September 1999

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

• The Board recognized Wilson Elementary School student Rachel Jordan for being named the 1999 Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) Ann Shaw Elementary Scholar. The $500 award is given annually to one outstanding elementary student. Rachel was selected from more than 650 applicants and will be recognized at TAGT's 1999 annual conference.

• Cypress Creek High School student Andrew Rothschild was recognized for winning second place in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking at the Texas Forensic Association State Speech and Debate Tournament. He was also honored as the seventh highest ranking Lincoln Douglass Debate speaker.

• The Board congratulated Cy-Fair High School student-athlete Ryan Newport for winning the State Boys Single Tennis Championship for the second consecutive year. Ryan will be graduating at mid-term and attending Texas A&M during the spring semester.

• The Board congratulated each campus for its contribution to the District's status as a 1999 Texas "Recognized" school district. Principals and students representing their schools included Adam ElementarySchool Principal Donna Teel and student Georges Nassif, Ault Elementary School Principal Jane Tipps and student Devin Quintero, Bane Elementary School Principal Ronda Rickett and student Ja'Cynthia Wiltz-Deckard, Bang Elementary School Principal Cindy Barclift and student Morten Serigstad, Copeland Elementary School Principal Dawn Triska and student Erik Goedeke, Emmott Elementary School Principal Cathy Jones and student Christine DeSoto, Fiest Elementary School Principal Woodie Andre and student Sam Thompson, Francone Elementary School Principal Sue Romanowsky and student Kathryn Evans, Frazier Elementary School Principal Erwann Davis and student Katie Williams, Hairgrove Elementary School Principal Nancy Sampson and student Matthew White, Hamilton Elementary School Principal Lillian Chastain and student Travis Bradshaw, Hancock Elementary School Principal Gayle Gerlich and student Bridgette Phelan, Holbrook Elementary School Principal Deborah Harbin and student Lindsey Murrell, Holmsley Elementary School Principal Suzanne Thompson and student Kelly Maziarz, Horne Elementary School Principal Marilyn Fredell and student Nicolle Fernandez, Jowell Elementary School Principal Beth Coleman and student Zach Winkelmann, Lamkin Elementary School Principal Tom Danish and student Jeff Welch, Lieder Elementary School Principal Debbie Jackson and student Stephanie McIntosh, Lowery Elementary School Principal Jan Kelley and student Christopher Voss, Matzke Elementary School Principal Margaret Szakasits and student Jafett Mejias, Metcalf Elementary School Principal Dan McIlduff and student Mario Arriaga, Millsap Elementary School Principal Janet Hoover and student Katie Colvin, Moore Elementary School Principal Barbara Fine and student Laura Ennis, Owens Elementary School Principal Melissa Ehrhardt and student Robert Sutherland, Post Elementary School Principal Cindy O'Brien and student Luke Newman, Reed Elementary School Principal Barbara Goldstein and student Ashley Flint, Sheridan Elementary School Principal Carla Brosnahan and student C. J. Fisher, Willbern Elementary School Principal Arlene Robison and student Leah Wade, Wilson Elementary School Principal Karen Collins and student Amy Kokoskie, Yeager Elementary School Principal Linda Jefferson and student Allison Marz, Arnold Middle School Principal Phyllis Hamilton and student Gus Pasquini, Bleyl Middle School Principal Nadine Fidler and student Lindsey Schulman, Campbell Middle School Principal Gwen Keith and student Greg Frank, Cook Middle School Principal Vicki McComas and student Sandeep "Sandy" Lotay, Dean Middle School Principal Tom Strother and student Melissa Mercer, Hamilton Middle School Principal Sue McGown and student Miranda E. Kozman, Labay Middle School Principal Bob Warner and student Kenneth Passmore, Thornton Middle School Principal Jim Wells and student Scott Towne, Truitt Middle School Principal Debbie Emery and student Diana Huang, Watkins Middle School Principal Diana Lewis and student Tonyel Simon, Cypress Creek High School Principal Sue Heineman and student Chris Harris, Cy-Fair High School Principal Jodie Smith and student Marisol Montoya, Cypress Falls High School Principal Sue Pope and student Kathy Gattis, Cypress Springs High School Principal Allen Meek and student Jennifer Manion, Jersey Village High School Principal Dan Troxell and student Grace Hu, Langham Creek High School Principal Ray Housley and student Amie Knieper, and Windfern High School Principal Marvin Webster and student Stephanie Collar.

UPDATE PROVIDED ON RENOVATION OF CY-FAIR HIGH SCHOOL

The Board was provided a progress report on the renovation of Cy-Fair High School. The bond project was approved by voters in 1998 and is currently under the approved budget. Employees of PBK Architects, Inc. presented several key features of the new design, including the following:

· The original portion of the school — completed in 1942 — will be cleaned and restored, but the character of the facade will not be changed. However, the other areas along the front of the school, including the courtyard, will be completely renovated to compliment the architecture of the original building.

· Parking will be expanded to 1,150 spaces, a number comparable to recently constructed high schools in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

· The new design creates central hallways that span the length of the building. Academic areas will be compartmentalized along hallways that are perpendicular to the central corridors.

· Classroom space will be increased to at least 700 square feet, indoor air quality will be improved, additional restrooms will be added, and the school will be modified to be more accessible to the disabled.

· Administrative offices will be located at the school’s entrance, and a completely new circular library will be placed near the main entrance.

