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August 29, 2008
District tax rate
reflects no change
The Hays CISD Board of
Trustees on Thursday, after hearing a State of the District report
on instruction and budget initiatives, unanimously adopted a $104.4
million budget and a tax rate of $1.4613, which reflects no change
from last year’s tax rate.
The district’s fourth-day
enrollment of 13,722 students is “right at our budget target,”
said Carter Scherff, Hays CISD Deputy Superintendent. Enrollment is
up 906 students from the same day last year.
Scherff reported that
currently one of the district’s 19 campuses, Science Hall
Elementary School, is at capacity at kindergarten and 1st Grade
(English speaking). Students in those grades, who live in the
Science Hall attendance zone and register for school from now on,
will be transferred to Tom Green Elementary School. Science Hall is
also at capacity in 4th Grade bilingual classes. Because the Tom
Green 4th Grade bilingual classes are full, those “cap” students
from Science Hall will be transferred to Blanco Vista Elementary
School. Transportation will be provided for these students to Tom
Green and Blanco Vista. All “cap” students may transfer to any
other elementary school that has room, but must provide their own
transportation.
Dr. Kirk London, Hays CISD
Superintendent of Schools, told the School Board that he would be
gathering the Growth Impact Committee soon to formulate
recommendations for attendance zones for the new middle school
(which is expected to open for the 2009-10 school year), and for
modifications to the Science Hall Elementary and Tom Green
Elementary attendance zones for the 2009-10 school year.
As part of the State of the
District report, Dr. Kimbroly Pool, Hays CISD Assistant
Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, began the work of
clearing up some confusion regarding the district’s standards
based curriculum.
At the May School Board
meeting, Dr. Pool reported on the district’s implementation of
CSCOPE, a curriculum subscription cooperative through the Region
XIII Education Service Center. She said that CSCOPE provides a
roadmap for the district to carry out the curriculum, providing
vertical articulation and specificity across all grade levels in the
foundational areas.
At the May meeting, Dr. Pool
gave the district’s implementation schedule for the 2008-09 school
year, which includes: elementary and secondary teachers following
the CSCOPE curriculum for social studies, science and math, while
using Hays CISD instructional resources and activities and
integrating Hays CISD instructional resources and activities into
CSCOPE.
On Thursday, Dr. Pool
responded to questions and comments from Board members and teachers
regarding the implementation plan.
“I agree, communication was
not very good,” she said. “We are going to continue our
philosophy that teachers use a conceptual lens to teach students.
And CSCOPE is aligned to that instructional philosophy in our
district. This is what we have got to do and our math scores tell us
that we’re not getting our students to that level of expectation
as tested on TAKS.”
“The School Board and I are
committed to making sure our teachers have all of the training and
resources they need to deliver the program,” said Dr. Kirk London,
Hays CISD Superintendent of Schools. “We will be working very hard
to provide this to our teachers. To increase our scores, we’ve got
to do things differently than we’ve done in the past.”
Dr. Pool reported that by the
spring semester, 16 “dual credit” courses should be available to
secondary students.
Through a partnership with
Austin Community College (ACC), qualified high school students are
able to enroll in college classes taught in their local high schools
during normal high school hours. They receive “dual credit,”
both high school and college credit for their work.
“ACC has staffed those
classes with college professors,” she said. “So, Hays CISD
students could earn up to 24 and possibly 30 (if on-line
opportunities are involved) hours of college credit before they
graduate from high school.”
Dr. Pool reported that “great
strides” have occurred regarding the student information system’s
parent portal, where parents will be able to get information online
such as attendance and eventually grades about their child(ren).
Step one, however is a standardized grading system.
“Over the summer, teachers
worked to determine district-wide grading standards,” she said.
“That’s some feat. Strong assessment practices vary greatly from
teacher to teacher in many areas.”
She expects the parent portal
to be ready for rollout by January.
John Thornell, Hays CISD
Executive Director of Assessment, gave the School Board a full
report of TAKS results from the 2007-08 school year. He noted a “pretty
huge increase in science performance for all students,” over the
past five years and a “steady climb” in math scores. He said
this was the first year that Hays CISD math TAKS scores surpassed
the state average.
“We’ve come a long way in
science,” Thornell said. “Science is a real success story at
both the middle school and elementary school levels.”
The School Board approved a
guaranteed maximum price of $1.3 million for improvement work at
Hays High School, Dahlstrom Middle School (DMS) and Elm Grove (EGES)
and Fuentes elementary schools.
“All four of these projects
are part of the 2008 bond,” Scherff said. “We had hoped to have
most of them completed by the end of the summer, but the permitting
process delayed us.”
He said that within the next
week, equipment will show up at the schools to complete improvements
to the parent drop-off at DMS and EGES, drainage in front of Fuentes
Elementary and additional parking at Hays High School.
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August 22, 2008
District readies for
superintendent search
The Hays CISD Board
of Trustees on Thursday took the first step in locating a new
superintendent by hiring the search firm of School Executive
Consulting Inc., and targeting a start date of March 2009 for the
new person.
Dr. Kirk London
announced his plans for retirement at the June School Board meeting.
He earned his five-year pin with Hays CISD in May and has devoted
his 35-year career to education.
Dr. Mike Moses and
David Thompson, the same firm that brought Dr. London to Hays CISD,
spent three hours with the Board answering questions about the
process and discussing the time required.
“We have
followed closely the progress this district has made over the years,”
Thompson told the Board. “You have managed a lot of hard issues
related to finance and growth. We enjoyed working with you several
years ago and I believe it was a good experience for the broad
community. We hope the search will be a positive, uniting experience
for the Board. We hope you have as much success with your selection
as we believe you had with the selection last time.”
Moses described the
community input aspect of the search, which will be similar to the
process five years ago. Approximately 50 people representing a broad
spectrum of the Hays CISD community—students, parents, teachers,
auxiliary staff, community members with no children in the schools,
pastors, business owners, civic leaders, for example—will
participate in one of several 15-member focus groups led by Moses
and Thompson. In these groups, a superintendent profile will be
developed. School Board members will appoint the members of the
focus groups.
“We find that it
works better when they’re mixed and talking and listening to one
another in these focus groups,” Moses said. “They walk out of
these meetings feeling a little more united.”
“We have
followed with interest this district,” he said. “We do not do
that many searches. We did two last year. We take this real
seriously. We try to be selective and work with outstanding
districts.”
