January 2003

RECOGNITIONS

• Sixteen students from Cy-Fair High School, 26 from Cypress Creek High School, 14 from Cypress Falls High School, 7 from Cypress Springs High School, 17 from Jersey Village High School and 32 from Langham Creek High School were named either semi-finalists, commended students or achievement scholars for exceptional achievement on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Superintendent Berry recognized students, staff members and athletic teams for recent achievements during his comments to trustees. The list of honorees and their accomplishments are as follows:

• Trustees were commended for their constant dedication to the improvement of the success of district students, teachers and administrators. January is traditionally the month for School Board Recognition, however CFISD held Board Recognition activities in November 2002 to honor trustees for being named the 2002 Outstanding School Board of the Year.
• District students Ashwan Reddy, Sarah Panuska, Caroline Taylor, Jillian Bontke, Laura Mardis and Kaitland Butler, Jersey Village High School; Caleb Talbot, Christina Baquero and Kari Cutbirth, Cy-Fair High School; Ashley Davis, Cesar Perez, Robyn Morrow, Brittony Lund, Alex Pollock and Kristina Villano, Cypress Creek High School; Marcelino Benito, Cypress Falls High School; and Laura Barth and Lauren Whiting, Langham Creek High School were winners at the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association Fall Conference in Dallas, November 21-24, 2002. The second edition of The Best of High School Photography premiered at the convention. Isaac Flores, a 2002 graduate of Jersey Village, has a photo featured on the cover while Greyson Prutting, from Cypress Creek High School, Brent Bunger and Lorena Maili from Cypress Falls High School, and Monica Guerrero from Jersey Village High School were featured on the supplemental posters that covered topics such as portrait, digital and action photography.
• Mr. Berry thanked employees for their diligence in dealing with the flu-like virus that recently struck several district campuses. He thanked the food service employees who worked hard to ensure that food serving areas at Cypress Creek High School were clean even though Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services indicated additional cleaning was not necessary. Additionally, custodians worked diligently to maintain a clean environment in the commons, restrooms and other areas. Mr. Berry also thanked county employees and Jan Jones, director of CFISD health services, for their assistance. Mr. Berry gave a special thanks to the staff at Cypress Creek and Matzke as they worked together to cover one another’s classes when the need arose.

AEIS REPORT/PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing was held at 7 p.m. during the Board’s January 21 meeting to allow for public comment on the district’s 2001-02 Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) report. No patrons elected to speak during the hearing. A summary of the AEIS report was presented to the Board. Copies of the full AEIS report are available in each school’s library as well as the CFISD professional library and communication office located in the Instructional Support Center. AEIS reports for every Texas campus and district are online at the Texas Education Agency’s web site at www.tea.state.tx.us. A direct link to TEA for the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD AEIS report is available through the district’s web site at www.cfisd.net.

PERSONNEL

Carla Brosnahan was named as principal for Barbara Birkes Elementary, Daniel McIlduff was named principal of Arlene Robison Elementary and Joan "Cathy" Jones was named principal of Jane Tipps Elementary. Ms. Brosnahan is currently principal at Sheridan Elementary, Mr. McIlduff is currently principal at Metcalf Elementary and Ms. Jones is currently principal at Emmott Elementary. All three will begin their new assignments in March 2003. The three new schools will all open with the 2003-2004 school year.

2003-2004 CALENDAR

After receiving authorization from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to begin school earlier than the date established by state law (SB108), trustees approved the calendar for the 2003-2004 school year. School will begin August 13, 2003, and the first semester will end before the winter break. The second semester will begin January 6, 2004, and the last day of school for students is May 26, 2004. Full-week holidays are scheduled for Thanksgiving and Spring Break. Details are available on the district’s web site at www.cfisd.net.

BOUNDARY CHANGES

Trustees approved the recommendation for an attendance boundary change that the Copperwood Ranch Apartments be rezoned from Holmsley Elementary to Lowery Elementary for the 2002-03 school year. There are currently no students living in the apartment complex that will be affected by this change.

