HISD To Honor Top Six JROTC Cadets from the Class of 2012

The Houston Independent School District will honor the top six JROTC cadets from the class of 2012. The top cadets were chosen among all graduating seniors in HISD’s 25 JROTC programs. The six cadets have been promoted to the rank of Cadet Colonel, the highest rank in the JROTC program. HISD graduate and commander of Texas A&M University’s Corps of Cadets, Marquis Alexander will serve as the reviewing officer.

Who:  Cadets from HISD’S 25 JROTC programs, HISD administrators, and HISD Graduate and commander of Texas A&M University’s Corps of Cadets Marquis Alexander

What:  HISD honors top six JROTC cadets from the class of 2012 during the annual HISD JROTC Final Review and Awards Ceremony. The top cadets will be featured leading their respective command groups.

When:  Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 10 a.m.

Where:  Delmar Field House
2020 Mangum Road

HISD Seeks Refund from Hamburger Patty Vendor

The Houston Independent School District has accused a California-based food supplier of breaching its contract with the district by using lean finely textured beef (LFTB) in hamburger patties sold to the district.

HISD officials conducting an inventory of all food supplies in the wake of parents’ concerns about the use of LFTB discovered that Don Lee Farms included the product in quarter-pound beef patties sold to HISD this year. The district has committed to not serving LFTB and has confirmed that no suppliers of ground beef served in HISD schools use LFTB.

HISD’s bid specifications prohibit any variety meats, filler, or extenders in the foods served in the district’s cafeterias. LFTB is treated with Ammonium hydroxide and is not sold as a stand- alone product. It is a cheaper and inferior grade of beef than the district intended to serve to its children.

“LFTB is not an acceptable variety meat, filler, or extender for a product to be served to school children,” HISD’s legal office wrote in a demand letter mailed to Don Lee Farms on April 10. “This constitutes a breach of the agreement and demand is made for immediate pickup of the product and refund of the purchase price.”
As of today, the company has not agreed to HISD’s demand for a refund, and the district is considering further legal action.

HISD this school year has purchased 14,080 cases of quarter-pound charbroiled beef patties from Don Lee Farms at a cost of $523,776. The remaining unused inventory of beef patties supplied by Don Lee Farms totals 1,045 cases worth $38,874.

LFTB is made from meat trimmings that are treated to eliminate bacteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not require food suppliers to list LFTB as an ingredient.

HISD Unveils Budget Proposal to Address $43.6 Million Deficit With No Tax Increase

The HISD Board of Education was presented with a 2012-2013 budget proposal on Thursday that addresses a $43.6 million deficit while maintaining the current property tax rate and per-student funding levels.

Like other school systems across Texas, the Houston Independent School District is grappling with the fallout of the Texas Legislature’s decision to reduce education funding by $5.3 billion over a two-year period. For HISD, the two-year cut totals more than $120 million.

The proposal, which requires school board approval, calls for a $16.5 million employee compensation package that would help HISD keep pace with a growing number of Texas school districts that have already announced plans to approve pay raises. HISD salaries were frozen this school year, and only a portion of teachers received state-mandated pay raises in 2010-2011.

A detailed proposal for distributing the proposed pay raises will be presented to the board in May.

The district’s deficit would be covered in part with a $17 million reduction in the amount of general fund money that is normally transferred to HISD’s debt service fund to help repay loans. This reduction is a one-time option that will not be available in future years. In addition, $8 million would be transferred from the district’s $257 million general fund balance.

HISD finance experts worked with principals and central office administrators to identify several areas of potential savings in 2012-2013. These potential savings include:

• $3.5 million in reduced employee healthcare costs through increased efficiencies that should not impact quality of service.
• $1.7 million less in special funding for six unique schools.
• $1.6 million in non-campus departmental cuts, primarily through eliminating positions and layoffs. Last year, HISD eliminated 221 non-campus positions.

Earlier this year, HISD asked the community for feedback on a plan to implement a uniform bell schedule that would have added 19 minutes to the average school day and save $1.2 million. On Thursday, Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla said the district will not pursue the change after considering feedback from parents and principals. HISD recently conducted a survey and 11 town hall meetings on the topic. The transportation department, which was recently recognized as one of the top school transportation systems in the nation, will continue exploring more ways to increase efficiency.

HISD is also losing $5.7 million in federal Title I funding for programs that benefit low-income students. Because the federal money will no longer cover the cost of programs that allow students to take online courses during non-traditional school hours, the Board of Education previously agreed to use local tax dollars to cover that $3.1 million cost. The board is now being asked to consider whether to continue funding other programs that were formally funded with Title I money.
The Board of Education is set to discuss the proposed budget in several upcoming public meetings before adopting a budget in June.