Moses saluted
Dr. London’s work and Hays CISD.
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August 15, 2008
Policy announced for
free, reduced meals
Hays CISD has
announced its policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for
children served under the National School Breakfast and Lunch
Program. Each school has a copy of the policy and it is posted on
the district website, www.hayscisd.net/food/free_reduced/freenred_0809.pdf,
which may be reviewed by any interested party.
The household size
and income criteria identified below will be used to determine
eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. Children from
households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible
for free or reduced-price meals. Foster children who are the legal
responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for
benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they
reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child’s
income.
Application forms are
being distributed to all households with a letter informing
households of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for
their children. Applications also are available at the principal’s
office in each school. To apply for free and reduced-price meals,
households must fill out the application and return it in the
envelope provided via the U.S. mail. Applications may be submitted
anytime during the school year. The information households provide
on the application will be used for the purpose of determining
eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified
by the school officials at any time during the school year.
For school officials
to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits,
households receiving food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) only have to list their child’s name and food
stamp or TANF case number. An adult household member must sign the
application.
Households that do
not list a food stamp or TANF case number must list the names of all
household members, the amount and source of the income received by
each household member, and the Social Security number of the adult
household member who signs the application. If the adult who signs
the application does not have a Social Security number, the
household member must indicate that a Social Security number is not
available by marking the box that states “I do not have a social
security number”. The application must be signed by an adult
household member.
Under the provisions
of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Hays CISD will review
applications and determine eligibility. Parents or grandparents
dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the
decision with the reviewing official on an informal basis. Parents
wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may
make a request either orally or in writing to: Hays CISD Child
Nutrition, 21003 Interstate 35, Kyle, 78640.
If a household member
becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household
should contact the Child Nutrition office and fill out a new
Free/Reduced Application. Such changes may make the children of the
household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at
or below the levels shown above.
In accordance with
federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this
institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
To file a complaint
of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call
800.795.3272 or 202.720.6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.
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August 12, 2008
Hiring tops School
Board action
The Hays CISD Board of
Trustees on Monday unanimously approved the hiring of nearly 100 new
teachers plus six administrators to start the 2008-09 school year.
The action was indicative of
summer hiring activity as nearly 200 new employees are expected to
attend the annual New Teacher Orientation on Tuesday morning.
The School Board certified the
$3.25 billion tax roll for fiscal 2008, which reflects an increase
of 14.3 percent over fiscal 2007. This tax base means that each
penny on the tax rate draws $325,709. The Board also set a maximum
tax rate of $1.4613, which reflects no change from the current tax
rate.
“We passed our bond issue,
yet our tax rate will stay the same, as we proposed to the public,”
said Chip DuPont, President of the School Board. “We’re turning
agriculture-exempt fields into businesses and houses and finally
getting the opportunity to use that growth to build schools.”
State law restricts school
boards from raising the tax rate without approval of voters, DuPont
said.
“Unless there is an election
called to vote on a proposed increase in the M&O (maintenance
and operations) tax rate, there is no way for that to happen,” he
said. “In the future we will have to ask the public for the
opportunity to raise that tax rate.”
A public hearing on the $132.5
million budget and tax rate is scheduled for August 28 at 6:15 p.m.,
at the Central Administration Office. At the meeting following the
public hearing, the Board will vote on the budget and set the tax
rate. The tax rate recommendation will reflect no increase, Scherff
said.
On Monday, the School Board
approved two budget amendments totaling $2.5 million, which includes
$200,000 for fuel until August 31, and $2.3 million for a service
reward to all employees with at least one year of service to the
District, which was approved by the Board in May.
“When you have 125 buses
with 65 to 70 gallons per bus at $4 per gallon, it adds up a lot
faster than it used to,” said Deputy Superintendent Carter Scherff.
The budget for fuel has been increased by $500,000 for next year, he
said.
The School Board unanimously
agreed to interview the superintendent search firm of School
Executive Consulting Inc., of Dallas, prior to the August 28
meeting. Dr. Kirk London, Superintendent of Hays CISD, announced his
retirement at the June School Board meeting. This action is the
first step in finding his replacement.
New hires include:
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Laura Sanchez Fowler for
Director of Professional Development. Ms. Fowler’s most recent
position is program analyst with Austin ISD and adjunct lecturer
at Texas State University. She earned a doctorate at University
of North Texas
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Kevin Malandruccolo as
assistant principal of Wallace Middle School (WMS). He has
worked for WMS since 2005, including serving as science
department chairman and athletic coordinator, and is earning a
master’s degree at Texas State University.
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Robert Hensarling as
assistant principal of Hays High School. He has been an
assistant principal of Seguin High School since 2005 and earned
a master’s degree from Concordia University.
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Teri Eubank as academic
dean at Hays High School. She has been the academic dean at
Manor High School since 2005 and earned a master’s degree from
University of Texas at San Antonio.
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Lisa Baum as Elementary
Science Coordinator. She has been a science teacher at Tom Green
Elementary School since 2006 and is working on her doctorate at
Walden University.
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Kathy Faulks as assistant
principal of Elm Grove Elementary School. She has worked for
Hays CISD since 2005, including Buda Elementary and Elm Grove
Elementary, and earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi.
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July 14, 2008
Hays CISD’s bond
rating rises
Because of a
continued strong financial position, both Fitch Ratings and Standard
& Poor’s ratings services have upgraded Hays CISD’s bond rating from
“A” to “A+” on the 2008 series bonds and all outstanding bonds.
“This upgrade is the result of the district’s commitment to
maintaining a strong financial position given the financial and
capital pressures related to rapid growth,” said Carter Scherff,
Hays CISD Deputy Superintendent.
According to Fitch Ratings, “the upgrade reflects the district’s
steadily growing fund balance reserves despite rapid enrollment
growth pressures, and continued expansion of its tax base with
prospects for sustained growth resulting from accelerating
commercial development projects and availability of affordable
land.”
According to Standard & Poor’s (S&P), the upgrade is based on “the
district’s continued tax base growth and consistently strong
financial position.”
The debt ratings raise reflects the district’s location with direct
transportation access to the greater Austin-San Marcos metropolitan
statistical area labor markets, strong financial position, and
rapidly growing and diverse tax base, according to S&P.
“Despite pressures from student enrollment growth, Hays CISD
continues to improve its financial position,” the S&P reported
stated.