FITNESS GRANT APPROVED

Trustees adopted a resolution authorizing the execution and delivery of fully equipped, state-of-the-art fitness equipment as part of a grant program offered by the National School Fitness Foundation. The schools included in the program are Cy-Fair High School, Jersey Village High School, Cypress Creek High School, Langham Creek High School and Cypress Ridge High School. The National School Fitness Foundation has established the Leadership in Fitness Training (LIFT) program and made 50 grants available to Texas schools.

INNOVATIVE COURSES APPROVED

Trustees approved Parenting Education for School-Age Parents I and II, Early Childhood Professions I and II, and Diversified Career Preparation I and II to be offered as innovative courses by the district.

PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR 2003-2004 BUDGET/BOARD GOALS

The Board was presented with information regarding two public hearings concerning the 2003-2004 budget and Board Goals Setting Workshop. The first hearing will be held on January 28 at Labay Middle School from 7-9 p.m. and the second hearing will be held on January 30 at Francone Elementary School from 7-9 p.m.

BOND UPDATE

In a January 22 special meeting of the Board, architects from PBK along with consultants from HOK Sport, Venue and Event presented trustees with renderings and options related to the construction of the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center and the district’s second athletic stadium.

SUPERINTENDENT’S BRIEFING

The 9^th annual CFISD Livestock Show and Sale will be held January 30, 31 and February 1 at the Exhibit Center, 11026 Telge Road. Approximately 345 animals will be shown and the judging will begin Thursday, January 30 at 10 a.m. FFA student tour guide services for elementary students will be conducted Thursday and Friday along with a petting zoo. The silent auction will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday featuring the 9^th annual commemorative buckle and other craft items. The highlight of the show will be the premium livestock auction at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 1, 2003. Everyone is invited to attend and support district students.

The annual "Hearts for Art" extravaganza, an event that funds scholarships for district art students, will be held Saturday, February 8 at the ISC, 10300 Jones Road, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. An auction will be held from 1-4 p.m. featuring collectibles such as Armani figurines, cut crystal, reproduction furniture and toys. This event is the main source of funds for art scholarships. The district has awarded $218,800 in scholarships since 1989. Last year, the district presented $33,250 among 15 scholarship winners and 14 renewal scholarships for prior winners. Everyone is invited to attend this event.

The Board’s annual Goal-setting Workshop, at which the Board and administration review, add and modify the goals necessary to provide a quality educational setting for district students, will begin on Friday, February 28 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room and will continue on Saturday, March 1 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. All goals are structured around the Portrait of a Cy-Fair graduate. The workshop is open to the public.

AGENDA ITEMS

In other action, the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board of Trustees:

• received a written report on legislative issues and the activities of the State Board of Education, Texas School Alliance and the Fast-Growth School Coalition;
• approved a request from Beazer Homes to place a sales trailer on district property located on West Little York, between Eldridge and the Tollway, in exchange for assistance with obtaining utilities for Elementary No. 41;
• approved a payment in the amount of $27,300 to Barker Cypress Municipal Utility District for an access easement related to the construction of Jane Maloy Tipps Elementary School to be located near Queenston and Keith Harrow;
• approved budget amendments for the period September 1, 2002, through November 30, 2002;
• approved the Sanitary Sewer Utility Easement for providing sanitary sewer utilities for the district’s 182-acre Kitzmann property;
• authorized tax refunds of $500 or greater for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and/or the Harris County Education District in the amount of $41,357.95;
• approved bids and contracts from recommended vendors for goods and services;
• approved on second reading four local policy revisions and one deletion. Policies approved pertained to board meetings: public participation; curriculum design: required instruction (secondary); special programs: federal Title I programs; and student expression: use of school facilities for non-school purposes. The deleted policy referred to student rights and responsibilities: student expression; and
• approved 178 personnel recommendations, resignations, retirements, promotions, terminations and discharges.