Category Archives: Uncategorized

HISD to Launch Parent Super Centers powered by Microsoft technology

The Houston Independent School District and Microsoft are partnering to launch new Parent Super Centers across the district in an effort to promote parent engagement on campus.  The district will be unveiling one of the five new Parent Super Centers on Friday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at Sam Houston MSTC High School (9400 Irvington).

“Research shows that increased parent engagement on campus leads to increased academic performance of students,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “HISD is committed to providing resources on campus to help parents become more involved in their children’s education.”

Each new HISD Parent Super Center will have 12 desktop computers fully loaded with the latest version of Microsoft Office, internet access, laser printers and other software.

“In today’s digital world it’s essential for parents, students and members of the community to have access to technology, which is why we are delighted to partner with HISD,” said Lori Aulds, Microsoft’s education sales director. “Microsoft has been and will always be committed to providing people with the training, education and tools needed to improve their digital literacy skills and grow in today’s economy.”

In addition, parents will receive computer training through Parent Engagement and curriculum provided by Microsoft to help them be computer savvy and master basic computer skills. 

These centers will be available for parents to use before and after school, during summer school and on Saturdays during tutorials. 

In addition to Sam Houston, HISD Parent Super Centers will be located in the following schools:

  • Sutton Elementary, 7402 Albacore Drive
  • Kelso Elementary, 5800 Southmund
  • Deady Middle School, 2500 Broadway
  • Hartman Middle School, 7111 Westover

HISD High Schools Win More National Accolades

Houston ISD high schools are well represented on two national lists issued today that seek to identify the top high schools in America.

The strong showing on the Washington Post High School Challenge rankings and Newsweek’s America’s Best High Schools of 2012 are the result of HISD’s Advanced Placement initiative that began with the 2009-2010 school year.  That was the year Superintendent Terry Grier called on all high schools to expand student access to college-level AP courses and the district agreed to pay the exam fees for all students in those classes.

“This is great recognition of the hard work being done by teachers and students at high schools across the Houston Independent School District,” said Superintendent Terry Grier.

Today, all HISD high schools offer a minimum of 10-15 AP classes, and the number of exams earning a score of 3 or higher, which is the score most colleges require for course credit, is up 35 percent.

HISD’s strong AP progress is one reason the district is among four finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education, which recognizes the top urban school district in America. This week, a Broad Prize panel of experts is touring HISD schools as part of the evaluation process.

Washington Post High School Challenge

Twenty-one HISD high schools earned recognition in the Washington Post High School Challenge, a list of 1,800 schools representing the top 9 percent in the nation when it comes to preparing graduates for college. Only 125 Texas high schools made the list, and HISD campuses – Carnegie Vanguard, Eastwood Academy, and DeBakey High School for Health Professions – represent three of the national top 100.

HISD high schools that made the Washington Post list include:

2012 Rank      School Name

10                         Carnegie Vanguard

23                         Eastwood Academy

96                         Challenge Early HS

114                       DeBakey HS for Health Professions

153                       Bellaire

161                       High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

168                       East Early College

194                       Furr

228                      High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

267                      Lamar

275                      Westside

548                      Westbury

553                      Lee

833                      Chavez

1,001                  Milby

1,062                  Reagan

1,121                   Scarborough

1,158                  Washington

1,205                  Davis

1,377                  Waltrip

1,571                   Austin

Newsweek’s list of America’s Best High Schools 

HISD high schools also occupy 9 out of 1,000 positions on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best High Schools.  Only 86 Texas high schools made the Newsweek list. HISD schools on the list are:

2012 Rank       School Name

13                           Carnegie Vanguard

72                          Eastwood Academy

75                          DeBakey HS for Health Professions

162                        High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

439                        Bellaire

446                        Challenge Early College

685                        High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

883                        Lamar

957                        Mount Carmel Academy

Houston ISD Police to Participate in National Click It or Ticket Campaign

The Houston Independent School District is joining other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country for the 2012 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization.  The campaign kicks off May 21 in an effort to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up. 