Hays CISD sold the series 2008 bonds last week at an interested rate
of 4.73 percent, which is 52 basis points below the number presented
to voters prior to the May 10 bond election.
“The district will save more than $19 million over the life of the
bonds due to the lower interest rate,” Scherff said.
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July 14, 2008
Chapa’s
Cougar Camp slated for August 1
The 3rd
Annual Cougar Camp at Chapa Middle School will be Friday, August 1,
from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The orientation is for incoming 6th
graders and new-to-district students. Admission is free.
“This
is a good time for 6th graders and new-to-district students to get
acquainted with the campus and to learn the Cougar Way,” said Lisa
Islas, Principal of Chapa Middle School.
Upperclassmen from Chapa Middle School, along with campus staff,
will be on hand and ready to provide students with critical
information about middle school, such as the structure of the day,
tour of the campus, school pride and clubs. Refreshments will be
served and T-shirts may be purchased for $10.
“We
hope to get them better equipped to make good decisions for their
academic career,” Ms. Islas said. “We also hope to help them connect
with other students and staff and get involved in their school.”
Registration forms are available at the school. Summer hours are:
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Registration forms may
also be requested via email at
cochranl@hayscisd.net.
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July 14, 2008
New student registration set for August
New student registration will be in early August—6 and 7 for
elementary students, and August 11 and 12 for secondary students.
The registration will take place at all campuses during regular
business hours. During the summer, campuses are open Monday through
Thursday.
According to state law, to enroll, students must provide:
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A birth
certificate or another document suitable as proof of the child’s
identity
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A copy of the
child’s records from the school most recently attended
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A record
showing that the child has the immunizations required, proof
that the child is not required to be immunized or proof that the
child is entitled to provisional admission.
Students shall not be denied enrollment if they cannot provide a
birth certificate or Social Security number. However, they must
provide proof of immunizations.
Please call the Central Administration Office, 268-2141, if you are
new to the district and are unsure where your child will be
attending school.
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June 16, 2008
Superintendent London
announces retirement
Transition marked the regular
meeting of the Hays CISD Board of Trustees on Monday with
Superintendent Kirk London announcing his retirement, and Bob
Presley, Deputy Superintendent, and Dolores Riley, Executive
Director of Elementary Curriculum, wrapping up their final School
Board meeting before retiring.
“Next year (2008-09) will be
my last year as superintendent of Hays CISD,” Dr. London said in
his public announcement. “This is a good time for me personally
and a good time for the district.”
“Our test scores have showed
improvement in almost every area,” he said. “The community has
supported our efforts. We have a great staff, great kids, great
teachers. This job will be one of the most sought after in the
state.”
Dr. London received his
five-year pin with Hays CISD this past May and has been in the
education business as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, high
school principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent for
the past 36 years.
He is giving “lots of
advance notice,” for an “easy transition.”
“I will be there as long as
you need me,” he said. “I will support you and the School Board
through this process as you have supported me for the past five
years.”
Chip DuPont, President of the
School Board, said the district will conduct a nationwide search for
a superintendent “to continue the work Dr. London has started.”
“This will allow us the
flexibility to do the search while we still have him (London) here,”
DuPont said. “We will not have to go to an interim. We have all
the time we need to find the quality person this school district
deserves.”
Also on Monday, the School
Board appointed Carter Scherff as Deputy Superintendent and hired
Michelle Barrera as Executive Director of Human Resources and Dina
Webb as Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Ms.
Barrera is currently Director of Administration and Employee Support
at Judson ISD. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s
degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Ms. Webb is
currently Director of Curriculum and Instruction Services at Ingram
ISD. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from
Texas State University.
The School Board unanimously
approved the hiring of Jason Certain as assistant principal of
Dahlstrom Middle School and Christine Kent as assistant principal of
Chapa Middle School. The two positions will address staffing ratios
and growing enrollment at Chapa and Dahlstrom middle schools.
Certain is currently a teacher and coach at Dahlstrom Middle School.
Ms. Kent is assistant principal of Travis Elementary School in San
Marcos ISD and has served as an assistant principal of Crockett High
School.
The School Board authorized
district administration to issue $86.7 million in school building
bonds based on a set of parameters.
“Due to the volume of
upcoming Texas school district bond sales ($7.3 billion were
approved on May 10) and the volatility of interest rates, we want
maximum flexibility to time the sale when the interest rates are
most favorable,” said Bill Gumbert, with RBC Capital Markets, the
district’s bond adviser.
Trustees approved changing the
name of The Academy@Hays to Academy High School. The district’s
alternative high school of choice will occupy the South Campus of
Hays High School beginning the 2008-09 school year. The School Board
also approved changing the name of Tobias International School to
Tobias Elementary School. The dual language program that inspired
the “International” in the name of the school has moved to
Blanco Vista Elementary School.
School Board members Joe
Muñoz (District 2), Mark Jones (At-Large) and Melissa Espinoza
(District 1) were sworn in for three-year terms, and the School
Board voted for DuPont as President, Patti Wood as Vice President,
and Muñoz as Secretary for one-year terms.
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June 1, 2008
Graduations fill last
weekend of May
Nearly 600 students from Hays
High School, Lehman High School and The Academy@Hays crossed the
stage Friday and Saturday as part of the final rite of passage in
public school.
Dakota Peterson, HHS
valedictorian, commented in his Friday Commencement speech that the
Class of 2008 has grown up right alongside the community.
“We have shuffled from
school to school as we watched our community grow,” he said,
noting that many of his fellow students remember the only places to
buy groceries were Bon Ton and Buda Grocery.
“Let us thank our teachers
who showed us, more than any other lesson, how to learn,” he said.
“That is one of the biggest gifts our high school education has
given us. And for that we will be forever in your debt.”
Dakota urged his classmates to
take pride in what they do and “what you bring to the world
because we all bring something spectacular,” and to relish in
their accomplishments.
“Parents, never compare your
kids to someone else’s kids,” said Alexis Guadarrama,
valedictorian of the LHS Class of 2008. “A job may be good for
some quick money now, but an education will last a lifetime.”
Alexander Rasche, salutatorian
of the LHS Class of 2008, advised his classmates to “remember to
expect the unexpected, prepare for the unprepared” and “don’t
listen to anything anyone else has to say. Listen to what your heart
has to say.”
