Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District                                                May 2006
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RECOGNITIONS

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

• Roy Sprague , senior director for facilities planning and construction, for receiving the Southern Region of the Council for Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) Planner of the Year Award, the highest honor given by the council. As Planner of the Year, Sprague will compete in 2007 for the International Planner of the Year Award.
• National Gold Scholastic Writing Award winners Mariya Karimjee and Katherine Nguyen. The entries of Karimjee, a senior at Cy-Fair High School, and Nguyen, an eighth-grade student at Hamilton Middle School, were selected from 418 regional entries to advance to the national level of Scholastic Writing competition in New York. The two were among the 18 National Gold Scholastic Writing Award winners from Harris County that were honored at Barnes & Noble Books (Westheimer at Voss) on May 6, 2006. Bill Balleza, KPRC-TV news anchor was the guest speaker.
• Six students who placed at the National Forensic League’s district tournament in March and qualified for the National Forensics Leagues National Tournament that will be held June 18–24 in Dallas. Hanna Meghji, taught by Debbie Waddell at Cypress Falls High School, captured first place in Humorous Interpretation and first place in Dramatic Interpretation. Gordon Trinh, taught by Scott Baker at Cypress Ridge High School, also captured first place in Humorous Interpretation. Steven Flores and Addison Reed, Langham Creek High School, won first place in Public Forum Debate while teammates Duc Luu and Emerson Muñoz placed second. The four Langham Creek students are taught by Martha Howard. Taylor Cook, Langham Creek High School, for being named the International Thespian Festival Playwright Winner. Cook is taught by Joe Fullen.
• Jersey Village High School ’s television students recently competed in the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) and received first and second-place awards in broadcasting. Seniors Sebastian Garcia, Bradley Schuster, Erica Rodriguez and Kellie Jackson won first place in the Newscast Graphics category while junior Greg Molick placed second with his story on “Child Predators.” Seniors Travis White and Jared Triska received the second place award in the Anchor Presentation category. Cindy Stoker is the video production teacher at Jersey Village.
• State winners in Destination ImagiNation competition that will now compete in the Destination ImagiNation Global Competition in Knoxville, Tennessee, May 24-28. The Lucky 7’s from Hamilton Elementary School won first place in the Back at You! Challenge in Destination Imagination Competition. Team members were Akshay Fecade, Rebecca Kavar, Brenna Larkin, Anoosha Moturu, Geoffrey Orihel, Owen Rettenmaier and Marissa Villamanga. The school sponsor was Mary Duhon and the team manager was Sarada Moturu. KIAW from Hamilton Middle School won second place in the Back at You! Challenge. Team members were Drew Allen, Eddie Brucculeri, Nathalie Charlton, Sally Cogan, Hayden Passon, Daniel Schlomer and Michael Sliva. The school sponsor was Mary Young-Miller and the team manager was Denise Cogan. The Dynamic Super Fundercats from Cy-Fair High School won second place in the On Safari challenge. The team members were Lauren Falconi, Bryan Gray, Kelsey Sallade, Matt Wheeler and Phillip Wozny. The school sponsor was David Winfiele and the team manager was Becky Sallade.
• Barbara Cobaugh , science curriculum director, and the Cypress-Fairbanks Elementary Science Department for innovative staff development and integration of environmental education into the elementary science curriculum. Through their efforts, the district was designated as a “PLT District” by the Texas Project Learning Tree. The Texas PLT presented a plaque to Cobaugh and the district for the district’s commitment to inservice training for grade level science teachers.
• Forty-one students who earned membership in the various All-State music organizations after performing at the Texas Music Educators Convention in San Antonio in February. Making All-State squads are Lindsey Cavanaugh, Zach Crow, Katie Gajdica, Christine Silva, Susannah Ahlhorn, Devin Hester and Stephanie Horner, Cy-Fair; Laura Trujillo, Eric Williams, Michelle Barlas, Kristyn Chalker and Max Buck, Cypress Creek; Nick Brown, Andrew Collins, Raul Escobedo, Jonathan Gregory, Andrew Hsieh, Ryan Kresta, Alan Seunsom, Tyler Windle, Brian Wood, Andrew Zarazee and Luci Fang, Cypress Falls; Jonathan Salazar, Walter Canales and Leonardo Veletzuy, Cypress Ridge; Mikey Hoang, Amanda Mendietta, Blake Thompson and Sarah Sibayan, Cypress Springs; Cody Overstreet, Jasmin Reed, Katie Richardson and Carly Walker, Jersey Village; Jonathan Alvarez, Austin Beatty, William Godkin, Robert Struzick, Ryan DelaGarza, Andrew Gorman and Joseph Thompson, Langham Creek.
• The members of the Cook Middle School choir, under the direction of Merry Marcotte , Mica Kolb and Rebecca Hunt, that performed at the Texas Music Educators Association state convention in February. Performing were Joshua Campbell, Andy Cooper, Jordan Cordray, Kyle Davidson, Jacob Decastro, Chris Doughtie, Charlie Eadeh, Renyae Fuller, Eric Galyean, Adam Giles, Cameron Grant, Marcus Hernandez, Tung Ho, Travis Jones, Kristian Lampkin, Alex Lator, Cameron Lindsey, Wade Martin, Matt Mazzola, Braden Mendenhall, Cody Migl, Xavier Montoya, Jonathan Moore, Kevin Movaghar, Thomas Mulholland, David Neck, Andrew Neesley, Lawrence Paragas, Shahil Patel, David Rawls, Matt Reeves, Daniel Roniger, Juan Salmeron, Zack Sarmiento, Jonathan Siloran, Jacob Simpson, Avery Smith, Matt Son, Tate Telschow, Connor Thomas, Aston Wallin, Nick Ward and Tuck Woodson.

