Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District                                         February 2005
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RECOGNITIONS

In honor of Texas School Board Recognition Month, Dr. David Anthony, Superintendent of Schools, led district staff in recognizing the seven members of the Board of Trustees for their dedication, leadership and continued service to the children of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. A small reception was held in the trustees’ honor.

Trustees then honored Dr. William H. O’Brien for his years of service to the school district and community as a trustee. A short video highlighting O’Brien’s career was shown during a reception honoring the CFISD Board members.

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

• District student athletes who were selected by the Texas High School Coaches Association for the Class 5A Academic All-State Football team. Selected to the first team were Chase Williams and Ryan Braun from Cy-Fair High School, Sammy Oke from Cypress Ridge High School, and Christopher Funk and Daniel Wamhoff from Jersey Village High School. Selected to the second team were Joseph Mallon and Gaston Rougeaux-Burnes from Cypress Springs High School,   Jacob Hiltabrand, Adam Mattingly and Kyle Ripple from Jersey Village.

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

• Cypress Creek High School’s Josh Hudson and Jersey Village’s Chase Nesloney were named honorable mention on the Class 5A Academic All State Football team.
• Cypress-Fairbanks ISD students were honored recently in the district’s annual exhibit of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s School Art Program held at the Instructional Support Center.   More than 500 works of art were submitted from kindergarten to twelfth grade students.   This event showcases the culture, history and heritage of the west.
• The School Art Committee will host a Special Awards ceremony for all winning students, their family, friends, teachers, and school district representatives on Saturday, March 12, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. Best of Show winners receive a trophy and Gold Medal winners receive a golden medallion.   Each winning student attends the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with three complimentary tickets. Best of Show winners are: Juan Ramos, Bane Elementary, taught by Betty Paine; Gerardo Venegas, Truitt Middle School, taught by Sandi Pippin; and Kristin Mathew, Langham Creek High School, taught by Laura Nelson. Best of Show artworks will hang in the Hayloft Gallery and students are eligible to apply for the Glassell Junior School of Art positions. Mathew’s piece is eligible for auction. Winning Gold Medals were: Trey Gaddis, Emmott Elementary, taught by Debbie Dinderman; and Jardoin Albright, Truitt Middle School, taught by Sandi Pippin.   These pieces will hang in the Hayloft Gallery and students are eligible to apply for the Glassell Junior School of Art positions. Mathew Strickler, Cypress Falls High School, taught by Kim Ross, was the high school Gold Medal winner. This piece will hang in the Hayloft Gallery and is also eligible for the auction. Strickler is eligible to apply for the Western Art Academy Summer Workshop in Kerrville.
• Three district seniors were finalists in the Rodeo Art Program and are eligible for applying for college scholarships. They are Chinnin Paterson, Cypress Springs, taught by Betsy Anderson; Nicole Turner, Langham Creek, taught by Laura Nelson; and Carmen Guerra, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Jerilyn Muster.
• The works of some of the district’s most gifted young artists are en route to New York City   to compete at the national level in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Gold Key winners are: Jay Clarence Hardin and Adam Harms, Cy-Fair High School, both taught by Earl Emery and Andrea Nguyen and Grant Water, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Laurie Emery. Gold Key portfolio winners include:   Daniel Barney and Lauren McLaughlin, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Laurie Emery; and Joe Linfesty, Jersey Village, taught by Jason Newman. Silver key winners are Gregory Kaufman, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Earl Emery; Rachelle Massa, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Earl Emery; Karly Ormsby, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Laurie Emery; and Veroncia Beyer, Cy-Falls High School, taught by Kim Ross.
• Gold Key winners in the Scholastic Writing competition are: Joseph Wozney, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Stephanie Plant;   Yukie Wang, Cypress Creek, taught by Janet Clarke;   Jessica Higgins, Cypress Falls, taught by Kausam Salam; Khasim Syed, Cypress Falls, taught by Jane Johnorow;   Brett Gaffney and Sara Panuska, Jersey Village, taught by Sharon Dubose; and Zachary Horst and Julia McAdams, Hamilton Middle School, taught by Candace Tannous. Adam Amberg, Cy-Fair High School, received a prestigious award from the Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees. Amberg’s Scholastic writing winning entry will advance to the national level, and he will receive a $500 cash prize.   His teacher is Christie McWilliams. All of these students’ entries have also been chosen to advance to national competition in New York. Silver Key winners include Lindsey Feliciano, Cy-Fair High School, taught by Christie McWilliams; Morgan Potter, Cy-Fair, taught by Lindsey Gunter; Serina Robinson, Cy-Fair, taught by Mary Sauer; and Julia Novosad, Cypress Falls, taught by Christine Leach.
• Dr. Anthony reported the results of the annual FFA Livestock Show and Fair held February 4-6:
• From Cy-Fair High School, Brittani Stuckey had the grand champion steer; Cody Kridner had the grand champion goat; Kat Wall had the grand champion turkey; Kenton Schwenke had the grand champion fryer rabbits and reserve champion breeder rabbits; Heather Vickers had the grand champion breeding rabbits and Katie Owens had the reserve champion broilers;
• From Cypress Creek High School, Zach Ivey showed the grand champion heifer and reserve champion heifer; and Aron Newston won the reserve champion turkey;
• From Cypress Springs High School, Jessica Bailey had the reserve champion hog; Joshua Cabrera had the grand champion broilers; Christine Lucht showed the reserve grand champion hog; and Katy Henry had the reserve grand champion lamb;
• From Jersey Village, Carie Kaminski had the reserve champion steer and Kourtney Kopesky had the reserve grand champion goat;
• From Langham Creek, Whitney Walker was a dual winner with her grand champion lamb and also reserve champion fryer rabbits.
• The gross sales for the premium auction this year were $325,700. In addition, another $82,890.50 was raised from the freezer sale of livestock who were not in the premium auction.
• Dr. Anthony commended students for their diligence and commitment to raising the animals.    He also congratulated the livestock show winners, the adult sponsors, parent volunteers, CFISD workers and all the students whose participation made this event so successful.
• Three Aragon Middle School students were recognized for their winning entries for the Barbara Jordan Essay Contest.   The competition, sponsored by the Alley Theatre, encourages students to reflect on the life and words of Ms. Jordan and their relevance to young people today. Megan Brinkman was first place winner and Rebecca Boylan placed second. Kristina Miller was a finalist for the Jordan and Freeman Speech Competition portion of the event.
• Dave Straughn, Director of Security, was recently   elected to the Crimestoppers Advisory Board. Dr. Anthony said the Crimestoppers program is important to the Houston community and to the district’s schools and said he is pleased that Dave is representing the district’s concern for safe schools on this advisory board.
• An update was provided on the district’s Tsunami fund-raising efforts. As of the February 14, 2005 board meeting, 53 district schools organized fund raisers and of those 34 schools have completed their projects, bringing the collective total to $72,823.16.   Dr. Anthony said he is proud of the students who are reaching out across the world to help fund the relief efforts.

