Wiggins named one of Time’s 50 Most Influential People in Health Care

Betti Wiggins, HISD’s officer of Nutrition Services, is no stranger to accolades. She was previously featured in a PBS special and her work was also recognized by General Mills, who gave her a Wheaties box emblazoned with her photograph.

Most recently, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s 50 Most Influential People in Health Care for 2018.

This year was the first time the magazine compiled the Health Care 50 list, asking “a team of health editors and reporters to nominate people who significantly changed the state of U.S. health care” and evaluating their work “on key factors, including originality, impact, and quality,” according to TIME Magazine’s website. Continue reading →

HISD police officers wearing pink badges during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many HISD police officers are sporting pink police badges this month to help raise awareness about the disease and raise funding for research.

Officers who contributed $20 or more are wearing special pink badges throughout the month, signifying their commitment to the cause. The money raised will go to the American Cancer Society to support patients and their families fighting breast cancer.

“The Pink Badge Program is a great way for our officers to show support for our community,” Assistant Police Chief Lucretia Rogers said. “I think it demonstrates our commitment to supporting families who are struggling with this serious disease.”

The Pink Badge program is supported by various law enforcement agencies across the country. This is the second year HISD’s police department has participated.

 

HISD PD adds six new vehicles to its fleet

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Six new black and white police vehicles — each adorned with clean, streamlined graphics — are being added this fall to the Houston Independent School District Police Department fleet.

The new graphics showcase a black vehicle shell with white front and rear doors displaying reflective images of the HISD Police badge and department name. The vehicle number is located at the back, along with a reflective emergency bar.

“These new graphics avoid any confusion,” HISD Police Sgt. Quinten Flannel said. “We decided that we wanted to be part of these efforts and made the move to that direction for safety above all.”

Continue reading →

Austin HS prepares for start of construction

Construction crews at Austin High School spent much of the summer working to complete demolition, abatement, and underground site work in preparation for the start of construction on their new building.

While significant progress was made, the project encountered some hurdles. City of Houston permitting procedures changed and now require additional documents and information to be submitted. Additionally, asbestos removal took longer than anticipated.

To accommodate the additional time needed to procure the permit and safely remove hazardous materials from the construction site, school and project officials have updated the construction timeline. The school is now scheduled to will move into its new facility in summer 2020, with students and staff returning for the 2020-2021 school year. Continue reading →

Eastwood Academy HS celebrates opening of new building additions

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Members of the East End community joined with the students and staff of Eastwood Academy on Friday, Oct. 19 to celebrate the completion and opening of the school’s new additions and renovations.

Built as part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program, the $10.9 million project was completed in two phases. The first phase, which opened in January of this year, included renovations to the existing building and construction of an administrative wing. Phase two, a two-story library wing, opened for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

“Our students have long-deserved a place that reflects their tremendous achievements,” Eastwood Academy Principal Brandi Lira said. “I am so grateful for the bond program, the district administrators, and the trustees, that they believed in making this building a reality for our students.” Continue reading →

2018 National School Lunch Week shines spotlight on importance of good food

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Cheers and laughter echoed around the room as Mandarin Immersion Magnet School students rushed to the cafeteria for lunch on Wednesday.

Many of the students were eager to select a lunch option from “Student Favorites,” a special menu featuring pizza, chicken sandwiches, and fresh salads served as part of National School Lunch Week.

“The salads are good,” said fifth-grader Brady Gastineau about the salad bar implemented at his school as part of a districtwide initiative to make them available in every school by the spring. “I like that you can choose what you want to put on them.” Continue reading →

Yates HS welcomes guests to Lion’s Den to celebrate school’s grand opening

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A sea of crimson and gold filled the foyer of Jack Yates High School on Oct. 16, as guests donning the school’s colors gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new 208,000 square foot building.

A host of special guests and community members joined students, faculty, and staff to recognize the special occasion. The festivities kicked off with high energy as the school’s Marching Motion band provided a show-stopping performance.

“The new building offers brand new technology and a new atmosphere,” Senior Class President Alyss Kerl said. “As a senior in the school of communication, printing technology pathway, I have been provided a new studio in the printing image tech class, which has allowed students to be introduced to industrial printing machines.” Continue reading →

Transportation Services begins bus badge distribution

HISD Transportation Services began distributing personalized badges this week to HISD student bus riders as part of the district’s Student Badge Program.

Badge distribution began Thursday, Oct. 18 and Friday, Oct. 19 for a 22-school pilot group with general distribution across the district set to begin on Monday, Oct. 22.

The 22-school pilot group includes: Elmore, Herod, Lockhart, Parker, and River Oaks elementary schools; Woodson PK-5; Fondren, Pershing and West Briar middle schools; Carnegie Vanguard, Chavez, Lamar, Waltrip, Westbury, and Westside high schools; DeBakey High School for Health Professions, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School; Houston Academy for International Studies, Gregory-Lincoln Educational Center, Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan; Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men; and High School for Law and Justice. Continue reading →

HISD holds its first official Parent University

HISD hosted its first official Parent University workshop on Thursday, Oct. 18 at four geographically dispersed locations across the district—Fonville Middle School, Austin, Sterling and Westbury High Schools.

The theme for the first workshop was “Getting Involved with Your Child’s Education.” Each school provided resources and information fairs that focused on ways parents could become more involved at their child’s campus and the importance of parental involvement.

There were also a variety of district and community program representatives available to speak with parents.

“It’s important that we equip our parents with valuable information and resources that will produce positive academic outcomes for their child in and outside of the classroom,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education unanimously votes to reinstate Lathan as interim superintendent

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted unanimously to reinstate Dr. Grenita Lathan as interim superintendent of HISD.

The Board of Education also voted to authorize the Board President or her designees and the interim superintendent to bring back recommendations concerning executive coaches for trustees and the interim superintendent, respectively. Trustees voted to submit a request to the Texas Education Agency to change the district’s assigned governance conservator.

In addition, trustees voted to set a date for the completion of the superintendent search and adopt a resolution concerning reconciliation.

The firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates will conduct a national search for a permanent superintendent.