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RECOGNITIONS

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

• The Langham Creek, Cypress Falls, Cy-Fair and Cypress Woods high school marching bands, for being finalists at the Class 5A Area E Marching Band Contest at the Berry Center. Langham Creek and Cypress Falls were among 31 bands selected out of 250 to compete in the state marching championships, held Nov. 4 in San Antonio. Langham Creek, under the direction of Gloria Ramirez, Marc Martin and Jeff Munger, placed 13th in state, and Cypress Falls, under the direction of ShawnMcAnear, Brian Eisemann and Robert Green, placed 16th. Furthermore, Cypress Falls was selected to perform in Austin on Nov. 6 before educators from across the world at the Percussive Arts International Conference;
• Jersey Village High School senior Trey Woodruff, for being selected as this year’s Mayor’s Disability Advocate of the Year in the youth division by the Houston Commission on Disabilities. The award was presented on Oct. 28 in the City Council Chambers. Woodruff was nominated due to notable efforts and volunteerism regarding issues related to awareness and removing barriers for people with disabilities;
• Former CFISD students Scott Kazmir and Cat Osterman, for achieving recent milestones. Kazmir, a 2002 Cypress Falls High School graduate, was the starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in two games of the World Series. Osterman, a Cypress Springs High School alum, had her No. 20 softball jersey retired by the school in a special ceremony prior to an Oct. 23 football game at the Berry Center . The jersey will be hung at Cypress Springs permanently and a replica will remain on the exterior of the softball field press box;
• Eight water polo athletes who were named to the Texas High School Water Polo Coaches Association North Region first team . Girls team selections are Elyssa Salcido and Carmen Cloves, Cypress Creek; Erin Dickson, Langham Creek; and Jennie Heinze, Cy-Fair. Boys team selections are Jackson Gould and Nathan Bean, Cypress Creek; Andrew Keily, Langham Creek; and Eric Doyle, Cy-Fair. At the THSWPCA state tournament, the Cypress Creek boys and girls both placed third;
• The Cy-Fair and Cypress Woods volleyball teams, who finished as district co-champions. Playoffs began Nov. 4 and both teams won their first round to advance to area competitions. Cypress Woods advanced on to the regional quarterfinals, scheduled for Nov. 11 at College Station;
• The Langham Creek and Cypress Falls high school tennis teams, who were the district champion and runner-up, respectively. The regional tournament was played in Tyler on Oct. 31 and Langham Creek advanced to the quarterfinals;
• The Cypress Woods High School cross country team , for winning both the boys and girls district cross country meets, held Oct. 31. Cy-Fair finished second and Cypress Falls was third in the boys’ race, while Cy-Fair was second and Cypress Creek was third in the girls’ race. The top three boys’ and girls’ teams advanced to regionals on Nov. 8, along with the districtwide top 10 boys and top 10 girls. Cypress Woods senior Melissa Mahoney is the only CFISD runner advancing to state. Mahoney placed sixth overall in regionals;
• Cypress Creek High School senior quarterback Austin Pugliese , for being named the Ford Athlete of the Week by Channel 55 High School Sports Live and the Houston Chronicle/Chevrolet Football Player of the Week for two weeks in October;
• Four CFISD football players, for being named finalists for the Touchdown Club of Houston Scholar Athlete of the Year . They are Jonathan Baubie of Jersey Village, Ryan Bott of Cypress Springs, Wesley Ryan of Cy-Fair and Anthony Villamagna of Cypress Woods; and
• Cypress-Fairbanks ISD , for participating in the Northwest Harris County Heart Walk on Nov. 1. The district had 675 walkers from 54 teams and raised more than $23,000 for the Heart Association.

BOND UPDATE

The Board approved the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC Blanket Utility Easement to provide electrical service for Deanna Swenke Elementary School (No. 50).

The Board approved a 0.04-acre, a 0.0326-acre and a 0.1368-acre tract for the AT&T Utility Easements for permanent service for John E. Hemmenway Elementary School (No. 48) and authorize the superintendent or designee to negotiate the final terms and execute all documents.

