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In honor of Texas School Board Recognition Month, the superintendent recognized the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board of Trustees for their dedication, leadership and continuing service to the children of the district.

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

• CFISD campuses that were included on a list of the Top Public Schools in Texas in the December 2007 issue of Texas Monthly magazine: Ault, Copeland, Hamilton, Lowery, Sampson and Yeager elementary schools; Aragon and Hamilton middle schools; and Cy-Fair High School. The schools met the criteria for this designation based on the past three years of student achievement data;

• Siera Johnson, a fifth-grade student from Duryea Elementary School, who was selected to have her artwork displayed in the 2008 PBK Architect’s calendar for the month of February;

• Winners from the district’s annual exhibit of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s School Art. The event showcases the culture, history and heritage of the west, and CFISD had more than 548 student entries, grades K-12:

• Best in Show winners are: Elementary School – Angela Baron, second-grade student at Farney (teacher Gretchen Lozano); Middle School – Katelyn Miller, eighth-grade student at Labay (teacher Sandi Pippin); and High School – Alice Yeh, junior at Langham Creek (teacher Sally Logsdon).

• Gold Medal winners are: Elementary – Grace Chi, third-grade student at Lamkin (teacher Donna Ganster); Middle School – Alexis Page, eighth-grade student at Labay (teacher Sandi Pippin); and High School – Elisabeth Lessels, senior at Cypress Springs (teacher Lee Ann Jackson), and Jonna Miller, junior at Cypress Woods (teacher Marina Botros).
  
• Cypress Creek High School senior Sarah Schmitt is a Special Merit winner.

The winning works will be on display in the Hayloft Gallery at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from March 3-22, but the public and staff are invited to browse the hallways of the Instructional Support Center and enjoy all the outstanding rodeo artwork Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., until Jan. 30; and

• Cypress Creek High School , for recently receiving the 2007 College Readiness Award from the Texas ACT Council, recognizing a significant increase in their ACT composite score over the past five years, while the number of students taking the ACT has also increased. Only 4 percent of all Texas high schools received this distinction. Cypress Creek has a high college attendance rate, and last year’s senior class received more than $27 million in scholarships.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS

The administration reported on administrative assignments and/or promotions during the January Board meeting. The following assignments and promotions were presented to the Board:

• Kathleen Dickson , the current principal at Hancock Elementary School, was named the new principal for M. Robinson Elementary School, effective March 17, 2008. Dickson has served at Hancock since 2002 and was previously an assistant principal at Adam Elementary School and a teacher at Wilson, Lowery and Lieder elementary schools; and

• Rhonda Frewin , the current principal at Millsap Elementary School, was named the new principal for Hemmenway Elementary School, effective March 17, 2008. Frewin has served as Millsap principal since 2000, and was previously an assistant principal at Post Elementary School and a teacher at Jowell and Post elementary schools.

BOND UPDATE

The Board approved the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC Blanket Utility Easement to provide electrical service for Marie Williams Robinson Elementary School (No. 49).

The Board approved recommendations for elementary attendance boundary changes, including recommendations of student transfers, related to the opening of Hemmenway Elementary and M. Robinson Elementary for the 2008-2009 school year.

DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY PLAN

The Board approved a district technology plan for the period 2008-2011, which will be submitted to the Texas Education Agency for approval this spring. The new plan will increase student access to technology services from a ratio of 3.5:1 to 2.75:1 and will maintain the 1:1 ratio of teacher access. Multiple connections per room and ubiquitous wireless access is also in the plan.

2007 SAT/ACT REPORT

Trustees were provided an oral report on the performance of the class of 2007 on the SAT and ACT exams. Highlights of the report include:

• The number of graduating seniors taking the SAT increased 8 percent between 2006 and 2007 from 3,121 to 3,398.
• CFISD’s SAT critical reading score was higher than the state score and equivalent to the national mean score. The district’s critical reading score was 502 whereas the state score was 492 and the national score was 502.
• CFISD’s SAT math mean score was higher than the state and national mean scores. The district’s mean score was 528 whereas the state score was 507 and national score was 515.
• CFISD’s SAT writing mean score was higher than the state mean score. The district’s mean score was 492 whereas the state score was 482.
• The ACT composite score in CFISD was higher than state and national composite scores. The district’s ACT composite score was 21.7 whereas the state composite score was 20.5 and the national composite score was 21.2.