Elsa Hinojosa, Principal of
Lehman High School, told the class, “As the sun sets on your high
school experience, many of your dreams will come true. You can make
a difference in the lives of others.”
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June 1, 2008
Masons ‘level’
cornerstones of new elementary schools
Members of the Grande Lodge of
Texas Masons conducted the symbolic “leveling” of the
cornerstones of Blanco Vista Elementary School and Camino Real
Elementary School on Saturday, one more step as those schools ready
for opening in August.
During the ceremony, Masons
verify with a square, level and plumb, that the “craftsmen have
done their duty.”
“I find this cornerstone
well formed, true and trusty and may this undertaking be conducted
and completed by the craftsmen according to the Grand Plan, in
peace, love and harmony,” said Archie Scott, a Mason from Austin.
The ceremony dates back
hundreds of years. George Washington was a Freemason and Masons “leveled”
the cornerstone of the Texas Capitol in 1885.
“The cornerstone reminds us
that if we are to build any lasting structure, it must rest upon a
firm foundation and one that is truly set,” according to the
ceremony readings. “When properly prepared by the tools of
operative masonry, the cornerstone is perfectly square.”
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June 1, 2008
Hays CISD TAKS scores
show improvement
The most recent preliminary
scores on Hays CISD students’ Texas Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills (TAKS) show all campuses are moving in the right direction:
up.
All student “subgroups” in
the district made gains this year in the reading/ELA portion of the
TAKS, and preliminary results show the district is recognized or
exemplary in this subject.
“Eight campuses had reading
passing rates in the 90 percent range,” said John Thornell, Hays
CISD Executive Director of Assessment. “The highest gain occurred
in the economically disadvantaged subgroup.”
District commended rate is 33
percent of all students tested, a 4 percent gain over last year.
The writing portion tells a
similar story. Eight campuses have passing rates in the 90 percent
range.
“The campus that made the
largest gain in writing this year was Tom Green Elementary School,
with 7 percent,” Thornell said.
The district commended rate is
27 percent.
The passing rate for math is
76 percent, a 4 percent gain over last year, he said.
“All accountability
subgroups showed gains from 4-5 percent in math,” he said. “Nine
of our 16 campuses had math passing rates in the recognized range
for all students.”
The district commended rate
for math is 22 percent, which is a 3 percent gain over last year.
Dahlstrom Middle School achieved the highest gain in commended
passing rate, he said.
Students showed an increase of
7 percent in passing the science portion of the TAKS.
“All campuses, except for
two showed gains in science this year, ranging from 1 percent to 22
percent, which occurred at Hemphill Elementary School,” Thornell
said. “Noteworthy is the 71 percent of economically disadvantaged
students at Hemphill that passed science this year.”
Three campuses—Buda
Elementary, Elm Grove Elementary and Negley Elementary—report
commended rates in science of greater than 50 percent.
In Social Studies, all
campuses but two scored in the 90 percent range.
“The district commended rate
in social studies is 37 percent this year which is a gain of 3
percent over last year,” he said. “Our middle schools really
shined in social studies this year”
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June 1, 2008
Deadline for student
transfer application is June 2
Deadline to file an
application for a student transfer—from one school to another
within Hays CISD, as well as from another district into Hays CISD—is
Monday June 2. Applications must be picked up and filed at the
Central Administration Office, 21003 Interstate 35 in Kyle. The
applications are for school year 2008-09.
All students wishing to
transfer to a school outside of their attendance zone next year must
complete a transfer application. Students who have been granted
transfers in the past must fill out a new transfer form. Students
who are in a special program at a location other than his/her “home”
campus, should contact the principal to ensure he/she will continue
to receive services at that location.
Parents of students applying
for a transfer will be notified by letter prior to the start of
school on August 25. Transportation for students granted permission
to attend schools outside their attendance areas will not be
provided by the school district.
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June 1, 2008
New student
registration set for August
New student registration will
be in early August— 6 and 7 for elementary students, and August 11
and 12 for secondary students. The registration will take place at
all campuses during regular business hours. During the summer,
campuses are open Monday through Thursday.
According to state law, to
enroll, students must provide:
-
A birth certificate or
another document suitable as proof of the child’s identity
-
A copy of the child’s
records from the school most recently attended
-
A record showing that the
child has the immunizations required, proof that the child is
not required to be immunized or proof that the child is entitled
to provisional admission.
Students shall not be denied
enrollment if they cannot provide a birth certificate or Social
Security number. However, they must provide proof of immunizations.
Please call the Central
Administration Office, 268-2141, if you are new to the district and
are unsure where your child will be attending school.
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May 20, 2008
Lunch prices rise, Board hires new food service
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees on Monday
approved a 20-cent per meal increase for student and adult breakfast
and lunch, beginning with the 2008-09 school year.
Next year, breakfast at an elementary school will
be $1.25 and at a middle or high school, it will be $1.35 per meal.
Lunch will cost $1.90 at the elementary level and $2.10 at the
secondary level.
The price increase will not affect the reduced
meal price of 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.
“Since the last time the district raised meal
prices in 2005, the cost of food has increased significantly,” said
Carter Scherff, Hays CISD Chief Financial Officer. He noted the
nation’s consumer price index (CPI) from March 2005 to March 2008
showed a 17 percent increase in the cost of milk, a 20 percent
increase in the cost of “food at home” and a 12 percent increase in
the cost of “food away from home.”
Scherff said he is hopeful the district won’t
have to increase food prices for another two or three years.
The School Board also approved a contract for a
new food service company, Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE), of
Peoria, Arizona, to provide breakfast and lunch to all campuses next
school year.
The contract with Aramark, which has been the
district’s food service provider for the past 10 years, expires June
30.
Hays CISD is the first district in Texas to
employ SFE, which provides child nutrition in districts ranging from
less than 1,000 students to more than 26,000 students (Dysart USD)
in Arizona. The company features fruit and vegetable nutrition bars
as well as salad bars at all campuses, and serves wheat bread on a
daily basis. A roving chef display program is designed as an
interactive cooking and learning experience for students.
Representatives from SFE will spend Tuesday in
the district, including participating in a meeting with all child
nutrition staff. A transition plan will be implemented throughout
the summer.
All child nutrition staff, currently employed
with Hays CISD, will remain employed by the district. Three
full-time employees of Aramark will leave Hays CISD and move to
other Aramark locations.
“I think Southwest will be a great partner with
Hays CISD,” said Patti Wood, Vice President of the School Board.