HISD Students Help Launch National College Planning Website

Superintendent Terry Grier on Friday will visit Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center staff and students to celebrate the Houston Independent School District being chosen to launch the BigFuture college planning website.   BigFuture, a free comprehensive website offered by the College Board, will serve as a nationwide resource for students, counselors, teachers, and parents seeking information about preparing for, applying to and paying for college.  

Who: HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier, Board of Education Trustee Anna Eastman, Richard Middleton College Board Regional Vice-President, Sam Houston Principal Jane Crump, and HISD Students

What: Dr. Grier recognizes HISD as the first school district to work with the College Board to create forthcoming videos to be included on the BigFuture college planning website.  

When: Friday, April 20, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.

Where: Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center, 9400 Irvington

District Launches Voter Registration Drive at all HISD High Schools

The Houston Independent School District is launching a campus-based voter registration drive as part of an effort to teach students the importance of participating in the democratic process.  HISD will kick off this drive on Thursday, April 19 at 10 a.m. at Waltrip High School (1900 West 34th).

“Texas had one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country for young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 in 2008, and it is our responsibility as a district to change those statistics,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “Democracy thrives when our schools produce an educated society.”

All HISD high school principals have been deputized to register eligible voters.  In addition, an official from the Harris County Tax Assessor’s Office trained all HISD high school principals on the proper protocol to follow when collecting voter registration cards on campus. 

“As a principal, I am thrilled to be able to assist the district with these efforts.  We also welcome our parents and community members to come here and register to vote,” said Waltrip Principal Steve Siebenaler. “This drive will further complement what is already being taught in our classrooms.”

HISD social studies teachers have been emphasizing the importance of civic participation through voting and other means in class. 

“The importance of voter registration is a key component in the U.S. government course offered to all high school seniors,” said Angela Miller, HISD curriculum manager. “Students learn about the rights and responsibilities of participatory citizenship in our democratic republic.”

There are almost 19,000 high school students between 17 and 18 years of age who are or will be eligible to vote soon.  All HISD high schools will have voter registration cards available on campus to encourage all eligible students to register to vote.  Parents and members of the community can also register to vote at their nearby high school during regular school hours.

To be eligible to vote, individuals must be a U.S. citizen and be 18 years old by election day.

See photos from the official dedication of James Berry Elementary School

Eco-friendly features were on display recently as former principals, teachers, parents, elected officials and community leaders joined HISD Board of Education Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Chief Elementary School Officer Sam Sarabia and Principal Deborah Silber at the official dedication of James Berry Elementary School.

Cick below to see photos from the ceremony and the interior and exterior of Berry ES.

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Character Court Breathes Life Into Story Book Characters at Roosevelt ES

Roosevelt’s annual Character Court Gifted and Talented  Expo was held on Friday, March 30, 2012.  Parents pushed the “On” button located on the floor to hear ethical debate between fairy tale characters like Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. Kindergarten and first grade vanguard students portrayed the story book characters.

Click below to view photos from the event.

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Dogs of Character to Bring Anti-Bullying Message to HISD students

What:  Dogs of Character is an anti bullying presentation taught by rescued dogs in which each dog in the cast is a working assistant in the award winning character education program, The Healing Species. Five dogs will be introduced to the Lockhart students during a school assembly and will provide them with living examples of perseverance, courage, hope and forgiveness.
Who:  The Healing Species’ Dogs of Character

When:  Thursday, April 19, 12:30p.m.

Where:  Lockhart Elementary, 3501 Southmore Boulevard

Avid Readers Compete to ‘Name That Book’

HISD students were asked to “Name That Book” as part of the district’s annual contest sponsored by the HISD Library Services Department, which has been holding final rounds over the past several months. Avid readers were asked to identify books based on a popular quote from the tomes.

The competition is divided into four levels: lower elementary, upper elementary, middle school, and high school. Students at each campus who joined their school’s Name That Book team started preparing for the spring competition in August, reading 30 or more books that included everything from classics to new fiction and non-fiction.  Click here to see the Name That Book winners for 2012.

Now, let’s see how much you know. Can you guess the following 5 book titles based on one quote? The answers are at the bottom.

1. “Somewhere in la Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember, a gentleman lived not long ago, one of those who has a lance and ancient shield on a shelf and keeps a skinny nag and a greyhound for racing.”

2. “Mother died today.”

3. “Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.”

4. “Call me Ishmael”

5. “124 was spiteful.”

Answers below:

1. Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote
2. Albert Camus, The Stranger
3. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
4. Herman Melville, Moby Dick
5. Toni Morrison, Beloved

See photos of MATP Challenge Day with Memorial, Bush and T.H. Rogers ES

Once a year, T.H.Rogers holds a field day or special olympics for students enrolled in the Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) on campus. The fun-filled event gives students with severe disabilities a chance to demonstrate their personal best in a variety of sporting events. A tropical luau served as the theme for this year’s challenge which also included students and staff from Barbara Bush and Memorial Elementary.

Click through the photos below to see more from MATP Challenge Day.

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