ve shared information with our PTOs,” said Gittens, whose school enrolls  834 elementary students in southwest Houston.

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Vote early and vote the entire ballot

Voters looking to cast their ballots early or on Election Day should remember that this year’s ballot covers a lot of ground – from the presidential race to the Houston Independent School District’s proposed $1.89 billion bond.

The school district’s bid to modernize and rebuild schools across Houston will be near the end of the ballot, after voters choose their president, county judges, constables and decide for or against several other propositions.

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Come out for a ‘Community Conversation’ on 2012 proposed bond

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Anyone looking to find out more about the school district’s proposed 2012 $1.89 billion bond proposal should come to one of Thursday’s “Community Conversations,” at Austin High School (1700 Dumble) or the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street).

The sessions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and will include a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.

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Community Conversations Tonight at Yates, Sharpstown for Houston Schools Bond Proposition

Hundreds of people have already turned out for one of the district’s Community Conversations on the proposed 2012 bond that would rebuild and renovate schools across the district, including most of the high schools.

But if you missed last week’s four sessions, there is still time to attend any of the four informational meetings scheduled this week. The$1.89 billion bond proposition is primarily focused on 28 of the district’s high schools but also significantly impacts 10 other school buildings. More details about the proposition can be found on the 2012 Houston Schools Bond website (click here). The measure goes before voters on Nov. 6. Early voting begins Oct. 22.

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“Voting Early Style” – HISD students, teachers, principals go Gangnam Style to get out the vote

Forget what you thought you knew about “Gangnam Style,” the year’s biggest hit song and music video. Some may say it’s a parody of fashion and lifestyles in an upscale Korean neighborhood, but they’re mistaken. We sent the lyrics around the district and our students, faculty and staff have come to the conclusion that rapper PSY was actually encouraging Harris County voters to not only vote this election, but to vote early and finish the entire ballot.

We want anybody who’s eligible to vote in the November 6 election to take control of their future and go to the polls. We encourage you to register to vote (do it soon as the deadline is fast approaching) and to vote early beginning October 22.

We’re also asking for your help in getting out the vote. Make sure your friends see this video by tweeting it (we’re using the #VoteEarly hashtag and you can tag us with @HoustonISD), posting it to Facebook or Tumblr and liking it on YouTube.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP7lBB83McY]

What’s New at HISD for the 2012-2013 School Year

About 200,000 Houston Independent School District students are expected to return to school for the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 27.  Students from five middle schools and four high schools in the district’s Apollo 20 school turnaround program will get a one-week head start on Aug. 20 when their school year begins.

The 2012-2013 school year brings many exciting improvements to Houston schools as HISD continues its work to offer a consistently rigorous education in a safe learning environment at all 279 campuses.

 New Schools

Four new school buildings funded by the 2007 voter-approved bond program will open on the first day of school. 

  • Carnegie Vanguard High School– (1101 Taft) – The Carnegie Vanguard Magnet program serves students who have been identified as gifted and talented in intellectual ability. In 2002, the Vanguard school moved to the former Carnegie Elementary campus which was originally built in 1963. The new building is located adjacent to the Gregory-Lincoln Education Center. 
  • Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center-(4842 Anderson Road) – The school will offer a two-way dual English and Spanish language program to its kindergarten class in an effort to develop full bilingualism and bi-literacy for all students.  The center will implement this program in one of the kindergarten classes during the 2012-2013 academic year and will add one grade per year until there is a complete two-way dual language program in grades K-8.
  • Lockhart Elementary School – (3501 Southmore) – The replacement school will now serve pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.  Students from the former Lockhart and Turner Elementary schools will attend the new campus. 
  • Neff Elementary School – (8301 Neff Street) – The replacement campus will serve students in grades 2-5.  The former Neff campus is being converted into an early childhood campus for students in pre-kindergarten through first grade.

New Programs

 Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School – (6300 Avenue B, Bellaire) This is HISD’s first Mandarin Chinese language immersion school. The school will initially serve students in kindergarten through second grade, with additional grades to be added in subsequent years. Core subjects including language arts, math, science, and social studies will be taught primarily in Mandarin Chinese with a certain amount of English language development instruction incorporated each day.

 

Houston Innovative Learning Zone program- Students at six HISD campuses (Furr, Kashmere, Scarborough, Sterling, and Booker T. Washington high schools and Long middle school) will have the chance to earn associate’s degrees and career training in high-demand technical fields.  The HILZ program was created in partnership with Houston Community College. In addition to taking the standard core credits required of all high school students, HILZ students will take courses taught by college professors using a blend of face-to-face and online instruction. In addition, credits earned by HILZ graduates will transfer to any public Texas university.

More Tools for Principals and Teachers

 Curriculum Changes- HISD has a new and improved curriculum designed with the input of thousands of teachers. The new curriculum is aligned with state and national standards and will prepare students for the rigor of STAAR and other standardized tests.  The new curriculum also places an emphasis on every child reading at or above grade level.

  • New literacy plan- The new literacy plan serves as a guide for teachers and leaders as they prepare students to be proficient readers, independent thinkers, and effective communicators. The plan is called CLASS (Curriculum and instruction, Leadership, Assessment, Support for families and communities, and Sustainability).
  • Revamped K-5 English Language Arts curriculum: The curriculum was designed in partnership with teachers and training provided by the Neuhaus Education Center.   Teachers at all grade levels have received Neuhaus training on literacy intervention strategies.  In the 2012-2013 school year, sixth and ninth- grade students who are reading below grade level will receive an extra daily class period of reading instruction using a specially designed curriculum from Neuhaus.

 

  • Continuing Leadership Training for Principals:  HISD has formed new partnerships with Rice University, the University of Texas, and St. Thomas University to help develop skills of current principals and to help train new talent. New and aspiring principals can attend an intensive four-week Emerging Leaders Institute.  Ongoing monthly training is available for first-and second-year principals and assistant principals.  There are also six new courses for principals related to decision-making in the area of staffing.

 Bond Election Proposal in November

Houston voters will decide in November whether to approve a proposition to build modern high schools in neighborhoods across Houston, and improve safety and technology district-wide. The $1.89 billion plan would address facility needs in 38 schools. For a complete overview of the proposal and the schools that would be rebuilt or renovated, click here.