HISD Transportation Puts Counter-Terrorism Training to the Test

While parents prepare their children for back to school, HISD’s Transportation Department is preparing all of the district’s bus drivers and attendants with training and tools to safely drive the students to and from school every day.  This year, HISD’s Transportation Department is adding counter-terrorism training which will include a mock disaster drill on Thursday, August 9 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at 6351 Pinemont Drive.

“We can never prepare our drivers and attendants too much to be successful on the road,” HISD Transportation Senior Manager Chester Glaude said.  “It is important that our team is fully prepared for all situations to make sure that HISD children feel comfortable and safe on our school buses.”

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HISD Board of Education to vote on 2012 Bond Proposal

Following weeks of consideration, the HISD Board of Education is expected to vote on calling a referendum for the 2012 bond proposal at its scheduled meeting on Thursday, August 9.

The proposal, totaling $1.89 billion, would provide funding for construction at 38 schools, including 28 high schools that would be rebuilt, renovated or remodeled, as well as other districtwide projects. The bond proposal item to be presented to the board can be viewed on page 23 of the board agenda (PDF).

More information about the bond proposal, documentation used in the proposal and community surveys about the district’s schools can be found on our main website. For those unable to attend the board meeting at 5 p.m. in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, you can watch it live online or on HISD TV.

As of today, there are only 90 days until Election Day. If you’ve yet to register to vote, you can find more information about registering and download an application at the Harris County Tax Office’s website.

Combine love of teaching and the outdoors as a camp leader

[slideshow]Love to teach?  Love the outdoors?  Combine both for the perfect job!  Work with the Houston Independent School District in promoting a positive, holistic, natural experience for 5th grade students in the Sam Houston National Forest as a camp leader or assistant camp leader! 

 Job details include teaching a set curriculum of Science and Social Studies lessons while instilling core community values in our students.  A typical work week requires a day of set up, 3 nights supervising a small cabin group and teaching lessons during the day. Benefits include housing, 3 fresh meals a day, health insurance options, weekends and holidays off and doing what you love to do!

Requirements:  Availability from August to May.  Associate/Bachelors degree preferred.  Summer camp or outdoor experience is helpful.  Must be capable of supervising and guiding students safely throughout their stay.  Quality communication skills with children and adults are a must!  Sound like your line of work? 

 Visit Houstonisd.org/jobs or e-mail Kenneth Pyle @ kpyle@houstonisd.org for more information.

‘We’re Looking for Gold!’

HISD Police Officer and boxing coach Rudy Silva at Olympic Village

Editor’s note: This is a guest blog entry from HISD Police Officer Rudy Silva, who coaches U.S. Olympic boxer Marlen Esparza. On Monday, Esparza won her quarterfinal match. She is guaranteed to win at least a bronze medal. Her next match is on Wednesday.

Marlen and I have been doing this for 11 years. Today, I was about to catch the train and we were about to be in our first Olympic fight. I was thinking hard work really pays off. You always hear people say that, but today it really hit me. We have come a long way. There were times when I know Marlen wanted to stop because people weren’t giving women enough recognition. I told her, “Just keep winning and people will notice.”

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Davis High School Graduate Wins Free Car at ‘Cool to Be Smart’ Celebration

Davis High School graduate Marisol Lara, who came by bus with her family amid the stormy weather, left the Second Annual Cool to Be Smart celebration on Sunday with a brand new Dodge Caliber donated by Helfman River Oaks Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

“I can’t believe I won this car!  This is a dream come true for me and my entire family,” said Lara whose family does not own a car and uses public transportation on a daily basis.  “This car will help me get to school every day, and it will inspire my younger siblings to work hard to pursue their dreams too.”

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Twenty Houston ISD High Schools Would Get New Campuses Under Bond Proposal

A revised 2012 bond proposal presented to the HISD Board of Education on Thursday would modernize outdated high schools across the city. The proposal would:

Provide new campuses for 20 high schools

  • Austin
  • Bellaire
  • Davis
  • DeBakey
  • Eastwood
  • Furr
  • High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
  • Jordan
  • Lamar
  • Lee
  • Madison
  • Milby
  • North Early College
  • Sam Houston
  • Sharpstown
  • South Early College
  • Sterling
  • Washington
  • Worthing
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2012 Bond Proposal Calls for New DeBakey High School in the Heart of the Texas Medical Center

The 2012 bond proposal includes $64.5 million to rebuild DeBakey High School for Health Professions. The new campus would be located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center and would provide students with expanded access to health care and research facilities. DeBakey is one several HISD magnet and specialty schools that would be rebuilt under the 2012 Bond proposal.

DeBakey

Current DeBakey HS.

A new campus is also planned for the nationally renowned High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. It would be built downtown near Houston’s vaunted Theater District on land that HISD already owns at 1300 Capitol.

HSPVA

HSPVA would get a new campus under the 2012 bond.

 In all, the 2012 bond proposal includes funding to rebuild or renovate 38 schools, upgrade technology in all HISD classrooms, and make other districtwide improvements. The Board of Education is set to vote on the 2012 bond proposal on August 9. If an election is called and the measure is approved by voters in November, the design phase of the bond project could begin in early 2013 and construction of new schools would likely start in 2014.

Board to Vote Aug. 9 on Whether to Bring Bond Proposal to Voters

 The HISD Board of Education is expected to decide on Aug. 9 whether to bring the bond proposal before voters in November. More updates from this morning’s Board of Education workshop:

  • Every new HISD school included in the bond proposal would be built to the same quality standards.
  • HISD leaders will work with architects and engineers about how to space the work and in which order campuses would be rebuilt. Demolition, site improvements, and other considerations would be taken into account. Community input would also be sought.
  • HISD is committed to building schools on time and efficiently; building plan will be ready to launch once voters approve.

Updates from Bond Discussion: Exteriors of Several High Schools Would Be Preserved

Following are updates from the bond discussion at the Board of Education workshop this morning. For live updates, follow us on Twitter, @HoustonISD.

  • In all, the HISD bond proposal includes 28 high schools, 2 middle schools, 5 K-8 schools, and 3 elementary schools.
  • The bond proposal was guided by a third-party facilities assessment that identified the need to modernize Houston high school classrooms. (View the report here).
  • Four high schools would receive renovations under the bond plan: Kashmere, Scarborough, Sharpstown International, and Jones.
  • Architecturally significant exteriors of several high schools (Lamar, Davis, Austin, Milby) would be preserved in new construction.
  • If voters approved the bond in November, design work of new schools would begin in early 2013. Construction would likely begin in 2014. Many of the new high schools could open for the 2016-2017 school year.
  • High school construction costs were calculated on a $160-per-square-foot basis, which is below the regional average.

Click here to access the 2012 Facilities Capital Improvement Program Proposal, campus facility assessment data and other bond resources.