The Board approved execution of the plat for Deanna Swenke Elementary School (No. 50).

HIGH SCHOOL DUAL-CREDIT PROGRAM

The administration provided a written report on the high school dual-credit program.

The district and Lone Star College have worked cooperatively to provide a dual-credit program for students enrolled in United States History AP, Government AP, Calculus AB AP, Calculus BC AP, Statistics AP, College Algebra, English IV K, English IV AP, German IV AP, Spanish IV AP and Internetworking Technologies (CISCO).

The college courses are embedded in the high school curriculum and are taught by CFISD teachers who meet the additional criteria required to teach on the college level. Teachers must have a master’s degree and 18 graduate hours in the content they teach. Students must meet the college’s exceptional admission requirements and pay college fees and tuition.

Lone Star College waived the tuition for dual-credit students in 2002-2003. Due to state budget cuts in 2003-2004, the college did not waive tuition, which resulted in reduced dual-credit enrollment. In 2004-2005 and, thereafter, the college waived one-half the tuition for dual-credit students.

In 2007-2008, 2,259 students completed 7,039 college hours through the Lone Star College – Cy-Fair dual-credit program.

CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS

The Board approved the 2008-2009 Campus Improvement Plans (CIP), including each school’s AEIS targets.

The CIP is divided into two parts. Part I identifies the present level of student achievement for specific student populations, as well as student targets for 2009 based on present student performance and the goal of reaching exemplary performance in three years and at least recognized performance in 2009 for all student groups.

Part II focuses on the other legal requirements of the CIP. Principals and their Campus Performance Objectives Council (CPOC) read through the requirements and descriptions to ensure they are adhering to these legalities.

Schools that are Recognized, Exemplary with an Exception or Exemplary will receive Tier 1 services, including achievement meetings with cluster groups and CIP review and feedback.

Schools that are Academically Acceptable, Recognized with an Exception or Recognized with Requirement Improvement will receive both Tier 1 and Tier 2 services, adding scheduled campus visits and individual goal-setting sessions.

Schools that are Academically Unacceptable will receive Tier 1, 2 and 3 services, adding a Campus Intervention Team (CIT) and an assigned principal advisor.

SUPERINTENDENT’S BRIEFING

Schools will be closed Nov. 26-28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holidays. Support facilities, including the Instructional Support Center, will close Nov. 26-28. Dr. Anthony wished all students and employees a relaxing and safe holiday as they take time to reflect on the freedoms and blessings we enjoy in this country.

AGENDA ITEMS

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

• approved bids and contracts to the recommended vendors;
• approved the administration’s recommendation on the award of RFP #08-08-1165R-RFP, “Consultant on Revenue Generating Advertising on School Buses;”
• approved tax refunds of $500 or greater for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and/or Harris County Education District;
• approved the budget amendments for the period of July 1, 2008 through Sept. 30, 2008 ;
• approved the auditors’ report on the district’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 required by provisions of the Single Audit Act of 1984, U.S. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-128;
• approved the district’s 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and accepted the auditors’ report on the district’s general purpose financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 ;
• approved on second reading additions, deletions or revisions to district policies:
• GKD (LOCAL) COMMUNITY RELATIONS: Nonschool Use of School Facilities;
• approved on first reading additions, deletions or revisions to district policies:
• DAA (LOCAL) EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVES: Equal Employment Opportunity;
• DIA (LOCAL) EMPLOYEE WELFARE: Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation;
• FFH (LOCAL) STUDENT WELFARE: Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation;
• FFI (LOCAL) STUDENT WELFARE: Freedom from Bullying;
• FM (LOCAL) STUDENT ACTIVITIES;
• FNC (LOCAL) STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Student Conduct; and
• GF (LOCAL) PUBLIC COMPLAINTS;
• adopted a resolution prohibiting the sale of alcohol within 1,000 feet of any district school; and
• approved the superintendent’s recommendation to take the appropriate action required by Texas Education Code, Section 21.211 to discharge a teacher employed under a term contract as presented in the superintendent’s memorandum of Oct. 31, 2008 .