AEIS REPORT/PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing was held during the Board’s February 14 meeting to allow for public comment on the district’s 2003-04 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.

ELECTION ORDERS

The Board approved an order calling for an election on Saturday, May 7, 2005, for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District trustee Position 3, currently held by Lou Bertoli, and Position 4, currently held by Board President Lida Woodul.

In the subsequent agenda item, trustees also hired an election consultant to manage the election for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Board of Trustees on May 7, 2005.

Trustees approved an Election Order calling for a special election, which will also be held on May 7, 2005, to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term for Position 7, which became vacant when Dr. William H. O’Brien resigned from the Board.

NEW PRINCIPALS

Following the approval of employee transactions for the month of February, Dr. Anthony introduced new principals for Hairgrove Elementary, Moore Elementary, Campbell Middle School and Labay Middle School, and also introduced the district’s new attorney.

Laura Harman will be the new principal at Moore Elementary. She is currently an assistant principal at Yeager Elementary. Lesa Cain will be the new principal at Hairgrove Elementary. Cain is currently the principal at Copeland Elementary and her replacement will be named at the March Board Meeting.

Dr. Cheryl Johns will be the new principal at Labay Middle School. Johns is the associate principal at Jersey Village High School. Dr. Robert Hatcher will be the new principal at Campbell Middle School. He is currently an assistant principal at Cypress Ridge High School.

Marney Collins-Sims will be the district's new attorney. Collins-Sims has been with the law firm of Bracewell & Patterson for the past six years.

TRUSTEE TRAINING

In accordance with Texas Education Code and State Board of Education regulations, Board President Lida Woodul announced the name of each board member who has completed, exceeded or who is deficient in the continuing education required under law. Each trustee is required to complete three hours in team building and five hours in continuing education. Woodul announced that every CFISD trustee has completed or exceeded the minimum number of hours for continuing education.

BOARD MEETING CALENDAR

Trustees approved the official Board meeting calendar for 2005-2006. Board meetings are scheduled for July 18, August 8, September 12, October 11, November 14, December 12, January 17, February 13, March 16, April 10, May 8, May 15 and June 12. Work sessions are scheduled for August 4, September 8, October 6, November 10, December 8, January 12, February 9, March 13, April 6, May 4 and June 8. The Board Goal-setting Workshop has been set for February 18, 2006.