“They appear to be very eager to get more business in Texas, so I
think they will do a good job for us. I think they will work very
hard for us.”
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May 20, 2008
Board names ‘pod’ at KES after Kyle Nations
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees on Monday named
the “pink pod” a wing of classrooms at Kyle Elementary School, after
Kyle Nations, a lifelong 2nd Grade teacher at the school, who is
retiring this year.
Mrs. Nations spent all but two years of her
35-year teaching career at Kyle Elementary School (KES). Her student
teaching was at KES. She started 1st grade at KES and walked through
that school’s hallways and classrooms until graduation.
A graduate of Texas State University (then
Southwest Texas State University), Kyle High School panther mascot,
majorette, and member of the 1967 Kyle High School State Volleyball
Championship team, Mrs. Nations made her mark at the campus before
returning as a teacher.
In her letter of recommendation, Elaine Meyer,
KES Principal, said, “Mrs. Nations is loved and respected by
many…students colleagues, parents and community members. Her
reputation is that of being energetic, creative, hard working and
dependable. Expectations for her students are high and they respond
to her in a positive manner.”
“Kyle Nations is an outstanding educator. She has
made a positive difference in the lives of many, many students and
in the life of our wonderful community,” Mrs. Meyer wrote.
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May 20, 2008
School Board approves pay raise, service reward
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees on Monday
approved a pay raise of $1,000 for teachers, counselors, nurses and
librarians for the 2008-09 school year. In addition, the School
Board approved a 2 percent (of the midpoint) pay raise for all other
employees for the 2008-09 school year.
Mark Jones, whose wife is a teacher in the
district, abstained from the vote and Joe Muñoz was not at the
meeting as he was out of the state on business.
The School Board also approved a service reward
program for all employees based on years of service. The reward is
for all employees who are with the district for the 2007-08 school
year and continue through 2008-09. The amount of reward is based on
a grid: those with one to four years of service will receive a check
for $1,000 in December; those with five to nine years will receive
$1,300; those with 10 to 14 years will receive $1,600; those with 15
to 19 years will receive $1,900; and those with 20 or more years of
service will receive $2,200.
Scherff estimates the cost of this one-time
program is nearly $2.4 million. Nearly 2,000 people work for Hays
CISD.
“This is something that we think is in the best
interest of the district,” said Chip DuPont, President of the School
Board.
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May 20, 2008
Last week of May a busy one in Hays CISD
The annual rite of passage, graduation, for
students at Hays High School, Lehman High School and The
Academy@Hays will be on Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31.
Hays High School graduation ceremonies will be on
Friday, May 30, at 8 p.m. at Shelton Stadium. Lehman High School
graduation ceremonies will be on Saturday, May 31, at 8 p.m. at
Shelton Stadium. The Academy@Hays graduation includes senior awards
and will be on Saturday, May 31 at 6 p.m. at the Performing Arts
Center.
On the morning of Saturday, May 30, members of
the Kyle and Buda Masonic Lodge, will formally “level the
cornerstone” of Camino Real Elementary School and Blanco Vista
Elementary School. Officers from the Grand Lodge of Texas,
representatives of the Kyle and Buda Masons and representatives of
Hays CISD participate in the ceremonies, which involve the symbolic
“leveling” and the presentation of a Texas flag that has flown over
the State Capitol.
The Camino Real Elementary School ceremony will
be at 9:30 a.m. The school is located at 170 Las Brisas Blvd., in
Niederwald. The Blanco Vista Elementary School ceremony will be at
11:30 a.m. The school is located at 2951 Blanco Vista Blvd., in San
Marcos. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the
ceremonies.
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May 20, 2008
Deadline for student transfer application is June
2
Deadline to file an application for a student
transfer—from one school to another within Hays CISD, as well as
from another district into Hays CISD—is Monday June 2. Applications
must be picked up and filed at the Central Administration Office,
21003 Interstate 35 in Kyle. The applications are for school year
2008-09.
All students wishing to transfer to a school
outside of their attendance zone next year must complete a transfer
application. Students who have been granted transfers in the past
must fill out a new transfer form. Students who are in a special
program at a location other than his/her “home” campus, should
contact the principal to ensure he/she will continue to receive
services at that location.
Parents of students applying for a transfer will
be notified by letter prior to the start of school on August 25.
Transportation for students granted permission to
attend schools outside their attendance areas will not be provided
by the school district.
In March 2006, the School Board approved a new
transfer policy that includes:
All elementary school transfers will be
considered if the grade level capacity is less than 90 percent;
Sibling transfers will not be considered;
Middle school transfers will be considered only
within the same high school feeder pattern (students may transfer
from Chapa to Wallace and vice-versa and students may transfer from
Barton to Dahlstrom and vice-versa);
High school transfers will not be considered,
unless they are within the designated exceptions as defined in Board
policy, administrative regulations, an appeals committee or the
superintendent.
According to district policy, the approval of a
student transfer may not increase the ethnic imbalance percentage
between the home campus and the requested campus by more than 5
percent. Also, campus principals may make recommendations to the
superintendent or designee for student transfers to be revoked
because of noncompliance with the compulsory attendance law or the
district tardy procedures.
If you have any questions, please contact Sylvia
Castro at 268.2141.
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May 20, 2008
Athletic physicals conducted at WELL Clinic
The district’s Wellness Encouraged through
Lifelong Learning (WELL) Clinic at Science Hall Elementary School
will be open for sports physicals, immunizations and other clinical
visits throughout the summer. For an appointment, please call
268.5218. The school-based health center is open to all students of
Hays CISD. Hours will be Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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May 20, 2008
Choir camp planned for July 14-18
Hays CISD is hosting a summer choir camp at the
Performing Arts Center on July 14-18. An international conductor,
Lynnel Joy Jenkins, will be guest conductor.
Students from the district entering the 4th, 5th
or 6th Grade are eligible to participate in the camp.
“Students will have to sing for extended times
during the day so a love for singing is essential,” said Patty
Moreno, Director of the Hays CISD Children’s Chorus and music
teacher at Science Hall Elementary School.
The camp will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July
14-18 and will include field trips and a final concert. Cost is $75
and includes excursions, activities and bus transportation. For more
information, please contact Mrs. Moreno, 268.8502, ext. 2120, or
morenop@hayscisd.net.
Applications are available at each of the elementary and middle
schools.