“The goal of HISD’s Police Department is to ensure the safety of all our schools, but we need the help of the community when it comes to seatbelt safety,” said HISD Police Chief Jimmy Dotson.  “Drivers need to ensure that they wear a seatbelt at all times for their own safety, and our officers are committed to enforce seat belt laws at all times.” 

Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year and HISD’s Police Department is helping spread the word.

NHTSA statistics show that in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.  However, in that same year 22,187 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA, and 51 percent of them were not wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.

“School will be out for the summer very soon so it’s important we are aware of more children playing in neighborhood streets,” said Dotson.  “We ask that all drivers take extra precaution when driving in their neighborhoods to ensure the safety of all our students during the summer break.”

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 21 through June 3, motorists should know that officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Jones Alumnus Returns to School for Hometown Hall of Fame

Former Washington Redskins player and Jones High School alumnus Darrell Green visited his alma mater on Wednesday, April 16. The Football Hall of Fame inductee addressed a packed auditorium of students and stressed the importance of staying in school and pursuing college after graduation. “Anything is possible,” said Green. “The opportunities are there if you pursue them. Make sure you utilize all the resources you have available to you including your teachers, your friends, your family, and the community around this school that wants nothing else but to see you succeed.”

While visiting the school, Green was presented with a plaque by the Pro-Football Hall of Fame and Allstate as part of a special program called “Hometown Hall of Famers.” The program honors the hometown roots of the National Football League’s greatest players. The plaque will remain on permanent display at Jones High School.

HISD Superintendent Proposes Raises for Teachers, Staff in 2012-2013

All Houston ISD employees would receive pay increases ranging from 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent in 2012-2013 under a budget proposal presented to the Board of Education for consideration today.

HISD’s non-teaching staff last received a pay raise in 2009-2010, and some, but not all, teachers received a raise in 2010-2011. No employees received raises this school year. Superintendent Terry Grier asked the board to consider the pay increases in an effort to remain competitive with surrounding Houston-area school districts that have already proposed doing so.

The teacher pay issue is especially critical as HISD seeks to compete with other school districts who are attempting to fill teaching vacancies caused by resignations and retirements. Each year, HISD loses about 1,000 teachers through attrition. Under the proposal, teachers with 10 years or less of experience would receive a 2.25 percent pay raise, which would increase beginning teacher pay in HISD from $44,987 to $46,000. Teachers with more than 10 years of experience would receive a 1.75 percent pay raise.

Other employee groups would receive the following salary increases under the compensation proposal:

• School bus operators, hourly food services employees, and salaried departmental employees on the lower end of the pay scale: 2.25 percent
• Substitute teachers, hourly employees, principals, assistant principals, and deans: 2 percent
• Professional employees and upper-level administrators: 1.75 percent

HISD began the budgeting process facing a $43.6 million shortfall caused primarily by the Texas Legislature’s decision last year to reduce public education funding by $5.3 billion. HISD is among many Texas school districts that have filed a lawsuit seeking to force the state to fund schools at the constitutionally-mandated level.
The budget proposal includes maintaining HISD’s current tax rate, which is the lowest among all Harris County school districts.
The district would pay for the $20 million compensation proposal in part with $8.9 million from the district’s savings account, which currently stands at about $257 million. About $17 million of the shortfall would be covered by reducing the amount of general fund money that is normally transferred to HISD’s debt service fund to help repay loans. This reduction is a one-time option that will not be available in future years.
HISD has also identified several areas of potential savings for the upcoming school year. These include:

• $3.5 million in reduced employee healthcare costs through increased efficiencies that should not impact quality of service.
• $1.7 million less in special funding for six unique schools.
• $2.5 million in non-campus departmental cuts, primarily through eliminating positions and layoffs. Last year, HISD eliminated 221 non-campus positions.

