February 2000

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

• In honor of Texas School Board Recognition Month, the Administration recognized the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board of Trustees for their dedication, leadership, and continuing service to the children of the District.

FREEPORT EXEMPTION

The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce presented a report on the possible implementation of a freeport exemption by Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. Freeport exemptions apply to inventory shipped out of the state within 175 days, allowing companies that qualify for the exemption to remove a significant portion of their inventories from tax rolls. Texas is one of the few states in the nation that taxes inventory, so many manufacturers and distributors locate elsewhere. Many governmental entities within the state, like municipalities and school districts, offer freeport exemptions to facilitate economic development; the exemption is a tool that is used to attract new businesses and retain existing ones. School districts that offer freeport exemptions typically require businesses to compensate for short-term losses in revenue. Long-term revenue losses are offset by increased state aid and additional property value from new businesses. The Board directed the administration to prepare a report on the impact a freeport exemption would have on Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

CYCLE 7 ACADEMIC 2000 GRANT

The Board approved an application for a $175,000 Cycle 7 Academics 2000 Grant for use at Metcalf and Post Elementary Schools during the 2000-2001 school year. The grant is federally funded and will be aimed at improving the reading abilities of primary students, Limited English Proficient students, and readers who are struggling to read at grade level. The improvement efforts will be facilitated by the hiring of a literacy facilitator who will work with campus leaders and teachers in providing staff-development sessions that will include modeling and coaching of effective teaching techniques. The University of Houston at Clear Lake, the Harris County Department of Education, Region IV, and the Neuhaus Center will be part of the staff-development effort. Training will also be provided to support staff, including paraprofessionals, tutors, parents, and volunteers.

NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES I AND II

Approval was granted to an innovative course entitled Networking Technologies I and II. The course is intended to provide students with the skills to design, build, and maintain computer networks. Students enrolled in the course will work in a real-world lab setting and utilize global information networks. Students will receive hands-on experiences designed to hone networking troubleshooting skills, critical-thinking, and problem-solving. Successful completion of the course will lead to certification testing for the Certified Cisco Networking Associate. Curriculum for the course will be delivered via the Internet from Cisco Systems, and teachers will be trained at Tomball College during the summer.

AIR FORCE JUNIOR ROTC

The Board approved the creation of an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Cypress Falls High School. The program will emphasize aerospace science, leadership, citizenship, community service, and discipline.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION

A Board of Trustees election was called for Saturday, May 6, 2000, for positions 5, 6, and 7. The cost of the election is expected to be $15,000. Early voting will be held in Room 413 of the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Instructional Support Center, 10300 Jones Road, on the following dates:

• Wednesday-Thursday, April 19-20, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
• Monday-Friday, April 24-28, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
• Saturday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to noon; and
• Monday-Tuesday, May 1-2, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition, branch early voting will be held from 2:30-7 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday, April 19, at Cy-Fair High School, 22602 Hempstead Highway;
• Thursday, April 20, at Houston Community College, 5514 Clara Road;
• Tuesday, April 25, at Matzke Elementary School, 13102 Jones Road;
• Wednesday, April 26, at Francone Elementary School, 11250 Perry Road;
• Thursday, April 27, at Lieder Elementary School, 17003 Kieth Harrow Boulevard;
• Monday, May 1, at Reed Elementary School, 8700 Tami Renee Lane; and
• Tuesday, May 2, at Copeland Elementary School, 18018 Forest Heights Drive.

BOARD MEETING CHANGE

The Board scheduled a special meeting for May 11, 2000, at 6 p.m., to canvass the ballots of the May 6, 2000, Board of Trustees election, install new trustees, and reorganize the Board.

ELECTION CONSULTANT

The Board hired Roy Metcalf to serve as the election consultant for the 2000 Board of Trustees election. The election consultant supervises early and branch voting and arranges for election judges, clerks, supplies, equipment, and ballots.

NATURE PRESERVATION PROJECT

A contract with Bryant Forestry to improve the health of the nature area at Millsap Elementary School was approved. The area has become overgrown and congested, a condition that places the forest at risk of hazards like pine bark beetles. Bryant Forestry will supervise the selective thinning of the forest, which will encourage the growth of hard wood trees and preserve the forest for future generations. As part of the project, a fire break will be installed around the forest. The cost of the project will be offset through the sale of trees to a logging company.

2000-2001 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

The 2000-2001 Board of Trustees' meeting calendar was approved. Work-session meetings were scheduled for August 10, September 7, October 5, November 9, December 7, January 11, February 8, March 1, April 5, May 10, and June 7. Regular meetings were scheduled for July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, December 11, January 16, February 12, March 5, April 9, May 14, and June 11.

INSURANCE PREMIUMS

The Board approved the renewal of employee health insurance plans A (Aetna) and B (AmeriHealth). Cigna Healthcare of Texas was selected as the insurance provider for plan C. More information regarding the three plans will be provided to employees.

ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS

A report on enrollment projections was presented to the Board. During the past three years, the District has averaged 2,500 new students per year, and based on new-home sales, new-home starts, and resales, the District is expected to average more than 2,000 new students per year for the foreseeable future. Student enrollment for 2000-2001 is expected to be 63,046, an increase of 2,535 from September 15, 1999.

EXTERNAL AUDIT

The administration reported on the results an external audit of management by Deloitte & Touche. The audit examined internal controls, and Deloitte & Touche found nothing to report, a very rare circumstance.

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

The Board approved several staff recommendation, inclusive of the naming of the following new principals.

• Administrative intern Sharon Barnes, who served as an assistant principal in the District for a number of years, was named the new principal at Yeager Elementary School. She replaces Linda Jefferson, who will be opening Kirk Elementary School.

• Owens Elementary School Assistant Principal Laura Barrett was named the new principal at Owens. She replaces Melissa Ehrhardt, who will be opening Walker Elementary School.

• Post Elementary School Assistant Principal Rhonda Frewin was named the new principal at Millsap Elementary School. She replaces Janet Hoover, who will be opening Gleason Elementary School.

• Patty Mooney, a former assistant principal at Ault Elementary School and currently the principal of Hunters Creek Elementary School in Spring Branch ISD, was named the new principal of Jowell Elementary School. She replaces Beth Coleman, who will be opening Farney Elementary School.

• Administrative intern Anne Odum, who served as an assistant principal in the District for a number of years, was named the new principal at Matzke Elementary School. She replaces Margaret Szakasits, who will be retiring. Ms. Szakasits began her career in education as a teacher at Holbrook Elementary School in 1976. She was promoted to assistant principal at Matzke Elementary School in 1980 and was named the principal at Horne Elementary School in 1991. She is currently the principal at Matzke Elementary School.

• Sandy Oliver, the principal of Green Valley Elementary School in Galena Park ISD, was named the new principal at Hairgrove Elementary School. She replaces Nancy Sampson, who will be retiring. Ms. Sampson's career in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD spans 32 years, during which time she has served as a teacher and an assistant principal at Matzke Elementary School and the principal at Adam, Horne, and Hairgrove Elementary Schools.