Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District                                         December 2006
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RECOGNITIONS

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

• Representative Peggy Hamric and Senator Jon Lindsay for their commitment to education and support of the district;
• Students from Jersey Village High School and Cypress Creek High School who won first or second place at the Texas Association of Journalism Educators Broadcast Journalism Contest or at the Texas Photography Instructors Fall Photo Contest. The following four students from Jersey Village High School placed first and/or second in the contest: Jordan Bontke receiveda Superior rating for his Public Service Announcement, “Carpool,” and also first place for Advanced Video Public Service Announcement; Steven Flores and Audry Jackson won first place for Advanced Video News; and John Hunter placed second in the Beginning Black and White Portrait category. The following five students from Cypress Creek High School were recognized for placing second in the contest: Lindsay Calvert and Dillon Menefee for Advanced Video News; Chelsea McCoya and Michelle Adams for Beginning Video News; and Kyle Heller for Beginning Video Public Service Announcement.

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

• Dr. Tim Rocka who was elected to the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA) Executive Board at the TASPA conference last week in Austin. He will serve as the District II representative—TASPA divides the state into six districts and District II encompasses the Greater Houston and Gulf Coast areas;
• Jersey Village High School’s JVTV who recently competed in the Texas Association of Journalism Educators broadcast journalism contest. Greg Molick received an Honorable Mention for his news story titled “How to Make a News Story.” JVTV received an Honorable Mention for their overall newscast under the direction of Cindy Stoker, fine arts department chair at Jersey Village High School.
• Students who competed and placed in the November Association of Texas Photography Instructors contest: (from Jersey Village High School) Victor Lopez, third place for Advanced Video/Public Service Announcement; Alyssa Dupree, third place for Advanced Black and White/Landscape; Johnathan Hart, third place for Beginning Black and White/Sports; Elizabeth Muster, Honorable Mention for Advanced Black and White/Open; Sarah Galvez, Honorable Mention for Advanced Black and White/Sports; and Sabrina Read, Honorable Mention for Beginning Black and White/Portrait; (fromCypress Creek High School) David Love and Dillon Menefee, third place for Advanced Video/News; and Ana Guzman and Brooks Cruzen, Honorable Mention for Beginning Video/Public Service Announcement;
• Yazmin Gutierrez for her artwork that was selected as the cover design for the Cypress -Fairbanks ISD holiday greeting card. Yazmin is an eighth-grade student at Arnold Middle School and her art teacher is Byrne Jackson;
• Jocelyn Rodriguez of Lieder Elementary who was chosen as a finalist for this year’s cover design for the Region 4 Education Service Center Holiday Card. Over 800 entries were received from 65 campuses in 28 different districts. Jocelyn’s art teacher is Karen Miller.
• Macy Lawson , a fifth-grade student from Tipps Elementary, who won the Houston Chronicle’s 2006 Letters to Santa “Design-A-Cover” contest. Her drawing, as well as a photo of her and her teacher, was featured on the cover of the Chronicle’s Letters to Santa section on Dec. 10. Her art teacher is Mrs. Tracy Holan.
• The Roarin’ Ropers Jump Rope Team from Tipps Elementary who participated in the HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 23. During the one and a half mile parade, the students performed outstanding routines as they moved along the streets of downtown Houston. This is the second time the Ropers have been seen on television this school year. Sponsors of the team are PE teachers Amy Lippincott, Chris Miller and Brooke Curran.
• Hamilton Middle School who was a 2006 Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC)/Just for the Kids (JFTK) Honor Roll school. Hamilton was honored at a reception in Austin on Dec. 5 along with 270 Texas schools that earned recognition from TBEC. Honor Roll schools are the most consistent performers in educating all student groups over three consecutive years, with an emphasis on how many students score at the state’s highest standard on all TAKS tests.
• The following CFISD campuses who were included on a list of the Top Public Schools in Texas in the December 2006 issue of Texas Monthly magazine: Copeland, Hamilton, Jowell, Lowery, Millsap, Sampson and Yeager elementary schools; Dean, Goodson and Hamilton middle schools; and Jersey Village High School. The schools met the criteria for this designation based on the past three years of student achievement data.
• The cross country State meet was held on Nov.11 in Round Rock. Five runners from CFISD who advanced to the Cross Country State Meet on Nov. 11 in Round Rock. The results are as follows: (girls division) Nicole Peters of Langham Creek, fifth overall; Melissa Mahoney of Cypress Woods, 10 th overall; and Jessica Heath of Cypress Creek, 25 th overall; (boys division) Blake Shaw of Cypress Falls, 11 th overall.
• The following teams: Cypress Ridge and Jersey Village advanced to bi-district playoffs and ended their seasons representing our district with excellence in performance and sportsmanship; Cy-Fair and Cypress Falls who won both their bi-district games and area games—Cy-Fair ended the season with pride as regional semifinal champions and Cypress Falls has advanced to semifinals on Dec. 16 in the San Antonio Alamodome.

PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR 2007-2008 BUDGET AND BOARD GOALS SET

The district has scheduled two hearings to collect public input on the district’s budget and goals for the 2007-2008 school year. All CFISD residents are invited to offer ideas, comments and suggestions during either of the hearings scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 23 at Labay Middle School and Thursday, Jan. 25 at Francone Elementary. Both forums will begin at 7 p.m. The information gathered at these hearings will be shared with the Board of Trustees who will establish priorities for the next school year during its annual Goal-setting Workshop scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007 in the Board room at the Instructional Support Center .

ANNUAL GOAL-SETTING WORKSHOP

Plans were announced for this year’s Goal-setting Workshop, which has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, 2006. More than 70 groups have been asked to make recommendations concerning the district’s priorities for the 2007-2008 school year.

SUMMER SCHOOL DATES

The Board approved the 2007 summer school dates as follows:

• Elementary Summer School June 11-June 29, 2007
• LEP PK/K Summer School June 11-July 5, 2007 (July 4 holiday)
• Secondary Summer School/1st Session June 11-June 29, 2007
• Secondary Summer School/2nd Session July 9-July 27, 2007

2007 BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION DATE

The Board approved a resolution to change the 2007 Board of Trustees election date to the November 2007 uniform election date, to authorize the superintendent or his designee to enter into a a joint election agreement with Harris County, and to execute any other documents necessary to accomplish the election changes. The change was necessary as a result of legislative action in House Bill 1 of the 79 th Legislative Session.

BOND UPDATE

The Board approved the following:

• the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC Blanket Utility Easement to provide electrical service for Patti Becker McFee Elementary School (No. 47);
• the schedule of events for the refunding of approximately $200 million in Unlimited School House Bonds, Series 2007;
• the authorization of the Superintendent or Designee to enter into miscellaneous professional service contracts related to the Pkg. F-2006 Miscellaneous Renovations to Jowell Elementary School and up to the amounts listed below: HVAC System Testing and Balance: up to $45,000;
• the execution of the plat for Cypress Lakes High School (No. 10).

SUPERINTENDENT’S BRIEFING

Dr. Anthony offered his congratulations to Cypress-Fairbanks Federal Credit Union on its 50 th anniversary serving the needs of the employees of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and the Cy-Fair community. He wished Debbie Blackshear and her fine staff many more successful years and said he sincerely appreciates their support as a business partner in education.

Dr. Anthony also wished success to all CFISD students as they prepare for their semester exams. Students will complete their first semester studies on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

A Professional Day for teachers and staff will be held on Dec. 21. Beginning Dec. 22, 2006 through Jan. 2, 2007, district schools and the Instructional Support Center will be closed to the public for the holidays. All support facilities will be closed Dec. 25, 26, 29 and Jan. 1 in observance of the holidays. Teachers and support staff will return for a professional development day on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. Students will resume classes on Thursday, Jan. 4.

Additionally, the Cypress-Fairbanks school district staff and students will observe the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007. All district facilities, including the Instructional Support Center, will be closed Monday and will reopen for normal business hours the next day. If there is an emergency that should be reported during the holidays, please contact Security at 281-897-4337.

Dr. Anthony extended holiday wishes to students, employees and their families and said he hopes that they have a safe, restful and joyous holiday season.

The fall commencement exercises will be held for Windfern High School at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006 at Berry Center, located at 8877 Barker Cypress. The Windfern High School graduating class of December 2006 is expected to include 115 students. Dr. Anthony commended Windfern students and their parents and the Windfern staff for this great accomplishment.

AGENDA ITEMS

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

• received a written report on the final 2005-06 report on District Goal 1: Student Growth and Development;
• received a written report on legislative issues, State Board of Education, Texas School Alliance and the Fast Growth School Coalition activities;
• approved the list of students for Off-Campus Physical Education, Category I, or the school years 2006-2007 (Spring) through 2008-2009;
• approved bids and contracts from recommended vendors;
• approved the tax refunds of $500 or greater for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and/or Harris County Education District;
• adopted a resolution which, pursuant to TEA requirements for the district to receive supplemental transportation funding, defines hazardous traffic conditions applicable to the district and identifies the specific hazardous areas which exist;
• approved second-reading additions, deletions or revisions to the following district policies:
  • BJA (LOCAL) SUPERINTENDENT: Qualifications and Duties
  • CRD (LOCAL) INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES MANAGEMENT: Health and Life Insurance
  • DBD (LOCAL) EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS: Conflict of Interest
  • EIAA (LOCAL) GRADING/PROGRESS REPORTS TO PARENTS: Examinations
  • FL (LOCAL) STUDENT RECORDS
  • GKD (LOCAL) COMMUNITY RELATIONS: Nonschool Use of School Facilities
  • GKDA (LOCAL) NONSCHOOL USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES: Distribution of Nonschool Literature
• approved the district’s Legislative Initiatives for the upcoming 80 th session of the Texas Legislature.