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May 20, 2008
Technology, CSCOPE top School Board discussion
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees on
Monday heard an assessment of technology needs over the long term,
specifically of the network operations center (NOC) by Combs
Consulting Group.
“We asked an outside evaluator to
look at our infrastructure,” said Dianne Borreson, Hays CISD
Executive Director of Technology. “As we grow these are things we
have to consider.”
Ron Stark, with Combs Consulting,
told the School Board that the assessment took into account several
factors, including: enrollment and facilities growth, the relocation
of the current NOC, capacity limitations of the current technology
network and the retention, archive and retrieval of documents.
Estimated cost to implement Combs’
recommendations is nearly $2 million and projected time frame is the
next three to four years.
“We’re going to have to do some of
these things,” said Dr. Kirk London, Superintendent of Hays CISD.
“We’re going to have to have a plan. We will have to do them in a
three to four year period.”
Chip DuPont, President of the School
Board, mentioned that the bond package approved by voters on May 10
included a $2 million technology component.
The School Board also heard an
update about the implementation of CSCOPE, a curriculum subscription
cooperative through the Region XIII Education Service Center. Dr.
Kimbroly Pool, Hays CISD Executive Director of Secondary Curriculum,
emphasized the importance of an aligned, guaranteed and viable
curriculum in “an era of high-stakes accountability,” and said that
CSCOPE provides a roadmap for teachers to carry out the curriculum.
“CSCOPE provides vertical
articulation and specificity across all grade levels in the
foundational areas,” she said. “It provides instructional focus
documents organized around conceptual understanding and essential
questions. It provides student performance standards and a timeline
for ensuring all tested student expectations are taught before the
student encounters a high-stakes test.”
The CSOPE program was implemented in
October, Dr. Pool said, and admitted the reception by teachers was a
“bit rocky,” primarily because of the timing.
“It was a bit slow and rocky in the
first semester. There was a reluctance on the part of some of the
teachers,” Dr. Pool said. “In the second semester, teachers began to
see some of the value of the focus documents.”
Dr. Pool laid out an implementation
plan for CSCOPE in the 2008-09 school year, which includes:
elementary and secondary teachers following the CSCOPE curriculum
for social studies, science and math, while using Hays CISD
instructional resources and activities and integrating Hays CISD
instructional resources and activities into CSCOPE throughout the
summer and continuing into next year.
“Because of the revision of the
English/Language Arts curriculum statewide, Hays CISD will continue
to follow our own sequence,” she said. “However, we have been
invited by CSCOPE designers to participate in the development of the
CSCOPE documents for the revised curriculum.”
“We want our teachers to continue to
provide our students with great, rich and rigorous experiences,” she
told the Board. “But our decisions about which instructional
resources to use with our students must be based upon their strong
alignment with the curriculum, the way the curriculum is assessed
and the vertical alignment of the resource across grade levels.”
The School Board hired Charlotte
Winkelmann for the new position of Director of Career and College
Readiness. Ms. Winkelmann is currently the Assistant and Acting
Director of Student Support Services for Austin ISD. Prior to her
five years with Austin ISD, she served in the Dallas County
Community College District as a college counselor and adjunct
Reading/English instructor. She earned a master’s degree in
education from Sam Houston State University, and carries counseling
and Special Education counseling certification.
The major focus of the job
responsibilities for the Director of Career and College readiness is
to develop partnerships with post-secondary institutions for early
college start programs and dual credit opportunities; coordinate
PSAT, SAT, ACT and advanced placement (AP) with the Academic Deans
and campus counseling staff to increase student participation;
coordinate guidance counselors in Pre-kindergarten through 12th
Grade; develop and implement a comprehensive guidance program for
Pre-K-12th Grade; and to track the post secondary success of
students, Dr. Pool said.
The School Board hired John Salmeron
as assistant principal of Barton Middle School. Currently, he is an
assistant principal at Clint Small Middle School in Austin ISD. He
earned a master’s degree at University of Texas at Arlington.
The School Board approved a
guaranteed maximum price of $23.6 million for the fifth middle
school, to be located west of Hemphill Elementary School on State
Highway 150, east of Interstate 35. The maximum price reflects $1
million less than what was budgeted, said Carter Scherff, Hays CISD
Chief Financial Officer.
The design of the middle school is
based on the prototype of Chapa Middle School by SHW Group.
Estimated cost per square foot is $169, Scherff said. The fifth
middle school was part of the bond package that was approved by
voters on May 10. Because of enrollment growth in the district,
particularly at the middle school level, the fifth middle school is
on the fast track for construction, estimated to open by August
2009.
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May 16, 2008
Mrs. Riley leads the way to future leaders
If you ask most mentors why they do what they do,
chances are it will take them a split second to tell you in detail
the positive impact that “mentee” had on their lives and a heartbeat
to tell you the names of their mentors.
Dolores Riley, Hays CISD Executive Director of
Elementary Education, is retiring after two decades in the district
and more than 30 years in education. While she has served in various
positions—and at each of them she left an imprint—her legacy remains
in the hearts of others: those she mentored, who are now leaders.
And chances are very good that these individuals
will continue the circle and become mentors themselves, if they
aren’t already there.
“I can honestly say that I am who I am today
because of Dolores,” said Cynthia Davis, principal of Blanco Vista
Elementary School. Mrs. Davis opened Tobias Elementary School as
principal in 2003 and helped drive that campus to “recognized”
status. She will open the Blanco Vista campus in August. “She gave
me a wonderful opportunity the day that she took a chance on me by
offering me the assistant principal position at Elm Grove
Elementary. Dolores was opening Elm Grove that year and she had a
vision for the type of school she wanted to create. I was able to
witness first-hand how Dolores worked with staff, administration,
parents and students to build a strong community of learners.
Dolores mentored me for the next three years. She is the reason that
I felt I could take on the challenge of opening a new school.”
Mrs. Riley joined Hays CISD in 1989 as an
assistant principal at Tom Green Elementary. She was named principal
of Kyle Intermediate School in 1993. That transition was a challenge
for both the school district and for Mrs. Riley and everyone learned
from the experience.
“We were pulling middle school and elementary
school students and staff together as one,” she explained. “Many of
our students came from a school with a low performance rating.”
“We worked real hard under the Accelerated
Schools Model to make gains in achievement,” Mrs. Riley said. “We
were always asking ourselves, ‘What’s best for kids?’”