BOND UPDATE

The District held two separate bond sales in January 2005 that resulted in the refunding of $150,859,514 in fixed rate bonds with unlimited tax adjustable rate bonds which is projected to save the district more than $20.1 million over the next 10-15 years.

Trustees approved the schedule of events for the sale of $131.1 million in Schoolhouse Bonds, Series 2005. The sale of the bonds will take place April 7 and bonds should be delivered by May 10. $81.1 million of the bonds are from the 2001 Bond Authorization and will be the final bond sale from that referendum. $50 million of the bonds are from the 2004 Bond Referendum which was approved by voters last December.

The Board also approved: the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC Easement to provide permanent electrical service for Julia Williams Kahla Middle School (Middle School No. 13); the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC Easement to provide permanent electrical service for LaFaye Johnson Lee Elementary School (No. 41); and the revised acreage for the purchase of the 13.8610 acre elementary school site located near the northwest corner of Spring Cypress and Grant Road.

SUMMER SCHOOL DATES

The Board approved summer school locations, dates and courses for elementary, middle and high school students. High School original credit courses will be offered at Cy-Fair and Cypress Falls in two sessions. The first session is from June 6-24 and the second session from June 27-July 18. The time schedule for both original credit sessions is 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Make-up credit courses will take place June 9-24 and June 27-July 13 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Middle school courses will be offered at Aragon and Cook (original credit, make-up credit and ESL classes for sixth- through eighth-grade students) and Cy-Fair and Cypress Falls (original credit high school classes for eighth-grade students). Dates for original credit sessions are June 6-24 and June 27-July 18. Make-up credit courses will be from June 9-July 13. All middle school classes will be from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Elementary courses will be offered from June 6-24. Class times are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. Locations for elementary summer school are Birkes (for students residing in Birkes, Copeland, Fiest, Holmsley, Lowery and Owens attendance zones); Duryea (for students residing in Duryea, Jowell, Metcalf and Walker zones); Gleason (for students residing in Bang, Emmott, Francone, Gleason and Willbern zones); Kirk (for students residing in Hairgrove, Horne and Kirk zones); Matzke   (for students residing in Adam, Hancock, Matzke, Moore and Yeager zones); Post (for students residing in Bane and Post zones); Reed   (for students residing in Frazier, Holbrook, and Reed zones); Robison (for students residing in Ault, Farney, Hamilton, Keith, Lamkin, Millsap,

Robison and Sampson zones); Tipps (for students residing in Lieder, Sheridan, Tipps and Wilson zones); and Lamkin   (ESY students).

ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY CHANGES

Trustees approved the administration’s recommendations for modifications to elementary attendance boundaries to improve feeder patterns for the 2005-06 school year. This change will move the current Post students residing below Highway 290 to Hairgrove Elementary. This will result in Post feeding to three middle schools instead of four. This move will allow students in Hearthstone Place, who live closer to Horne Elementary than to Hairgrove, to remain at Horne. The current enrollment projections show approximately the same number of students in both areas.

SUPERINTENDENT’S BRIEFING

Dr. Anthony shared information regarding the PTO Presidents Council Vendor’s Fair. All Cy-Fair ISD approved-fundraising vendors have been invited to display their products at the CFISD Exhibit Center at 11206 Telge Road on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the district’s Vendor’s Fair. The Annual Vendors Fair provides an opportunity for booster clubs, sports associations, school supply chairpersons and school spirit chairpersons to view the goods and services that vendors have available.

The district will be conducting the annual Board Goal-Setting Workshop Saturday, February 19. Parents, employees and other citizens in the community have had opportunities to provide input on priorities for the district. Input from two hearings regarding the budget will also be considered as the Board of Trustees make decisions regarding the District Action Plan for 2005-2006. If there is anyone in our audience who has not yet provided input but wishes to before the workshop, please contact the Communication office at (281) 807-8939. The workshop is open to the public and will begin at 7:30 a.m. on February 19, 2005. It will be held in the Board room at the Instructional Support Center, 10300 Jones Road. The Board of Trustees and the administration will work during this meeting to review, add, and modify the goals necessary to provide a quality educational setting for the students in our district.  

TAKS testing for CFISD students begins February 22, the day after President’s Day.   When the school calendar was set last year, it was decided that it would be in the students’ best interest for them to attend school rather than have a student holiday on President’s Day.   This would encourage students to be present and prepared for this important assessment.

