HISD using international assessment to ensure students are globally competitive

District and campus leaders gather to review OECD results and share best practices

District and campus leaders from more than a dozen HISD high schools gathered with school administrators from across the state this week to discuss the importance of making sure Texas students are globally competitive.  Much of the gathering focused on the analysis of an international assessment given to a select group of students from more than 500 schools throughout the world, including several HISD high schools.

The international exam, known as the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Test for Schools, was administered last year to a random sampling of 15-year-olds at 15 HISD high schools to assess student performance in math, science, and reading, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving. Unlike state standardized tests that measure mastery of curriculum, the OECD measures how effectively students apply what they know to solve problems.

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Bond Oversight Committee gets update on bond construction

BOC1The Bond Oversight Committee held its first meeting of 2015 on Tuesday, hearing an update on the bond program and the impact that soaring construction costs are having on HISD’s plan to build or renovate 40 schools.

Since 2012, when Houston voters approved the district’s $1.89 billion bond program, the district has seen an average 44 percent increase in building costs, from about $146 per square foot in 2012 to about $210 per square foot today.

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School gets facelift, library makeover thanks to military veterans

‘Mission Continues’ joins forces with Bush Literacy Foundation to freshen up Kelso ES

Dozens of U.S. military veterans from the Houston area reported for duty at Kelso Elementary School on the morning of Jan. 24. Their mission? To makeover the library, spruce up exterior surfaces, and create a campus garden.

The former Army and Marine servicemen and women came to the school as a part of the Mission Continues organization, which works in partnership with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation to create more-pleasant and welcoming learning environments for children.

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Pre-K students show off their bilingual skills

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Law Elementary pre-kindergarten students showed off their bilingual skills to the local media at a press conference on Jan. 23 announcing the expansion of HISD’s dual language program. Law began its dual language program three years ago with pre-K students and now is offering it up to third grade. It will continue to add one grade each year. Continue reading →

Spiking construction costs create challenges for bond program

Bond Delmar

HISD trustees got a detailed look on Jan. 22 at the impact of escalating construction costs on the district’s bond program at a workshop that also considered possible strategies to address potential budget gaps.

Since 2012, when Houston voters approved the district’s $1.89 billion bond program to renovate or replace 40 schools, the district has seen an unprecedented jump in building costs, a trend that is posing challenges for school districts across the region and nation.

In Houston, construction costs have jumped an average of 44 percent from about $146 per square foot in 2012 to about $210 per square foot today.

Much of that spike is attributed to the oil and building boom over the last several years, which spurred Houston and much of the state on to a robust economy – even when others were experiencing a downturn. The growth in the energy sector brought an influx of commercial construction projects to the area, along with a huge demand for workers and materials, such as steel and concrete.

The district has already taken some steps to deal with potential gaps, including moving inflation and some reserve dollars to each school’s construction budget. On Thursday, the Board of Education also gave the district the green light to consider other strategies, including waiting to bid a project or re-bidding portions of a project to try to get a better price.

Trustees noted that the recent drop in oil prices may help push construction costs down as energy companies delay building projects and more workers and materials become available.

“I think we owe the taxpayers better than to move forward as if there’s been no change in the economy,” said Trustee Harvin Moore. “As oil prices decline, I’m confident that construction costs will follow, so putting some of our projects on hold is a very logical way to handle this.”

In the coming weeks and months, HISD officials will analyze the various options for each project to determine the best path forward.

eNews Highlight: I’m no Disney princess, but dreams do come true

When Meghan Berndt learned that she would be attending her dream college this fall, she immediately began thanking all of the people who helped her get accepted there.

Read more about how the Sharpstown High School senior reacted to the exciting news in the Jan. 23, 2015, edition of eNews.

Other stories in this week’s edition include:

To have eNews delivered to your inbox automatically every week, just visit www.houstonisd.org/subscribe.

Click here to see the full issue for Jan. 23.

Gallegos ES educator named finalist for TCEA Teacher of the Year

 

Alex Jones works with students on a geography lesson using both old (the globe) and new (iPads) technology.

Alex Jones works with students on a geography lesson using both old (the globe) and new (iPads) technology.

Alex Jones, a science lab teacher at Gallegos Elementary School, has been named one of only three finalists (.pdf) for Texas Computer Education Association’s (TCEA) Classroom Teacher of the Year. The award is presented annually to the educator who best recognizes the importance of technology in school and actively tries to promote its use in his or her classroom.

Jones previously served as an education specialist, a special projects coordinator, and an educational technologist, “but my love for children brought me back to HISD and the classroom” this year. His passionate lobbying also persuaded Principal Jessica Tejeda to purchase iPads especially for the science lab.

“I am extremely passionate about teaching young children and enhancing my lessons through the use of technology,” explained Jones, “especially with iOS devices.”

Carnegie Vanguard HS students mastering art, music, fencing

Ariel Simmons

Ariel Simmons

Three students from Carnegie Vanguard High School are making news this week for being at the top of their respective games.

  • Cole Bennette, a junior, recently entered and won an art contest titled “Houston in 2025,” in which he had to envision what the Bayou City would look like in another 10 years. Cole’s artwork now adorns a billboard on I-45 at Smith Street, whose space was donated by Clear Channel Communications. The contest was sponsored by the Center for Houston’s Future.
  • Ariel Simmons, a senior, won gold medals at two prestigious fencing competitions: He won the U.S. title for 20 and under in Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier this month and the U.S. title for adults last month in Dallas. His sport is epee check.
  • Junior Kerrigan Quenemoen and her partner, Kenneth Yu (a senior at Bellaire High School), have once again advanced to the national finals of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Senior Piano Duet Competition in March. They also shared this honor back in 2013.

Congratulations to these talented students!