HISD launched a new eNewsletter Tuesday to showcase activities and information surrounding the 2012 bond, which will fund the renovation or construction of 40 schools across the city, including 29 high schools.

“This new newsletter will help us deliver on our promise of a bond program that is transparent,” said HISD Communications Chief Aggie Alvez. “Each issue will include the latest updates on everything from bond business topics to design and planning issues. The goal is to keep the community informed and engaged.”

The newsletter, called Building Excellence, will be distributed the first Tuesday of every month but may increase in frequency as needed. The first issue features an article about focus groups that were held to gather ideas from students about what they want to see in their new schools.

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Dawn Finley of Rice University listens to students talk about their ideal schools during a focus group.

More than 30 HISD students got the chance to brainstorm Thursday on their ideal school design as part of the district’s ongoing planning efforts for the 2012 bond program, which will build or renovate 40 schools across the city.

“How do you see technology being integrated into the classrooms?” asked University of Houston Professor Liz Cordill, who facilitated one of the student focus groups. Cordill teaches at the UH School of Architecture and was one of four architecture professors from UH and Rice participating in the 90-minute event.

“Every teacher has a laptop cart and everybody gets to use them,” said Selena Flores of Worthing High School. Other students, including Osvaldo Marquez of North Houston Early College, and James Cunningham of Jones High School, talked about the importance of having SMART board technology, which they said is helpful to both students and teachers. Continue reading →

HISD’s Hispanic Advisory Committee got a firsthand look Thursday at steps being taken to ensure the 2012 bond program includes outreach and opportunities for the area’s diverse business communities.

The district is continuing to move forward with its $1.89 billion program to build or renovate 40 schools across the city, including many high schools. The work is expected to create thousands of new jobs, including many opportunities for residents and businesses surrounding the schools.

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About 60 people turned out Jan. 31 to share ideas about the future of the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice under the 2012 bond program, which will build or renovate schools across the district.

High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

The meeting drew students, teachers, staff and alumni from the school, located on Dickson Road in HISD Board Trustee and Law Enforcement alumni Juliet Stipeche’s district.

Stipeche, who graduated as valedictorian from HSLECJ in 1992, encouraged audience members to share their ideas about facility needs during the planning phase of the new school.

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