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

• The Cy-Ridge AFJROTC unit has won the National Distinguished Unit Award for the 2005-2006 school year. Cypress Ridge was selected as one of approximately 90 units from among approximately 900 units throughout the country, putting them in the top 10 percent in the nation, the “Best of the Best.” The award recognizes the consistent and outstanding performance of student-cadets throughout the entire year. Dr. Anthony thanked the administration at Cypress Ridge High School and parents of the cadets for their tremendous support.
• The Sampson Stallion Stackers returned from the World Sport Stacking Championships in Denver with 175 individual medals, 10 trophies and five new world records. Students that represented Sampson at the competition were: Trevor Van Atta, Bradley Beason, Ryan Cameron, Nicholas Baldwin, Ashley Hymel, Zachary Thornton, Ashley Butterfield, Robert Quinilty, Savanna Guarino, Zachary Quinlan, Jessica Heath, Blane Beason, Emily Cameron, Rishabh Dhar, Austin Talley, Lauren Hymel, Ben Skipworth, Collin Marshall, Kaelea Butterfield, Rachel Quinlan, Chris Durden, Javey Guarino and Cade Deines. World Records were broken by the following students: Trevor Van Atta (cycle event with a time of 13.31 seconds); Austin Talley ( 3-3-3 division with a time of 2.46 seconds); Zachary Thornton ( 3-3-3 division with a time of 2.71 seconds). In addition, each relay broke a record for the 3-6-3 Timed Relay in their division.

The Sampson Stallion Stackers are coached by Physical Education teacher Charlotte French who started the team in 2002. Sport Stacking is a sport in which competitors stack and unstack 12 specially designed cups in predetermined sequences at lightning speed. According to reports from the World Sport Stacking Association, sport stacking helps develop hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity, and concentration—important skills that translate to all sports.

• In addition to the students recognized at the Thursday night work session, there were several other CFISD winners at the 2006 Texas Destination ImagiNation Tournament. Team Squirrel from Hamilton Elementary won sixth place in the Kidz Rulz challenge. Team members were Colin Chappell, Casey Cogan, Erin Curby, Brittan Elliott, Brooke Hanley, Adam Walker, and Kirsten Williamson. Mary Duhon is the school sponsorand Denise Cogan is theteam manager.

The VR Geese from Yeager Elementary won third place in the How’d tHAT Happen? challenge and a Spirit of Destination ImagiNation medal. Team members were Abigail Buck, Blair Dewing, Annie Elkington, Kelsey McGlamery, Katie Mudd, Deanna Narveson and Emma Willingham. Ardith Daily is the school sponsorand Linda Mudd is the team manager.

The Velcro Masters from Jersey Village High School won fourth place in the Kidz Rulz challenge and a DaVinci medal. Team members are Lee Barker, Kurt Bilanoski, Shin Chu, Jordan Fauser, Jesse Pyle, Sarah Wisterman and Heather White. Curtis Haverty is the team manager.

• Cy-Fair High School students Anya Reitz, Adam Clunn and Andrea Nguyen will be honored by the Harris County Department of Education, regional sponsor for The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, in partnership with Town & Country Noble Booksellers at a reception on May 20. Reitz received a computer art award; Clunn received a digital imagery and photography award; and Nguyen received a photography award. Brandon Lau , from Cypress Falls High School, is a finalist in the Coca-Cola Share the Dream Essay Contest. An awards reception to honor the finalists and announce the winners was held April 13 at Minute Maid Park.
• Bob Stout , a teacher at the AB Center, has received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to attend a summer workshop entitled, “Churchill and America.” The workshop will be held at the John Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University in Ohio.