In her customary fashion, Mrs. Riley rose to the
challenges of Kyle Intermediate School, steering that campus through
academic gains. It was with the opening of Elm Grove Elementary
School in 2000, however, that she took the risks and saw the results
of a true leader.
“Michael (Hinojosa) was the superintendent at
that time and he said he wanted me out on that limb and he wanted to
see the limb bouncing,” she said. In the first years of Elm Grove,
Mrs. Riley implemented a non-traditional report card, integrated
teaching units and generally held high expectations of everyone.
“Nearly a year before Elm Grove opened, our
faculty began a series of meetings to thoughtfully and thoroughly
discuss what we personally believed about educating children,” said
Myrna Cavender, Elm Grove Elementary Librarian, who also is retiring
this year. “Not only did we formulate our belief, mission, and goals
statements, but we also got to know each other personally. We played
together at retreats and later at faculty meetings. We cried
together during that first year too when we were totally exhausted
trying to meet the high standards set by our families and
ourselves.”
“We were learning new ways of formulating
curriculum so that children could explore various self-selected
topics of interest—and it was hard,” Mrs. Cavendar continued. “But
Dolores was always there, teaching us specifics, guiding our
planning, cheering on our efforts, and offering her whole-hearted
support of the many risk-taking experiences we planned and
implemented.”
One of the teachers Mrs. Riley hired at Elm Grove
Elementary is Jodie Wymore, Principal of Fuentes Elementary School,
another of the district’s recognized campuses.
“Dolores gave me a feeling that she believed in
me very shortly after I first met her,” Mrs. Wymore said. “She
allowed me freedom to be innovative and try things that were new to
me. She allowed me room to make mistakes and learn from them. She
took chances on me and gave me responsibilities that stretched me.”
“I truly believe at that time she knew I didn’t
have it all figured out, but was willing to support me as I did
learn and grow,” Mrs. Wymore said. “This only pushed me to want to
do it that much more!”
Perhaps Mrs. Riley’s greatest lesson as a mentor
is teaching by showing how to live and work outside the “comfort
zone.”
“I think I am most grateful to Dolores for not
always making it simple or giving me the easy way out,” Mrs. Wymore
said. “She helped to foster in me a sense of being comfortable with
a little disequilibrium. I will always be grateful to Dolores
because that keeps me in a place to be constantly seeking, learning,
stretching and growing to figure it all out.”
“I love seeing those sparks in people,” Mrs.
Riley said, referring to her “habit” of encouraging those around her
to stretch themselves.
Mrs. Riley formalized her mentoring tendencies in
the Hays Leadership Institute (HLI), a year-long program offered to
aspiring administrators. When asked, Mrs. Riley will admit that is
her crowning accomplishment at Hays CISD. A quick tally has nearly
20 current campus and district administrators who have gone through
HLI.
“Dolores helped grow educational leaders both at
Elm Grove and throughout the Hays CISD,” Mrs. Cavender said. “Under
her tutelage, a select group of up and coming educational
leaders—often the very best of teachers—met regularly at HLI. The
legacy of those HLI trainings can be seen in many of our current
principals, assistant principals, and instructional strategists.
Dolores generously shared her breadth of knowledge with others and
gently prodded us all to investigate topics or curricula or
methodologies further. She wanted us to become a true learning
community–learning from one another and we did.”
“Her educational leadership and vision has always
been solid,” said Dianne Borreson, Hays CISD Executive Director of
Technology. Mrs. Borreson worked alongside Mrs. Riley at Tom Green
Elementary and Kyle Intermediate and again at the Central
Administration Office. “She handles situations with the utmost
professionalism and poise. Teachers, co-workers, parents, students,
community members are all worthy of her attention and respect.”
Continually one of the high performers in the
district, Elm Grove Elementary School enjoys many of the hiring
successes and programs implemented by Mrs. Riley. And few will argue
with the sense of community she orchestrated involving parents,
students and staff.
“You have to have a goal, something you’re
shooting for,” she explained. “That way you’re working toward
something as a whole group, arm-in-arm.”
“We all—children, parents, grandparents, faculty,
and staff—blossomed because we had grown into a nurturing family,”
Mrs. Cavender said. “We were there for each other, and we knew that
Dolores would be there championing our children, our efforts,
helping to meld Elm Grove into such an exciting, invigorating, and
welcoming school. Whether Dolores was in the forefront or in the
background, we knew that she was guiding us; she supported us, and
she would encourage us to try offering constructive criticism and
ways to make our teaching, our school even better. We grew stronger
every year; we trusted each other.”
Mrs. Riley moved to the Central Administration
Office in 2004, corralling the elementary curriculum and building a
team of elementary principals and teachers, including coordinators,
directors and instructional strategists. Her system of support is
legendary. In fact on her resume, Mrs. Riley states one of her
responsibilities is “supporting” 11 elementary principals.
“Dolores is always available to talk things over
and has treated me as an equal for the past four years,” said Terry
Fielder, Hays CISD Coordinator of Elementary Curriculum. “I have
learned how important it is to listen carefully and then to gently
nudge people to make changes. Dolores is warm, affirming,
protective, and at the same time, can tell people things they don't
necessarily want to hear in a kind and supportive voice.”
“Dolores cares deeply for people, and she truly
understands that a person is better at their job when they know they
are cared for, supported, and understood,” Mrs. Davis said. “She
makes every person feel as if they are the most important person in
the room.”
Mrs Riley’s compassion is what sets her apart,
according to Mrs. Borreson.
“Her compassion for learning, for teaching, for
the underdog, just her basic compassion for believing,” Mrs.
Borreson said. “She exhibits that compassion in all that she does.
For that, Hays CISD is a better place.”
In her poignant letter of retirement, Mrs. Riley
stated that “it is time in my life to seek out other leadership
opportunities that will provide me with more time for my family,
particularly my grandchildren!”
So we say, “farewell” to Mrs. Riley for now. Her
beacon will remain in Hays CISD for a long time in the form of
today’s administrators and instructional strategists, many of whom
are mentoring tomorrow’s educational leaders.
In the words of many, her influence endures.
“I am honored to have been able to work so
closely with her,” Mrs. Fielder said.
“I can say that I was truly blessed by working
under Dolores’ guidance,” Mrs. Cavender said. “She knows how to draw
out the very best in people, but she does so graciously, gently, and
with humor.”