Changes in Distribution of Funds for Low-Income Students

HISD was notified this month that the federal government will now require districts to send federal money intended to supplement the cost of educating children from low-income families to the neighborhood schools in those children’s attendance zones. In past years, HISD has allocated that money, called Title I funds, to the schools that qualifying children actually attend, even if those schools are not in those children’s neighborhoods.
As a result of this change, some HISD schools will receive less Title I money than they would have in the past, while other schools will receive more money. In general, schools that accept large numbers of transfer students from low-income families will lose funding, while schools in low-income neighborhoods that have lost students to other schools will receive additional funds. The most money any single school would lose is about $180,000.
The Board of Education is expected to adopt the 2012-2013 budget at a public meeting in June.

News around the district

Seniors from Houston Academy for International Studies met former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Every month, schools across the district hold special events and celebrations, or honor employees, students and alumni.  Here’s a snapshot of what happened at HISD during the months of April-May:

  • Sherman Elementary honored their Gifted and Talented students at the 3rd Annual GT Expo on May 3. More than ninety gifted and Talented students worked individually or in groups to prepare projects for viewing by parents and community members.
  • Seniors from the Houston Academy for International Studies attended the World Affairs Council luncheon with former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.  Two students, Benjamin Brooks and Juana Martinez, were specially chosen for a round table discussion with former Secretary Rice where they were allowed to ask questions ranging from her view on U.S. relations with Pakistan to recounting her own days as a high school student.  Ms. Rice signed a copy of her recent book, No Higher Honor, as a gift to the school.
  • Dallas Cowboys football player Lawrence Vickers (#47) visited Whidby Elementary to promote the importance of education through athletics. Mr. Vickers spoke about his own experiences, including the teacherw who helped him succeed and why staying in school is important.

Comerica Banks Makes Significant Office Furniture and School Supply Donation to HISD

In the center, Downey Bridgwater, Comerica’s Houston market president, and Vanessa Reed, Comerica’s South Texas Community Reinvestment manager, load one of dozens of chairs into a moving van. They are flanked by Veronica Ruiz (left), manager of HISD’s Warehouse Furniture Operations, and Nicole Ware Smith (right), senior manager of HISD’s Warehouse Operations.

Comerica Bank today announced a donation valued at approximately $40,000 of work stations, chairs, file cabinets and other office equipment and supplies to the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to be dispersed to classrooms across the city.

The office equipment and supplies, surplus from Comerica’s recent Houston market headquarters relocation to Brookhollow Central, will be stored temporarily at a HISD facility where teachers and school officials then can come and select items to use in their classrooms and school offices.

“Comerica is committed to enhancing the communities we serve, and we hope this donation makes an immediate, positive impact on in-need schools all across Houston,” said Downey Bridgwater, Comerica’s Houston Market President. “We are pleased that HISD can put this surplus office equipment to good use to enhance the learning environment for both students and teachers. It’s especially important for businesses like ours to support our schools with our time and our resources.”

HISD’s Nicole Ware Smith, Senior Manager of Warehouse Operations, said, “Our schools are very excited about Comerica’s furniture and equipment donations. We are always looking for opportunities to obtain used furniture that’s in good serviceable condition because some of our schools have special needs. These are schools that are new, schools that have been damaged or ones that have recently undergone construction. This furniture and equipment will go a long way in helping improve conditions for student instruction.

“The donated furniture and equipment will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis. So, I know teachers will be lined up once word gets out that it’s available,” Smith added.

HISD Names Chief Middle School Officer

Michael Cardona, whose leadership of a high school and a middle school in San Antonio led to significant student achievement gains, has been named Houston ISD’s chief middle school officer.

Cardona comes to the Houston Independent School District from North East ISD, where he has served as principal of Robert E. Lee High School since 2009. He previously served as principal of North East’s Driscoll Middle School from 2006 to 2009. Cardona was among just five Texas finalists for this year’s H-E-B Excellence in Education Secondary School Principal Award.

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said Cardona has the expertise needed to continue the transformation of Houston middle schools.