· The cafeteria will be renovated to increase seating capacity and serving lines, as well as improve aesthetics.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND STANDARDIZED DRESS

A report on the topic of school uniforms and standardized dress was provided to the Board. Three years ago, the Board approved a policy allowing schools to implement school uniforms or standardized dress if 75 percent of the student body’s parents supported the measure. In 1997, Francone, Holmsley, and Sheridan Elementary Schools implemented standardized dress. During the following year, Frazier, Metcalf, and Owens Elementary Schools received the necessary parental support to implement standardized dress. This year, there were no schools that met the required level of support. Schools implementing standardized dress must provide financial assistance for needy families, and exemptions must be considered for religious and philosophical reasons. The six schools that have implemented standardized dress have experienced decreases in office referrals, and parents continue to support the program. Nationally, the number of schools implementing school uniform policies increases each year. For the most part, these schools have reported an improvement in the orderly environment of the school. Some schools also report a decrease in school violence and an increase in attendance and student achievement. However, it is not possible to attribute these changes solely to the issue of standardized dress.

1999-2000 ENROLLMENT EXCEEDS 60,000

A report regarding student enrollment was presented to the Board. As of September 8, 1999, 60,437 students were enrolled in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, a one-year increase of 2,250. District planners had previously projected a 1999-2000 enrollment of 60,823, and while student enrollment is expected to increase during the next month before leveling off, planners no longer expect the District to reach 60,823. So far this year, 18 of the District’s 30 elementary schools are over capacity — 12 schools have enrollments of more than 1,000 students, 6 have enrollments of more than 1,100, and 2 (Ault and Owens) have enrollments of more 1,200 students. Six of the District’s 10 middle schools are over capacity, and 1 high school (Jersey Village) is over capacity.

INDIVIDUALIZED READING ASSESSMENTS

The administration reported on the results of individualized reading assessments required by the state for students in grades K-2. The assessments are the result of Governor George W. Bush’s initiative to have all children reading on-level by third grade. From April 12 through May 19, 1999, the District tested all general education students, all ESL students categorized as "intermediate" or "advanced," all bilingual students with adequate English proficiency to render valid and reliable test results, and all special education students whose IEPs include instruction in the TEKS. The results of the assessments were impressive at each grade level. The results of the exams will be used for individual student intervention plans, teacher training, and continuous improvement in the District's elementary reading program. Literacy also was assessed in grades 3-5, and students were found to be performing at very high levels.

BOARD NAMES NEW SCHOOLS

The Board named elementary schools #31, #32, #33, and #34 and middle schools #11 and #12 after the following Cypress-Fairbanks ISD retirees:

• Elementary #31, located in the Lakes of Eldridge at Tanner Road and Eldridge Parkway, will be named after Shirley Kirk, who taught at Cy-Fair High School and Dean and Cook Junior High Schools.

• Elementary #32, located in Cypress Point at Barker Cypress and Spring Cypress, will be named after Jane Farney, who served as the principal of Hamilton Elementary School before retiring. She was also a teacher at Francone and Adam Elementary Schools, an assistant principal at Adam and Millsap Elementary Schools, and the principal at Lowery.

• Elementary #33, located in Willowbridge at West Road and Beltway 8, will be named after Margaret Moore Gleason, who served as the principal at Copeland Elementary School before retiring. She was also a teacher at Post and Bane Elementary Schools and the principal at Holbrook, Lamkin, and Yeager Elementary Schools.

• Elementary #34, located in Settlers Village at Fry Road and FM 529, will be named after Sandra Bales Walker, who served as the secretary for three superintendents. In addition, she was the principal's secretary at Jersey Village High School.

• Middle School #11, located at Queenston and West Road, will be named after Jan Hanson Aragon, who served as the principal at Cypress Creek High School before retiring. She was also a teacher at Arnold Junior High School and Cy-Fair High School, an assistant principal at Cy-Fair High School, and the principal at Dean and Cook Junior High Schools.

• Middle School #12, located at Huffmeister and Barker Cypress, will be named after Charles M. Goodson, who served as the associate superintendent for administrative services before retiring. He was also a teacher/coach at Cy-Fair and Jersey Village High Schools, a counselor at Arnold Junior High School, an assistant principal at Jersey Village High School, and the principal at Lamkin Elementary School and Arnold Junior High School.

Charges for the 1999-00 Administrative Boundary Committee

The Board approved the following charges for the Administrative Boundary Committee, which will consider boundary changes for elementary schools for the 2000-01 school year.

• The Administrative Boundary Committee will make recommendations for attendance boundaries for Kirk, Farney, Gleason, and Walker Elementary Schools, which will necessitate boundary changes for other elementary schools as recommended by the committee.

• A bilingual education program will be established at Kirk and Gleason Elementary Schools.

• The Administrative Boundary Committee will follow the process for changing attendance boundaries that was approved by the Board of Trustees on August 9, 1999.

• The Administrative Boundary Committee will consider the following factors when developing recommendations for attendance boundaries: (a) input from the Community Advisory Committees, (b) other community input, including written correspondence, e-mail, and Group Systems transcripts, (c) school capacities, (d) enrollment projections over the next five years, (e) transportation issues, (f) school feeder patterns with consideration for aligning the feeder patterns of the elementary, middle schools, and high schools when feasible, and consideration for possible boundary changes arising from the new middle schools and high schools, and (g) student demographics (ethnicity and economic status). The recommendations should not be based on any singular issue, but based on factors appropriate to the situation.

• The Administrative Boundary Committee will make recommendations regarding student transfer policies relating to students affected by the boundary changes.