Bond construction becoming highly visible throughout district

School construction is progressing at a record pace in HISD, and if you’ve spent any time driving in district neighborhoods recently, you have probably spotted one or more of our schools under construction.

With fifteen projects currently in the construction phase, that’s more active construction than at any other time in the district’s history. Many of these projects are well into vertical construction, and visible progress can be seen almost daily.

Check out these latest photos taken the second week of February.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000Z9p1rG5T1TE” g_name=”20160217-Bond-Progress” 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” ]

As the district moves forward with implementation of the $1.89 billion bond program, which was approved by Houston voters in 2012, the bond team expects to have signed construction contracts on an additional six schools by the end of the first quarter of 2016, and nearly all the remaining projects will be bid by the end of 2016.

Phase 1 of the Worthing project will be complete by summer. Schools on track to open in time for the start of the 2016-2017 school year include Condit Elementary, Mark White Elementary, North Houston Early College High School, South Early College High School, Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School, and (non-bond) North Forest Early Childhood Center.

The bond program, which will rebuild or renovate 40 schools, including 29 high schools, also includes improvements to district-wide athletics facilities, middle school restroom renovations and significant technology upgrades. HISD is also building some non-bond funded schools: North Forest High School, North Forest Early Childhood Center and the Energy Institute High School.

More information on HISD Building Programs

 

 

HISD breaks own attendance record at UIL districtwide meet

These students from Condit ES were two of the more than 1,000 that attended HISD's Winter UIL Meet.

These students from Condit ES were two of the more than 1,000 that attended HISD’s Winter UIL Meet.

HISD has been offering students the chance to compete in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities for years, but the district recently hit an attendance milestone, when more than 1,000 elementary school students participated in a single UIL competition.

The UIL A+ Academics Winter District Meet, which took place at Davis High School, had students from more than 40 schools competing, making it the most-attended UIL A+ Academics Meet in district history.

Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education separates from superintendent search firm, hires replacement

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted unanimously on Wednesday to end its contract with Ray & Associates, the search firm hired to find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier.

Board President Manuel Rodriguez said the decision to separate was mutual and determined to be in the best interest of both the district and the search firm.

The board followed the decision with a vote to begin talks with HYA & Associates, a national consulting firm based in Illinois. HYA & Associates was one of four companies interviewed by the board in November after responding to a request for proposals the previous month.

Once hired, that firm will be tasked with helping trustees conduct a survey and hold community meetings to gather input on the superintendent candidate profile. The firm will then use that profile to recruit candidates.

Dr. Grier is currently in his seventh year as HISD superintendent. He plans to step down at the end of February.

For more information on the superintendent search process, visit www.houstonisd.org/supesearch.

HISD Board of Education names Deputy Superintendent/CFO Ken Huewitt as interim leader of state’s largest district

Kenneth HuewittThe Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, unanimously voted to name Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Ken Huewitt as interim superintendent of the state’s largest school district.

Huewitt was tapped to serve as the interim leader of HISD while trustees search for a permanent replacement for outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier, who is stepping down at the end of this month after almost seven years with the district. Continue reading →

New multiservice center to provide HISD students quality access to food, healthcare

Kashmere High School will celebrate the opening of a campus-based multiservice center that provides health, education, counseling, and workforce development services to students and their families.

The Kashmere Success Center was launched in January by ProUnitas, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities by connecting social service organizations and resources to students and families with unmet needs. Continue reading →

Noelia Longoria selected as new assistant superintendent for School Choice

Noelia Longoria

Noelia Longoria

Noelia Longoria recently was named the new assistant superintendent for the Office of School Choice.

Longoria has 25 years of experience in urban education, which includes time spent as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, dean principal, and school support officer.

During her most recent positions as lead principal and school support officer, all three of her improvement-required middle and high schools met state accountability standards.

Continue reading →

Girl Scout project brings Lamar HS senior state, national attention

Kianna Hawkins

Kianna Hawkins

A project taken on as one Girl Scout’s quest for the Gold Award has earned her additional recognition at the state and national levels.

Last year, 17-year-old Kianna Hawkins led an initiative called “EyeCare4TeenVision” to provide basic eye-care services and corrective lenses to needy young people. As a part of her project, she joined forces with various local organizations to coordinate a vision screening event for teens and collected more than 300 pairs of gently used eyeglasses. Those efforts led to Kianna earning the Gold Award, which is the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive (see related local newspaper story here).

Continue reading →

Need $2,500 for College? Apply for Ruby Sue Clifton Scholarship by March 27

A local credit union is offering students a chance to win one of six $2,500 scholarships for college.

The Ruby Sue Clifton Scholarship was created to honor an HISD administrator who retired after more than 30 years of service to the district. The middle school named after her opened in 1979.

To be eligible, students must be graduating seniors during the 2015–2016 school year and have at least one parent who has been a member of SMART Financial Credit Union (formerly First Educators) for more than six months.

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is Sunday, March 27, 2016. For details, including an online application, visit the SMART Financial Credit Union website.

New partnership seeks to recognize outstanding HISD teachers

Chick-fil-A and Telemundo are seeking the public’s help in recognizing outstanding HISD teachers by nominating educators for “Teacher of the Month” from February through May.

Winners will receive free Chick-fil-A for a year, a catered breakfast at their school, and recognition on Telemundo’s platforms.

Anyone can submit a nomination, but to be eligible, nominees must be active HISD teachers. For complete details, please see this nomination form (.pdf).

Many African American artists among HISD’s distinguished alumni give back

Editor’s Note: Black History Month runs from Monday, Feb. 1, through Monday, Feb. 29, this year, and HISD is celebrating with a series of weekly stories recognizing distinguished African Americans who graduated from district high schools. This third article focuses on alumni who went on to have successful careers in the fine arts. The first and second articles spotlighted professional athletes, and lawmakers/politicians (respectively). Others will feature educators and those with careers in radio, TV, and film.

HISD has a wealth of African-American alumni with talent in the performing and visual arts — and many of these distinguished graduates have chosen to share their gifts with later generations of students.

Continue reading →