August 2004
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RECOGNITIONS

The Board of Trustees recognized the following students and staff members for their achievements:

• Pam Wells , associate superintendent for general administration, was honored for her role as superintendent designee from January 1 through June 30, 2004.
• MSgt. Alfonso Banks, Cypress Ridge High School, received the 2003-04 Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Outstanding Instructor Award.
• Goodson Middle School student Zi (Maria) Yuan won a bronze medal from the University of Nebraska’s National Mathematics SIGMA competition, which featured more than 45,000 eighth graders from across America. This is the second year in a row that she has accomplished this National Math Award. Her math club sponsor is Peggy Fisher.
• First place winners of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills national competition. Cy-Fair High School students Garrett Johnson and Jacob Tilley won first place at the state Ford/AAA Auto Skills contest and proceeded to take first place at the national Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills contest. The pair took home nearly $94,000 in scholarships and prizes. Johnson and Tilley were taught by Don Kessler at Cy-Fair.
• First place winners from Cypress Creek High School in the American Computer Science League All-Star international competition. CCHS students competed in four contests during the year and qualified to compete in the competition in Chicago, which included students from schools across the U.S., Canada, Croatia, and Romania. Kevin Savidge, Maher Beg, Dustin Grabau, Geoffrey Brown, and Alan Viverette placed first in the Intermediate Division while Jeremy Higginbotham, Jess Randall, Cory Kolek, Julianna Edwards and Michelle Newton placed seventh in the Senior Division. Computer Science teachers at Cypress Creek are Tom Halbert, Nita Pessarra and Mike Cook.
• Cy-Fair High School students Allie Chapman, Jennifer Greiger, Katie Unverferth and Lauren Atencio won third place in Group Performance at the National History Day competition. Their performance was entitled, “Grave Memories: Encountering the Black Death in Medieval Europe.”

Additionally, the superintendent recognized students and staff members for honors and achievements earned in recent weeks. Congratulations were extended to the following:

• CFISD staff members Darlene Hargett, Cherry Delaune, Cynthia Foster, Alicia Lang and Linda Yelenick were recognized for their leadership and expertise in the implementation of the Reading Recovery program. Dr. Anthony recently received notification from Texas Woman’s University Reading Recovery faculty applauding their work with struggling readers.
• Dr. Donna Poland, principal at Bleyl Middle School, and Dr. Scott Poland, director of psychological services, were recognized for their article “Dealing With Death” that appeared in the April 2004 issue of Principal Leadership— the award-winning publication for the National Association of Secondary School Principals.  
• The Thornton Middle School speech and drama department captured second place at the National Junior Forensics League Middle School Championship. More than 350 students from 31 schools across the nation participated in the competition. Congratulations were extended to the students and Thornton speech and drama coach Marilyn Ocker.

HIGH SCHOOL NO. 8

Trustees approved the district’s recommendation of “Cypress Woods High School” as the name for the district’s eighth high school campus. A project approved as part of the 2001 bond referendum, the school is currently under construction and set to open in August 2006 at the 182-acre multi-school site at Spring Cypress and Skinner roads. The name “Cypress Woods” was chosen from a list of suggestions offered by members of the community, parents and staff. One of the considerations in naming the district’s next high school was that it continued the tradition of including “Cypress” in the moniker to reflect the school’s distinction as belonging to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.  

Trustees had previously approved the high school’s colors, which will be red and gold. Based on prior practice, the first group of students who will attend the high school will join the administration in selecting a mascot prior to the school’s opening.  

EVENING HIGH SCHOOL

Trustees approved the Evening High School Program to be held at Windfern High School for the 2004-05 school year. Session I classes begin September 7 and end December 6 while Session II classes will run January 31 through May 3, 2005. Classes will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m.

BOND UPDATE

Trustees approved an easement agreement with CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC to provide permanent electrical service for the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center and new Athletic Stadium currently under construction at the intersection of Barker-Cypress and West roads.

The Board authorized the district to conduct a new bond study and commissioned a 50-member steering committee comprised of parents, employees and business and community members to develop a recommendation for a possible bond referendum. The steering committee, co-chaired by community member Earl Springer and Associate Superintendent Pam Wells, will be divided into four subcommittees— Student Growth, Instructional/Support Facilities, Instructional Technology, and Information/Education— to assess the district’s immediate needs based on a projected enrollment of 95,500 students. If the steering committee should recommend calling for a bond election, the Board will act upon that recommendation during its regularly scheduled meeting in October.