GOLD PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Board received an oral report on the Gold Performance Acknowledgments in the state’s accountability system. The Gold Performance Acknowledgment system recognizes districts and campuses for high performance on indicators other than those used to determine accountability ratings.

CFISD earned two district-wide Gold Performance Acknowledgments:

• Commended Performance in Social Studies
• Advanced Course/Dual Enrollment Completion

January is designated as National Mentoring Month. This month-long outreach campaign focuses national attention on the need for mentors—whether individuals, businesses, schools or nonprofit corporations—to work together to mentor our young people. National Mentoring Month 2008 spotlights the needs of young people and how mentors make a difference in their lives as they help the students with their personal and academic development to achieve improved grades, self-confidence, attendance and also graduate having improved their relationships with parents, teachers and peers. CFISD presently has approximately 1,000 mentors, but with more than 96,754 students, the challenges and opportunities are ongoing. Those interested in becoming mentors can call Pam Scott in the Partners in Education office at 281-894-3950. Dr. Anthony said he appreciates the Cy-Fair ISD mentors for embracing this year’s slogan “Share What You Know. Mentor a Child.”

The 13th annual Cypress-Fairbanks School District Livestock Show and Sale will be held Jan. 31–Feb. 2 at the Exhibit Center located at 11206 Telge Road. Approximately 470 student exhibitors and 485 student projects will be exhibited and judged. A flyer is also available on the CFISD website showing the times and designated animals for the livestock judging on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at the Exhibit Center. The buyers’ luncheon will be on Feb. 2 at 11 a.m. at Arnold Middle School and the premium auction at the Exhibit Center will start at 1 p.m. Dr. Anthony invited the community and CFISD staff to attend and support the students who have been working diligently for months in preparation for the show and sale.

The annual Board Goal-Setting Workshop will be held Saturday, Feb. 23 beginning at 7:30 a.m. in the Board room at the Instructional Support Center ( 10300 Jones Road ). At the workshop the Board of Trustees and the administration review, add and modify the goals necessary to provide a quality educational setting for the students in our district. The Portrait of a Cypress-Fairbanks Graduate serves as the vision for the workshop. Employees and parent groups throughout the district are currently providing input for the Board of Trustees to consider. T he meeting is an open meeting, and the public is welcome to attend and observe as the Board of Trustees begins to establish the district’s priorities for the next school year.

The Houston Hispanic Forum (HHF) has extended an invitation to CFISD to attend the 22nd annual Career and Education Day (CED) to be held on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. CED provides scholarship opportunities to students who do not fall within the upper 10 percent of their graduating class, yet who have a financial need in the pursuit of higher education goals. Students, with and without disabilities, will be able to benefit from the day’s vast array of resources assembled in one area.

Dr. Anthony thanked the Board and congratulated those students who have been identified as CFISD 2007-2008 National Merit Scholars. These students from CFISD high schools and their family members attended a special-called meeting on Monday, Jan. 14 held in their honor. The Board of Trustees congratulated and recognized them for their achievement of academic excellence. Dr. Anthony said it was wonderful to have adequate seating for all students, parents and guests, and thanked all who attended the special evening. The National Merit ceremony will rebroadcast throughout January on CFTV Channel 16 on the following days and times:

• Mondays at 3 p.m.;
• Wednesdays at 5 p.m.;
• Thursdays at noon; and
• Saturdays at 8 a.m.

The entire program can also be viewed here.

AGENDA ITEMS

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

• approved bids and contracts to the recommended vendors;
• approved the tax refunds of $500 or greater for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Harris County Education District;
• approved the sale of district furniture and equipment through a surplus internet auction to be held in January 2008;
• approved the sale of district vehicles through a live/webcast auction to be held in February 2008;
• approved an agreement with Epic Systems for the disposition of used computer equipment;
• approved on second reading additions, deletions or revisions to district policies:
• BDAE (LOCAL) OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS: Duties and Requirements of Depository;
• EEJB (LOCAL) INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING: Credit by Examination without Prior Instruction;
• EIF (LOCAL) ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Graduation; and
• DN (LOCAL) PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL;
• approved the administration’s recommendation for the Prescription Benefit Management Plan for Cy-Fair ISD effective May 1, 2008 ; and
• approved the contracts for the associate superintendents.