Women Contractors Association Gets 2012 Bond Program Update

Presenters at the Women Contractors Association luncheon on Thursday receive pink hard hats. From left to right, Susan Repka, WCA executive director; Raynese Edwards, of PPG/people Source Inc.; Michael Dwight, of Hensel Phelps Construction Co.; Alexis Licata, of the Houston Independent School District.

Companies hoping to do business with the Houston Independent School District under its 2012 bond program got an overview of upcoming bid opportunities at the monthly luncheon Thursday of the Women Contractors Association.

“There’s a tremendous amount of work,” Alexis Licata, the district’s general manager of the Office of Business Assistance, told the audience of some 65 people who turned out for the event. She urged participants, especially minority- and women-owned business enterprises, to help the district as it embarks on the $1.89 billion program that includes renovating or building 40 schools.

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HISD to Offer Free Summer Meals Program at more than 200 campuses

Families invited to kick-off parties on June 11 and 12

The Houston Independent School District’s free summer meal program kicks off on June 11 at more than 200 schools. Children ages 1 to 18 will be able to enjoy a healthy breakfast and lunch at no cost through mid-July.  The start of the program will be celebrated with kick-off parties at Bonham and Kashmere Gardens elementary schools.

The ‘Summer Food, Summer Fun’ kick-off parties on June 11 and 12 will include giveaways, music, games and a special visit from Ace the nutrition mascot.

Children do not have to be enrolled in summer school nor show proof of income in order to receive a free meal at the participating HISD schools.  Adults may also participate by purchasing breakfast for $2 and lunch for $3.25.

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CFS Operations Honors Staff with Excellence Awards

Houston ISD’s Construction and Facilities Services Operations recently honored outstanding employees during three separate recognition ceremonies at the Delmar Field House. There are more than 1,200 custodians, plant operators and grounds crews who serve classroom needs and attend to building cleanliness on a daily basis.

“I was asked to speak to the hardest working employees in HISD, and I want to thank all of you for your commitment to our schools,” said HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier, as he opened the ceremonies.

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Hundreds of Deloitte Volunteers to Beautify Three HISD Campuses

Company’s IMPACT Day to benefit nearly 4,000 students

On Friday about 300 Deloitte employees will be volunteering their day to help beautify three HISD campuses as part of the company’s annual community service project. Nearly 4,000 students from Wharton Elementary, Hamilton Middle and Reagan High School will benefit from this project.

At each campus the volunteers will be helping to improve the look and functionality of the school grounds.  Beautification projects include placing gravel on sidewalks, painting benches and bike racks on campus, repairing basketball courts, gardening, office organization and much more.

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Summer School begins Tuesday

Students who plan to take summer school for either course credit, STAAR re-testing, completing courses early or other reasons will begin taking classes very soon.

Each principal will decide their dates of summer school with most campuses expected to begin on June 11, 2013, with an end date ranging from July 3 through July 18. All schools will be closed on July 4.

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Class of 2013 offered more than $150 million in college scholarships

HISD seniors have been offered more than $153 million in college scholarships and the total for the class of 2013 is still growing. So far, Westside High School tops the list with student scholarship offers totaling nearly $26 million. Many students have received multiple scholarship offers from a variety of different organizations, community groups, and corporations as well as individual colleges and universities. That includes Barbara Jordan valedictorian Alejandra Ortega who has raked in more than half a million dollars in scholarship offers.

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Hartman students build better bus stop

For as long as anyone can remember, the METRO bus stop beside Hartman Middle School has been little more than an unassuming street corner, a spot where commuters can sit on the dusty curb and dangle their feet in the road while they wait for the bus to arrive. But on Monday, June 3, a group of Hartman Middle School students worked to change that by installing a colorful bench as a part of Mayor Annise Parker’s Love Your Block grant program.

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Thank you, Houston! Thousands of people complete ‘Your Voice’ survey

Last week marked the conclusion of the “Your Voice” survey, the largest customer satisfaction survey in HISD history, and by Friday, May 31, more than 88,000 students, parents, teachers, campus administrators and community members had completed it.

Almost 3,500 parents took the survey online, answering questions about their perceptions of rigor, consistency and safety in HISD.

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Grady MS Project Advisory Team Visits Cy-Fair School to Get Ideas for Campus Addition

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Equipped with cameras, notepads and open minds, members of Grady Middle School’s Project Advisory Team visited a new school in Cy-Fair ISD to get ideas for their campus, which will receive a new addition under the district’s $1.89 billion 2012 bond program.

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