National School Counseling Week is Feb. 5-9

Have you thanked your school counselor lately for all that they do? National School Counseling Week, which focuses public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors, runs Feb. 5-9.

This year’s theme is “School Counselors: Helping Students Reach for the Stars.” Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, the event highlights the work school counselors do to inspire students, help them achieve school success, and plan for a career.

Join HISD in recognizing the unique contribution to the academic success and personal well-being of our students that district counselors make each and every day. Share photos and posts on social media using #NSCW18 and #HISDcounselors.

HISD hosting community meetings on Improvement Required campuses

HISD Board of Education President Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Trustee Jolanda Jones, and Trustee Wanda Adams are hosting a series of community meetings at schools currently in “improvement required” status, or IR, as designated by the Texas Education Agency.

Ten HISD campuses have struggled academically for four or more years and must meet all state standards this year. State law under House Bill 1842 says if any school currently in IR for the fourth year or more does not meet state standards this year, the state will close it or appoint a Board of Managers to run the school district. Continue reading →

Milby HS awarded LEED Silver certification

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Milby High School has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for its new building, which was constructed as part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification provides independent verification of a building’s green features and is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

Green schools offer improved air quality, lighting, temperature control, and acoustics, as well as reduced operating costs — all of which enhance the overall learning environment and have been shown to boost student health, test scores, and faculty retention. Continue reading →

For Black History Month, a list of African-American scholarship opportunities 

In recognition of Black History Month, here is a list of scholarships available to African-American students. They are arranged by due date and include those that award $4,000 or more. There are many more scholarships listed in Naviance and on PowerUp GO.   Continue reading →

Workshop Wednesday: How to do business with HISD

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Members of HISD’s Supplier Diversity department gathered with local business owners and vendors on Wednesday to provide them with tips for successfully submitting required Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) reports to the district.

HISD established the M/WBE program in 1988 to advocate fair and equitable opportunities for the participation of M/WBE firms or companies. The M/WBE participation report makes it possible for smaller businesses to gain contracts within the district after all requirements have been met. Continue reading →

Schad named finalist for Houston organization’s CIO of the Year award

Houston Independent School District Chief Technology Information Officer Lenny Schad has been named as a finalist for the CIO of the Year Oribe Awards.

The award, presented by HoustonCIO, recognizes chief information officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership. Finalists and winners are selected through an independent peer review process.

Schad is a finalist in the nonprofit/public sector category. Other CIO of the Year award categories include super global, global, enterprise, and corporate. Award winners will be announced at the Houston Marriott Marquis on Thursday, March 22.

“It’s a huge honor to be in the running for this award,” Schad said. “It’s an incredible testament to the work we are doing here at HISD to bring the best technological support and infrastructure to our students, schools, and staff.”

HoustonCIO’s mission is to build a strong professional community among Houston technology executives and to inspire CIOs to achieve their leadership potential.

Construction on final phase of Worthing HS passes halfway mark

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The second and final phase of construction at Worthing High School has officially passed the halfway mark, Project Advisory Team members learned during their quarterly meeting on Wednesday.

Crews have installed the steel portion of the structure. Most metal stud framing for interior walls, doors, and windows is complete, concrete has been poured for the main parking lot and bus drive, and installation of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems is underway.

Also complete are renovations to the original building, including work on the auditorium stage, music rooms, restrooms, locker rooms, and clinic. Continue reading →

District facing $208 million budget shortfall  

Financial impact of Harvey and recapture creating deficit for 2018-2019 school year

As HISD begins to prepare a budget for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, the district is estimating a $208 million shortfall as result of the financial impact of Hurricane Harvey and recapture.

HISD has seen a decline in student enrollment and is planning for a further decline for the coming school year, which will mean a decrease in state funding. The district also anticipates the storm will have a significant impact on the city’s property values, which will be released in April 2018. HISD’s main source of funding is property tax dollars. To date, the district has received no indication of how much and when they’ll be reimbursed for Harvey-related expenditures.

Click here for a complete FAQ on HISD’s 2018-2019 budget. This document will be updated frequently.

These factors, combined with the district’s 2018-2019 recapture payment, is creating an estimated $208 million deficit and is requiring HISD to make difficult choices about how funds will be allocated at the school and district level for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. Continue reading →

Final phase of renovations underway at YWCPA

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Construction at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy is now 85 percent complete, with first- and second-floor renovations finished and work on third-floor classrooms well underway.

Demolition on the third floor is nearing completion. Ductwork and plumbing have been installed and light fixture replacement and roof installation are in process. In addition, auditorium renovations, including installation of new lighting, ceiling, carpeting, and HVAC system are all underway.

“The space is phenomenal,” YWCPA Principal Dr. April Williams said. “It’s a nice feeling to know that construction will be completed this summer.”

Continue reading →

African-American JROTC leaders in HISD honored during Black History Month

Organization has a 92-year history in the district

In celebration of Black History Month, the Houston Independent School District is saluting Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps senior leadership and personnel serving high school students across the district.

HISD offers 20 Army JROTC, one Air Force JROTC, and four Navy JROTC programs for the 2017-2018 school year. Statistics show that among students who complete four years in the program, over 90% attend college, 5% enter the workforce, and about 5% join the U.S. Armed Forces. Continue reading →