The Board adopted a resolution authorizing the execution of a Standby Bond Purchase Agreement with BNP Paribas related to $76.5 million in Unlimited Tax Adjustable Rate Schoolhouse Bonds (Series 2002B) that were issued in December 2002 and approving termination of the prior agreement with Toronto Dominion, which is no longer providing financial protection services. Because fees for these services have decreased since the adjustable rate bonds were issued, the new agreement is expected to save the district approximately $250,000 over the next five years.

2005-06 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Trustees were briefed on the process and timeline for developing the 2005-06 school calendar. The Texas Education Code states that school districts may only begin instruction for the school year no earlier than the week in which August 21 falls unless they apply to TEA for a waiver. For the 2005-06 school year, this would mean school may start no earlier than August 22, unless the Board requests and receives a waiver.

Because of the State Board of Education rules, the Board must declare its intent to request a waiver at the September 13 meeting. The district must then publish a legal notice at least 60 days prior to submitting a waiver application, and the Board must also conduct a public forum at a special-called meeting. October 21 was suggested as a possible date for the public forum.

The district calendar committee will be organized with broad-based representation, including teachers, parents, campus administrators, paraprofessionals, ancillary personnel, and district level administrators. The administration will survey representative parent groups and district staff members to gather input on issues regarding the 2005-06 school calendar.

After the committee evaluates the calendar survey data from the fall of 2004, they will arrive at consensus for a preliminary calendar recommendation to be presented to the Board of Trustees at the October 12 meeting. Following the public forum, a final calendar recommendation will be presented to the Board during its November 8 meeting.

WEST ORANGE COVE VS. ALANIS LITIGATION

Dr. Anthony presented information to the Board regarding the lawsuit that began August 9 in Austin. CFISD joins more than 300 other districts in participating in the litigation that challenges the public school finance system in Texas. The superintendent reported that Texas District Judge John Dietz has indicated he will issue a ruling shortly after hearing all of the testimony and not delay in making his decision.

NATIONAL SCHOOL FITNESS FOUNDATION

Trustees were informed that the district is continuing to review its legal options regarding the L.I.F.T. America Program agreement that CFISD has with the National School Fitness Foundation. Options to continue or discontinue the program were presented to the Board. The equipment will continue to be used for physical education classes until a permanent solution is reached.

SUPERINTENDENT’S BRIEFING

Superintendent Dr. David Anthony reported that the district anticipates a successful start to the 2004-05 school year and anticipates approximately 79,000 students to enroll this year. The district has projected an increase of nearly 4,300 new students this year. In addition, two new schools opened their doors to the community— Gwen Wayman Keith Elementary and Dr. Peggy Bell Duryea Elementary. The superintendent congratulated and gave thanks to those employees who worked very hard during the summer break to prepare facilities, hire and train new teachers and staff, and made sure everything was in place for students’ first day of school August 11.

Dr. Anthony reminded the district staff and the viewing audience that safety continues to be CFISD’s number one priority. He encouraged everyone to be aware of students getting on and off buses and to observe the posted speed limits while driving in school zones.   Additionally, students will be asked to sign a safety pledge, which confirms that they will immediately notify an adult should they become aware of any unsafe condition or situation occurring in their schools. The district believes that students are a vital component in helping ensure safety in and around our schools.

The district and the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free seminar for vendors on “How to Do Business with CFISD” in the Board Room of the Instructional Support Center August 27 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. This presentation will provide an opportunity for any individual or business to learn more about the guidelines and procedures for selling products or services to the school district.

In closing, Dr. Anthony reminded the community that Monday, September 6 will be a student and staff holiday in observance of Labor Day.

AGENDA ITEMS

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

• received a report on legislative issues and the activities of the State Board of Education, Texas School Alliance and the Fast Growth School Coalition;
• received a written report on the end-of-year academic performance of elementary students for the 2003-2004 school year;
• approved on second reading a revision to two policies: the first concerns continuing contracts: suspension/termination and the second concerns student activities;
• approved on first reading a revision to the policy concerning annual operating budget and the deletion of the policy concerning conflict of interest;
• approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Harris County Juvenile Board and the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD to participate in the JJAEP for the 2004-2005 school year;
• authorized tax refunds of $500 or greater from Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and/or the Harris County Education District in the amount of $ 541,243.49;
• approved bids and contracts from recommended vendors for goods and services; and
• approved 903 personnel recommendations, resignations, retirements, promotions, terminations and discharges.