Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District                                          October 2006
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RECOGNITIONS

The Board of Trustees recognized the following staff member and department for their achievements:

• George Hobson , associate superintendent for Business Services and the Business Services Department for receiving the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) for the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 and for receiving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.

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

• CFISD’s Book Divas who won the silver prize at the American Library Association’s National Bookcart Drill Team Championship in New Orleans on June 25, 2006. They competed against other state winning librarian teams from across the country. They had previously won the Texas State Championship in April. Team members are: Sandra Gilbert, Fiest; Sally Low, Walker; Dolores Lopez, Sheridan; Ruth Wiesmann, Farney; Pattie Lane, Tipps; Bobbie McDonald, Ault; Kristie Schleier, Post; Betty Schuetz, Copeland; Kim Richardson, Lee; Hollye Derrick, Lamkin; Debi Peters, Owens; Tracy Scott, Frazier; Diane Flood, Birkes;and Jackie Hopkins, Matzke.

DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNICATION NAMED

Following the approval of employee transactions during its regularly scheduled meeting for the month of October, the Board recognized Stephanie Migl as the new director for communication.

With eight years experience in education, Migl began her teaching career in Aldine ISD at Smith Academy for Communication and Technology as a Mass Media Specialist and a Curriculum Integration Specialist. In 2005, she assumed the responsibilities of coordinator of publications in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2006-2007 BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE

A public hearing was held during the Oct. 5 meeting to collect input from the community on the proposed tax rate for the 2006-2007 budget. Sixteen patrons elected to speak.

The Board subsequently approved two tax levy ordinances and resolutions to support the 2006-2007 budget and established a total tax rate of $1.654 during its Oct. 10 meeting. The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate was approved at $1.354 per $100 of assessed value and the Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate was approved at $.30 per $100 of assessed value for a total tax rate of $1.654 per $100 of assessed value.

SUPERINTENDENT’S BRIEFING

Dr. Anthony announced the date for the annual Salute to the Stars Gala for Thursday night, Oct. 26 at the Berry Center. The Gala will honor the 2006 Spotlight Teachers from each campus. Salute to the Stars is a community event that not only honors outstanding teachers but also raises funds for student scholarships and innovative instructional grants for teachers.

The eighth Superintendent’s Student Leadership Conferences will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24 (for high school) and Monday, Oct. 30 (for middle school) from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Berry Center. Dr. Anthony invited 350 student leaders from district middle and high schools to participate along with school sponsors and principals from each school. The theme of this year’s conference is “Making A Difference.”

Students will be challenged to reflect on the unlimited possibilities they have to assist their fellow students in feeling connected to each other and to their school. Principals will work with their students in outlining an action plan designed to create a school where all students feel they belong. The conference is a great opportunity for the superintendent to hear from the district’s students. Board members are also invited to attend the conferences for any part of the day, including lunch at 11:30.

Currently, over 600 district employees plan to participate in the Heart Walk at the Cy-Fair College located on Barker-Cypress, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Dr. Anthony is looking forward to a great turn out for the three-mile walk in support of the American Heart Association. CFISD employees should park at the Berry Center.

School dedications will be held for the three new elementary schools that opened last month. The ceremony for Joan Spillane Postma Elementary School, located at 18425 West Road, will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. The dedication of Royce Black Elementary School, located at 14155 Grant Road, will begin at 4 p.m. also on Oct. 22. Woodie Coker Andre' Elementary, located at 8111 Fry Road, will have its dedication ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.

CFISD will celebrate Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-27. This national campaign is designed to encourage healthy, drug-free and violence-free lifestyles among youth. Parents are asked to take special time this week to talk to their children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. This is a great time for the Cy-Fair community to show a united commitment toward a drug-free America.

Four hundred twenty-three fifth-grade students attended the district’s first Super Science Saturday on Sept. 23, 2006. Sixteen elementary schools invited English-language learners from Bilingual/ESL programs, as well as students who were displaced from the hurricanes last year, to participate in science activities from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The students were provided transportation to Reed, Tipps or Duryea. The selected teachers for this program used fun activities to teach science concepts from the first six weeks. Students were enthusiastic, motivated and had fun learning science.

Additional sessions will be Oct. 14, Nov. 4, Dec. 2 and Jan. 27. The district’s goal is to provide students with hands-on activities and experiments that will make them more successful on both the science benchmark tests and the fifth-grade TAKS test.

A district-wide special focus day for college awareness among elementary students called “College is in My Future” will be held Nov. 8, 2006. Teachers will present age-appropriate information and will discuss college majors with their classes. Teachers will use College Board information, lessons and materials aimed at helping young students and their parents make early plans for higher education. The district’s guidance and counseling department is coordinating the event.

AGENDA ITEMS

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

• received a written report on the results of the 2005-2006 end-of-year literacy assessment for grades K–5;
• received a written report on the results of the 2005-2006 Reading Recovery Program and Small-group Reading Intervention Pilot Project;
• received a written report on legislative issues, State Board of Education, Texas School Alliance and the Fast Growth School Coalition activities;
• approved bids and contracts from recommended vendors for goods and services;
• approved the tax refunds of $500 or greater for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and/or Harris County Education District;
• approved the membership for the 2006-2007 District Textbook Committee;
• approved first-reading additions, deletions or revisions to the following district policy:
• CKC (LOCAL) SAFETY PROGRAM/RISK MANAGEMENT: Emergency Plans
• DC (LOCAL) EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
• DEA (LOCAL) COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Salaries, Wages and Stipends
• DEB (LOCAL) COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Fringe Benefits
• DFBB (LOCAL) TERM CONTRACTS: Nonrenewal
• FDA (LOCAL) ADMISSIONS: Interdistrict Transfers
• approved second-reading additions, deletions or revisions to the following district policy:
• EHBB (LOCAL) SPECIAL PROGRAMS: Gifted and Talented Students
• approved the 1.784-acre Sanitary Sewer Easement with Harris County MUD No. 374 for utility services to the 130-acre multi-campus site;
• approv ed the sale of district equipment through a surplus Internet auction to be held in October 2006;
• approved the sale of district furniture and equipment through a surplus Internet auction to be held in November 2006;
• approv ed the 2006-2007 Campus Improvement Plans, including each school’s AEIS targets;
• a uthoriz ed the Superintendent or Designee to negotiate and sign a lease agreement with Katy Professional Football, LLC for the use of the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center .

ADDENDUM

• authorized the superintendent or associate superintendent for general administration to negotiate and execute a surface use agreement with the mineral owners and mineral leaseholders of the 174-acre tract located at F.M. 529 and Freeman Road , which is currently under contract by the district.