NEW PRINCIPAL/ DIRECTOR NAMED

Following the approval of employee transactions during its regularly scheduled meeting for the month of April, trustees named Brenda Trial as the new principal of Lowery Elementary School and Dirk Goldsmith as the new director for Career and Technology Education.

Trial has 26 years of experience in education. She began her teaching career in Fort Bend ISD as an elementary teacher. In 1983, she joined the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD team as a teacher at Lowery Elementary School where she taught for five years. She was selected as the assistant principal at Holmsley Elementary and has served as assistant principal at Holmsley for the past 18 years. Trial received her bachelor of science in elementary education degree from Texas Lutheran College and her master of education in administration and supervision from University of Houston.

Goldsmith has nine years of experience in education. He began his teaching career in Brenham ISD, four years as a teacher and three years as an administrative assistant to the superintendent. He joined the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD team two years ago as a Career and Technology Education program specialist. He received his bachelor of science in Organizational Communication from the University of Wyoming and his master of education in administration from Sam Houston State University.

PRELIMARY 2006-2007 BUDGET

The Board received a comprehensive report on the 2006-2007 budget reductions that the district will be implementing due to the uncertainty of the state-funding situation. The district saved $30,654,202 in budget reductions and cost avoidances from the 2000-2001 school year through the 2005-2006 school year.

The preliminary budget for the 2006-2007 school year, which is based on the current state-funding formula and does not include an employee pay raise, reflects a deficit of approximately $15 million. This budget would mark the fifth consecutive year that CFISD has approved a deficit budget. The district is continuing its conservative fiscal planning and is continually looking for ways to reduce expenditures while providing the best possible education for students and continuing to provide campuses with the materials needed for instruction.

The process to implement further budget reductions for the 2006-2007 school year began in January and continues through the current time. The administrative team has created a plan which saves the district $13,776,466 from the 2006-2007 budget through budget reductions that affect every district department and campus. The final budget will be approved by the Board on June 29, 2006 .

TEA WAIVER APPROVED

The Board approved a request for a Texas Education Agency expedited waiver to modify the schedule of classes on TAKS/TAAS/SDAA test and field test days, as needed, during the 2006-2007 school year. This waiver is an “expedited waiver”—one that will not require extensive research and paperwork from TEA since it has become common practice in many school districts. The Districtwide Educational Improvement Council has approved this waiver. A modified schedule of classes could be used as needed on the following dates to reduce interruptions during testing periods:

Regular Test Dates

• October 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2006*

• February 20, 2007

• April 3, 2007

• April 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2007

• May 15, 2007

Field Test Dates*

• January 22—February 2, 2007—testing window; March 5—16, 2007—testing window; April 17 and 19, 2007; and April 23— May 11, 2007 —testing window

* CFISD will arrange a schedule that will minimize interruptions to the school day for students who are not testing.

BOND UPDATE

The Board approved the administration’s recommendation to award a contract to Workman Commercial Construction Services, Inc. in the amount of $6,229,000 for miscellaneous renovations at Francone, Lieder, Lowery and Yeager elementary schools. The contract award recommendation is $1,011,000 under the established construction budget. PBK Architects, Inc. is the architect for this project.

Trustees approved the administration’s recommendation to award a contract to Clearwater Utilities, Inc. in the amount of $688,422.60 for public storm sewer and waterline improvements for High School No. 10. The contract award recommendation is $470,927.40 under the established construction budget. Brooks & Sparks, Inc. is the consultant engineer for this project.

The Board approved and executed the plats for the following projects:

• Elementary School No. 47 located at Greenhouse Road and Plantation Cove Lane;
• Middle School No. 15 located at Fry Road and Rustic Lake Lane adjacent to Cypress Springs High School; and
• The 130-acre multi-campus site (High School No. 9, Elementary School No. 46 and future middle school) located at Fry Road and Cypress North Houston.

SUPERINTENDENT’S BRIEFING

Dr. Anthony reminded the audience that May 10 is National School Nurses Day and he extended his appreciation to this group of education professionals who provide dedicated and caring medical support to district students throughout the entire year.

Election Day, Saturday, May 13 is fast-approaching as registered voters in the district have the opportunity to elect three members who will serve on the Board of Trustees for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. Trustees will be elected in position Nos. 5, 6 and 7. Early voting began May 1 and will continue through Tuesday, May 9. Dr. Anthony encouraged all to exercise their right to vote for the candidates of their choice and to visit the district website at www.cfisd.net for more information about candidates and voting locations and times.