The following tests will occur on February 22:

• Grades 4 and 7 will take the TAKS or the SDAA II writing test
• Grade 9 will take the TAKS reading test
• Grade 10 will take the TAKS English Language Arts test or the SDAA II Writing test (levels    K – 9)
• Grade 11 will take the TAKS Exit Level English Language Arts test

The following tests will occur on February 23:

• Grades 3 and 5 will take the reading TAKS
• Grade 10 students in special education will take the SDAA II English Language Arts Level 10
• Grades 9 and 10 students in special education will take the SDAA II Reading Level 9

The following tests will occur on February 24. Make up testing session for:

• Grade 10 TAKS English Language Arts
• Enrolled Grade 10/Instructional Level 10 SDAA II English Language Arts
• Enrolled Grade 10/Instructional Level 9 SDAA II Reading

TAKS Exit Level retesting for English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science will occur February 22, 23, 24, and 25.

TAAS Exit Level retesting for Writing, Math, and Reading will occur February 22, 23, and 24.

Dr. Anthony said that these are important tests for all students and he encouraged parents to help their students get a good night’s rest, have a hearty breakfast and send them to school with plenty of encouragement. He is confident that the district’s students are prepared and will do a great job.

Dr. Anthony provided information regarding the Legislative Study Committee, which is an expanded group from the School Finance Study Committee that was created in the fall of 2003. As before, the purpose of this committee will be to research the district’s needs, evaluate proposed legislation, educate the community, and provide input to legislators. This new group, headed by Pam Wells, will begin meeting in late February or early March.

The Superintendent referenced the book Reforming Education in Texas - Recommendations from the Koret Task Force, February 2004, which seems to be influencing lawmakers who are authoring bills coming out of the 79 th Legislature. The book includes topics on school finance, accountability, vouchers and charter schools, some of which could have a negative impact on public education.

Spring Break will be the week of March 7-11. The Superintendent wished students and employees a safe, enjoyable and well-deserved vacation.

Cy-Falls Eagle Nick Woodard appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show on February 11.   Nick is a junior and a world-class jump rope champion.     

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;
• approved the budget amendments for the period of October 1 through December 31, 2004;
• approved the sale of, and authorized the Board President to sign, a tax resale deed for the property which is described as Lot 83 in Grantwood, Section 2, an unrecorded subdivision in Harris County, Texas, being out of the J.H. Callahan Survey, Abstract Number 10, Harris County, Texas;
• approved   the submission of a Maximum Class Size Waiver request to the Texas Education Agency for Hairgrove Elementary – bilingual third grade, Millsap Elementary – bilingual first grade, Tipps Elementary – bilingual kindergarten and Walker Elementary – bilingual kindergarten and bilingual third grade;
• approved the superintendent’s contract recommendations for the school year 2005-2006 of administrators;
• approved the superintendent’s contract recommendations for the school year 2005-2006 of non-teaching professional staff;
• nominated Trustee Don Ryan to fill the board member vacancy for the Texas Association of School Boards at-large position 4-F;
• authorized tax refunds $500 or greater for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and/or the Harris County Education District in the amount of $ 219,744.03;
• approved bids and contracts from recommended vendors for goods and services;
• and approved on first reading one new policy, revisions to 14 policies and the deletion of five others. The new policy is:
  • FNG (EXHIBIT) A, B, C, D, E, F.
• The following policies have been updated:
  • BED (LOCAL) Public Participation
  • BJCF (LOCAL) Superintendent: Non-renewal
  • CRF (LOCAL) Insurance & Annuities Management: Unemployment Insurance
  • DGBA (LOCAL) Personnel-Management Relations: Employee Complaints/Grievances
  • DGBA (EXHIBIT) Personnel-Management Relations: Employee Complaints/Grievances
  • DGBA (EXHIBIT) Personnel-Management Relations: Employee Complaints/Grievances
  • EFE (EXHIBIT) Instructional Resources: Copyrighted Material
  • EHBB (LOCAL) Special Programs: Gifted and Talented Students
  • FEA (LOCAL) Attendance: Compulsory Attendance
  • FM (LOCAL) Student Activities
  • FNC (LOCAL) Student Rights and Responsibilities: Student Conduct
  • FNG (LOCAL) Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student & Parent Complaints/Grievances
  • GE (LOCAL) Relations with Parent Organizations
  • GF (LOCAL) Public Complaints
  • GKA (LOCAL) Community Relations: Conduct on School Premises
• The following polices have been deleted:
  • EFE (EXHIBIT) Instructional Resources: Copyrighted Material
  • FNCB (LOCAL) Student Conduct: Care of School Property
  • FNCF (LOCAL) Student Conduct: Alcohol and Drug Use
  • FNCG (LOCAL) Student Conduct: Weapons.