March 1999

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

• The Board recognized Toshiba International for its support of the District through ongoing donations of equipment.  As part of the company's grant program, 34 schools have received a total of 60 grants, including 45 televisions and VCRs valued at more than $12,600.
• Recognized for earning membership to All-State band, choir, and orchestra organizations were: 
  - Cypress Creek High School students Ben Schatte, bass trombone, All-State Band; Caron Horton, soprano I, All-State Choir; Tony Ramos, bass II, All-State Choir; Brian Lopes, double bass, All-State Orchestra; and Fred Willrich, double bass, All-State Orchestra;
  - Cy-Fair High School students Jeff Loeffert, tenor saxophone, All-State Band, and David Horn, tenor II, All-State Choir;
  - Cypress Falls High School students Adam Hammond, cello, All-State Orchestra, and Elizabeth Lunde, violin, All-State Orchestra;
  - Jersey Village High School student Erin Bales, soprano I, All-State Choir; and
  - Langham Creek High School students Charlisie Bondy, flute, All-State Band; Claudia Hernandez, e-flat clarinet, All-State Orchestra; Johnny Salinas, baritone saxophone, All-State Band; Matt Menger, French horn, All-State Orchestra; Allison Hill, French horn, All-State Band; Brandon Blair, tuba, All-State Band; and Clayton Morgan, bass II, All-State Choir.
• Gary Durrenberger, of the Public Information Office, was congratulated for winning a Gold Star Award for distinguished achievement in photography from the Texas School Public Relations Association.

ELEMENTARY SCIENCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS APPROVED

Science Adventure and Camp Invention, enrichment courses for elementary summer school, were approved. 
 Science Adventure is a series of five one-week science exploration projects designed by Community Achievement Services to promote scientific literacy and creative problem-solving.  Camp sites will include Bang, Millsap, and Owens Elementary Schools and will be scheduled for June 7-12, 14-18, 21-25, June 28-July 2, and July 5-9.   Tuition will be $100 per half-day camp or $165 per full-day camp.
 Camp Invention is a one-week summer science and creativity camp sponsored by the National Inventors' Hall of Fame.  The activity will be held at Yeager Elementary School from June 21-25.  Tuition will be $165 per student, with a 10 percent discount for each additional sibling.

SCHOOL TRANSFER STATUS APPROVED

 The following schools were designated as "open" to 25 transfers each:   Hancock, Holmsley, Lowery, Reed, and Wilson Elementary Schools, and Bleyl and Campbell Junior High Schools.  In addition, Cypress Springs High School will be "open" to an unspecified number of transfers.  Students may select an "open" campus between March 29-April 30, 1999, for a variety of reasons, including personal preference.  After April 30, the "open" campuses follow the regular transfer policy and then require principals' approval. 
 Schools "closed" to all transfers except employee children, as per FDB-R, will include Bane, Bang, Copeland, Emmott, Fiest, Frazier, Jowell, Lieder, Matzke, Moore, and Yeager Elementary Schools and Dean, Hamilton, Labay, and Watkins Junior High Schools.  
 Schools that will be "closed (N)" to all new transfers -- although, the superintendent or designee may make exceptions for extenuating circumstances, as authorized by FE(local) -- include Ault, Francone, Hairgrove, Hamilton, Horne, Lamkin, Metcalf, Owens, Sheridan, and Willbern Elementary Schools; Arnold, Truitt, and Thornton; and Cypress Creek and Jersey Village High Schools.  The superintendent or his designee may make exceptions to this category based upon extenuating circumstances.
 All other schools will follow the "regular" transfer policy; whereby, requests are submitted to principals.       

UPDATE ON ASSOCIATION FOR BETTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Traci Torma, of the Association for Better Community Schools (ABC), presented an update on the group's efforts to purchase district-owned property at Jones and Grant Roads.   Last year, area residents donated more than $30,000, and fund-raising programs through Kroger and Randall's resulted in another $12,000.  During the current year, ABC plans to target area businesses and foundations, as well as continue their fund-raising efforts with residents and the two grocery store programs.  If successful in raising the necessary money, the group plans to convert the surplus property into a neighborhood park.  Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Jerry Eversole has committed to building the park if the group is able to purchase the property.