As part of the Student Success Initiative, and in order to be promoted to the next grade, fifth- grade students must pass the Grade 5 TAKS tests in math and reading. Cy-Fair ISD students performed very well on the exams as 6,295 of district fifth graders took the math TAKS in early April, and the district has recently received their results. The superintendent said that student performance is to be applauded as not only did 88 percent of CFISD students pass the test, but 48 percent were recognized as Commended for their outstanding performance. Commended Performance was awarded on the 2006 Grade five Math TAKS for students who missed no more than four questions. This year 914 additional students were tested over last year’s administration.

For those students who did not pass the test, a second opportunity will be provided May 16 and then, if needed, a third opportunity will occur June 20.

Dr. Anthony invited the community to the Berry Center Student Showcase and Open House on Saturday, May 20, from 1-4 p.m. All are welcome to attend and tour the new Berry Center, which is actually five facilities: a multi-purpose arena, a fine arts theatre, a conference center, an athletic stadium, and a satellite food distribution center. District graduation ceremonies, convocations, staff development, student performances, special events, and much more will take place in this educational support facility that was approved by the voters in 2001. Students will be highlighted in numerous performances throughout the afternoon at the Student Showcase and Open House. A schedule of student performances is posted on the district’s website — www.cfisd.net.

The official dedication ceremony of the Berry Center, named after Rick Berry, former superintendent of schools, will be Sunday, May 21.

The last day of classes for the 2005-06 academic year is Wednesday, May 24 for students and Thursday, May 25, 2006 is a professional day for district employees.

Dr. Anthony wished the district’s students, teachers, administrators and support personnel a well-deserved restful, healthy and fun-filled summer vacation. He said that the 2005-2006 school year has been a challenging year of hurricanes and legislative sessions. Employees throughout the district have continued to show that dedication to educational excellence, community compassion and support under challenging circumstances prevail in this fast-growing Cy-Fair ISD. He added that he is very proud to be superintendent of this fine school district.

Dr. Anthony reminded everyone about the graduation dates and times. All graduations will be held in the Berry Center:

• Windfern High School – May 25 at 7 p.m.
• Cypress Ridge High School – May 26 at 7:30 p.m.
• Cypress Creek High School – May 27 at 9 a.m.
• Cypress Springs High School – May 27 at 12:30 p.m.
• Cy-Fair High School – May 27 at 4 p.m.
• Cypress Falls High School – May 27 at 7:30 p.m.
• Jersey Village High School – May 28 at 12:30 p.m.
• Langham Creek High School – May 28 at 4 p.m.

District facilities will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday as all remember those who have given their lives for freedom.

The district summer school first-session schedule is June 5 through June 23 while the second session will run June 26 through July 17. Cypress Creek and Cypress Ridge high schools are the location for high school classes. Further information can be found on the district website at www.cfisd.net.

Summer School graduation is scheduled for July 14, at 7 p.m. and will take place at the Berry Center.

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 list of advanced courses for 2006-2007;
• approved the budget amendments for the period of January 1, 2006 through March 31, 2006 ;
• approved the list of financial institutions and broker/dealers eligible to provide investment services to Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District ;
• authorized tax refunds $500 or greater for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and/or the Harris County Education District in the amount of $ 178,142.98;
• approved the 2006-07 tuition rate of $4,000 for out-of-district residents;
• approved bids and contracts from recommended vendors for goods and services;
• approved a resolution pursuant to the CDA (LEGAL) policy, approving without change
  • the existing CDA (LOCAL) policy – Other Revenues:Investments;
• approved on first reading revisions to the following policies:
  • DAB (LOCAL) Employment Objectives: Objective Criteria for Personnel Decisions;
  • DBA (LOCAL) Employment Requirements and Restrictions: Credentials and Records;
  • GKD (LOCAL) Community Relations: Nonschool Use of School Facilities;
• approved on second reading revisions to the following policies:
  • DBD (LOCAL) Employment Requirements and Restrictions: Conflict of Interest;
  • DBD (EXHIBIT) Employment Requirements and Restrictions: Conflict of Interest;
  • EEH (LOCAL) Instructional Arrangements Homebound;
  • EFAA (LOCAL) Instructional Materials Selections and Adoption: Textbook Selection and Adoption;
  • EIA (LOCAL) Academic Achievement: Grading/Progress Reports; and
  • FFA (LOCAL) Student Welfare:Wellness and Health Services.