“The middle school years are a crucial time in the academic journey of every student,” Dr. Grier said. “The schools under Mr. Cardona’s leadership have successfully raised the level of academic rigor for all children, regardless of their background, and prepared them to succeed in college and in the job market.”

The number of college-level Advanced Placement exams taken by students at Robert E. Lee High School more than tripled on Cardona’s watch. The 2,700-student campus, which is home to three magnet programs, was included among the National Center for Educational Achievement’s list of Higher Performing Schools in 2011.

Cardona said he plans to use his experience as a principal on the middle school and high school levels to help students make the transition from eighth grade to ninth grade. Students must leave HISD’s middle schools prepared to tackle the rigor of AP classes in high school, Cardona said. This means exposing students to challenging classes in middle school, because high school is too late, he said.

“We have got to get these students ready when they enter high school,” Cardona said. “All kids are capable of being successful if they’re given the right structures.”

Cardona hold a master of science in educational administration from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and a bachelor of arts in political science from Texas A&M University. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University.

Cardona began his education career in 1992 as a teacher working with students with disabilities. He served as an assistant principal at three North East ISD middle schools and one high school. His wife, Leila Cardona, is an elementary school reading facilitator. They have two sons, ages 7 and 12.

Cardona will report for duty in HISD on July 2. He replaces Dr. S. Dallas Dance, who was recently named superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland.

HISD Board of Education to Consider More Elementary School Class Time

The Houston ISD Board of Education today will consider giving preliminary approval to a policy requiring all elementary schools to adopt a minimum 7 hour and 15 minute daily schedule.

 The proposal is intended to provide schools more flexibility to meet their students’ academic and developmental needs.  Earlier this spring, the Board of Education approved a resolution encouraging all elementary principals to offer their students daily recess, and this proposal would further enable them to do so.

Currently, the length of school days at HISD elementary campuses ranges from 7 hours to 7 hours and 40 minutes, meaning no school’s day would be lengthened by more than 15 minutes under this proposal. Schools that already exceed the minimum time requirement would be able to continue doing so.

Other items on the agenda for tonight’s meeting include:

  • Adoption of a resolution calling on the Texas Legislature to “reexamine the public school accountability system in Texas and to develop a system that encompasses multiple assessments, reflects greater validity, reduces the number of instructional days affected by state-mandated standardized tests, and uses more cost efficient sampling techniques and other external evaluation arrangements, and more accurately reflects what students know, appreciate and can do in terms of the rigorous standards essential to their success, enhances the role of teachers as designers, guides to instruction and leaders, and nurtures the sense of inquiry and love of learning in all students.”
  • Expanding newcomer programs at Liberty High School and Las Americas Middle School.  These schools are designed to meet the unique needs of students who have recently immigrated to the United States.
  • Approval of a new set of performance criteria, the HISD School Leadership Framework, to be used in the appraisal instrument for principals, assistant principals, and deans of instruction. For more than a year, leaders from across the district have been working together to make recommendations about the design of this new appraisal system, including the appraisal process and timelines and the performance criteria used to assess school leader performance. With the right supports and standards, principals will be best positioned to improve the quality of instruction within schools and strengthen parent and community engagement.

The board’s regular monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2012 in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th St., 77092).

The board is scheduled to receive status updates on a number of projects and vote on several programs, contracts, and grants. For a full copy of the Board meeting agenda, click here.  The board meeting will be carried live on HISD’s website and on the HISD Channel, which can be found on Comcast Channel 18 or AT&T Channel 99.

HISD Withdraws Breach of Contract Claim and Enlists Assistance of Don Lee Farms as Part of Settlement

HISD has withdrawn its allegation that Don Lee Farms breached its contract regarding lean finely textured beef (LFTB) and Don Lee Farms has agreed to redistribute the Charbroiled 100% Beef Patties to other customers requesting the product.

This agreement resolves any and all outstanding issues regarding LFTB and the product currently in HISD’s possession.

HISD and Don Lee Farms have agreed to continue working together to support student achievement through proper nutrition.