BOARD POLICY REGARDING STUDENTS IN HOME SCHOOLS

The Board approved on first reading Board Policy FPC (Local) addressing Admissions and Attendance, Compulsory Attendance -- Students in Home Schools.  The policy includes the following guidelines:
 Parents choosing to home school their children should submit a letter of intent to the registrar's office ensuring that appropriate curriculum will be used.
 A questionnaire must be completed, including sections listing curriculum and the names of instructors.
 Cypress-Fairbanks ISD will provide parents with a list of curriculum sources and organizations that support home school.
 The District will not provide textbooks, allow dual enrollment, or permit participation in extracurricular activities.
 When a student enters or reenters the District from a home school, the student will be given an assessment for placement purposes.  Students coming from the Texas Tech School Program or the University of Texas High School Program are not required to be tested, as both programs are accredited through the Texas Education Agency.

UPDATE ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL #31

SHW Group Architects presented a report on the design of Elementary School #31, which will be located in the Lakes of Eldridge subdivision.  A commons will divide the "noisy" and "quiet" areas of the 92,700-square-foot facility, with administrative offices located in the front and 56 classroom areas located in the rear and accessible from hallways.  There will be no vehicle access to the school from Lakes of Eldridge; however, there will be pedestrian access from the subdivision.  The school will be built for a capacity of 920 students.

UPDATE ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL #32

Bay Architects provided an update on the design of Elementary School #32, which will be located on Barker Cypress in the Cypress Point subdivision.  The 93,500-square-foot school will be divided between "noisy" and "quiet" areas, with administrative offices placed in a location that has a view of all drop-off areas.   Due to the unusual shape of the site, the school will have a unique design that has not been built previously.  One of the characteristic features of the school is the use of large columns throughout the building.

UPDATE ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL #34

CLR Architects reported on the design progress of Elementary School #34, which will be located at Settlers Village Drive and Liberty Parkway near FM 529 and Fry Road.  Like other elementary schools, the campus has been designed for 920 students and 56 teaching stations, the majority of which have been grouped around the library.  Due to the size of the site, more than 10 acres, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) had required on-site detention, a requirement that would have added another $100,000 to the price of the project, but the District has recently received verbal information that HCFCD is now waiving detention requirements.

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL #33 AWARDED

The Board approved a contract with Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc. for the construction of Elementary School #33, which will be located at West Road and Beltway 8 in the Willowbridge Subdivision.    The District received seven bids for the project, all of which were very competitive.  Satterfield & Pontikes' bid of $7,949,465 is $535 below the budgeted amount approved by voters in the October 3, 1998, bond election.  Elementary School #33 will be a duplication of Ault Elementary School with the following differences:
 Elementary School #33 will have an extra 1,219 square feet.
 Outside air requirements for indoor air quality will be increased to meet current recommendations.
 A fire sprinkler system will be added.
 There will be more electrical outlets.

PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS

The Board approved several personnel recommendations, inclusive of the naming of Lillian Chastain as the new principal at Hamilton Elementary School.  Chastain, currently an assistant principal at Willbern Elementary School, will replace Jane Farney, who will retire at the end of the school year.  In addition, the Board approved Marvin Webster, currently an assistant principal at Labay Junior High School, as the new principal at Windfern High School.  He replaces Betty Anderson, who will retire at the end of the school year.

SECOND DAY CARE TO BE PURCHASED

The Board approved the purchase of a second day care facility.  The second day care, like the first on Falcon Road, will be supported entirely by tuition payments, limiting taxpayer support to the initial acquisition and renovation of the facility.   The current day care has a waiting list of 90 employees.  The District is currently studying the possibility of providing day care services during the summer for those teaching summer school, etc.  The day care facilities are part of the District's plan to attract and retain employees.