“I feel so fortunate for having known and worked
with her in so many capacities and for so many years,” Mrs. Borreson
said. “She was always committed to making sure all students had the
opportunity to be successful. Each of those contributions has had a
huge impact on education in Hays CISD.”
“Dolores has been my mentor for so many years
that it is hard to imagine my professional life without her,” Mrs.
Davis said.
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May 16, 2008
Technology in Hays CISD shows no limITs
The halls and rooms of the Hays CISD Performing
Arts Center were buzzing, literally, with technology and the
people—students and teachers—who work it on Thursday night during
the 3rd annual district-wide technology showcase.
More than 50 projects represented by all campuses
in Hays CISD were on display for parents and community members to
look at, and more importantly, participate in.
From making movies to publishing books to
designing a house to analyzing data surrounding a sound wave to
“Survivor: Real Math for Real Life,” where Wallace Middle School
students were assigned a job, a salary and a distance to work and
they drew up a budget for living, the showcase brought to light that
technology happens everyday in the classrooms of Hays CISD.
In the auditorium, animated and actual movies
made by students rolled throughout the night, interrupted by the
awarding of gifts to student logo design winners and $31,000 in
Innovative Teaching Grants.
“Last year the Foundation gave $50,000 in
Innovative Teaching Grants,” said Chris Harkrider, President of the
Hays CISD Education Foundation. “This year, I am pleased to say we
are giving away $70,000. It gives us a lot of pleasure to give back
to this great school district.”
Traditionally, the Innovative Teaching Grants in
the Spring average less than $20,000. However, that tradition was
broken on Thursday with the granting of $31,000 to nearly 35
teachers throughout the district for innovation in their classrooms.
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May 16, 2008
98 percent of all 8th graders pass reading TAKS
After two administrations of the Texas Assessment
of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) for reading, 98 percent of all 8th
Graders in the district have passed.
“This is the first year for Student Success
Initiative (SSI) reading in Grade 8, but 98 percent passing is
simply outstanding!” said John Thornell, Hays CISD Executive
Director of Assessment. “In Grade 8, our lowest scoring middle
school is 95 percent passing with the other three at 98 or 99
percent passing.”
Ninety percent of all 5th graders and 93 percent
of all 3rd graders have passed the TAKS reading test.
“In Grade 5, we have six of our nine elementary
schools at or above 90 percent passing,” he said.
District-wide, only 16, 8th Graders have not met
their SSI reading requirements, Thornell said. Those numbers are 77
for 3rd Grade and 82 for 5th Grade.
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May 12, 2008
Grant awards weaved into
technology showcase
Nearly 35 teachers
from campuses throughout Hays CISD received Innovative Teaching
Grants exceeding $31,000 from the Hays CISD Education Foundation.
The grants will be formally awarded during the district’s 3rd
annual Technology Showcase on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Performing
Arts Center.
Teachers received
boxes in the shape of the Hays CISD’s star last week. Inside each
box was a “flash” drive that contained a PowerPoint presentation
announcing the grant award and details about the Education
Foundation. In addition, each winning teacher received enough
“tickets” for his or her students to the “no limITs Technology
Showcase.” Though the showcase is free and open to the public,
those students who redeem their tickets at the showcase (and witness
their teacher receiving a winning grant) will receive a free gift.
The weaving of the
awarding of the Innovative Teaching Grants into the Technology
Showcase further endorses the spirit of technology in the classroom.
Grant winners are:
- Debra Flynn, Lehman High School,
“100 People: A World Portrait,” $865
- Judith Cooper and Sherre Boothman,
Lehman High School, “Reaching for the Stars,” $2,500
- Whitney Self and Lynn Sundholm,
Chapa Middle School, “The Cougar Scrub Club,” $2,500
- Carrie Bartsch, Sandra Bickham,
Lisa Corn and Christy Thomason, Negley Elementary School,
“Literacy Camp Out,” $3,592
- Cheryl Kohtz, Kristen Stewart and
Richard Ingels, Negley Elementary School, “What is it Like to
be an Engineer or Scientist?” $3,978
- Carla Bailey, Debbie Brown, Kim
Montague and Carol Denton, Fuentes Elementary School, “Study
Island,” $3,400
- Kari Bennett, Mary Patterson and
Jonathan Bickham, Lehman High School, “The Nspired Science
Lab,” $4,082
- Jamie Coy, Casey Boggs and Susan
Sides, Dahlstrom Middle School, “Disc Golf Family and
Community Tournament,” $1,7500
- Carol Denton, Cornelia McQuage,
Janice Gray and Stacey Williams, Fuentes Elementary School,
“Susie T. Fuentes Jardin Organico Y Cocina,” $2,390
- Anne Marie Garza, Guadalupe
DeHoyos Mallen, Elsa Ibarra and Roxanna Garza, Camino Real
Elementary School, “It’s All About Building Assets through
TRIBES Process,” $4,000
- Dina Secrest and Elizabeth
Swearingen, Negley Elementary School, “The Making of Drama
Queens (and Kings),” $910
- Kay Faile, The Academy @Hays,
“The Word Junction,” $1,491
Since 2000, the
Education Foundation has awarded nearly $500,000 in Innovative
Teaching Grants. The twice-a-year event has funded innovation in the
classroom at elementary, middle and high school levels ranging in
projects from the construction of a greenhouse and sale of plants to
a partnership with the Fort Worth Opera to a summer library
bookmobile.
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May 12, 2008
Summer school set
for Hays CISD
Elementary summer school (grades 2 through 5)
begins June 9 and will be Monday through Friday through July 3
at Kyle Elementary School. Transportation and free breakfast and
lunch will be provided for all students. Hours will be from 7:45
a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Paige Collier, assistant principal of Hemphill
Elementary School, will be the 2008 summer school principal.
Middle school summer school will be Monday
through Friday, June 9 through July 3, at Barton Middle School.
Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students currently in grades
6, 7, and 8 with an academic need will be referred for summer
school from their home campus. Transportation and free breakfast
and lunch will be provided for all students. Julio Vela,
assistant principal of Chapa Middle School, will be the 2008
summer school principal.
Hays High School (HHS) will be the site for
summer school for any Hays CISD 9th-12th grader. School will be
Monday through Friday, June 9 through July 3, 8:15 a.m. to noon.
Transportation is provided for high school students attending
summer school. Nikki Dickerson, assistant principal of Lehman
High School, will be the 2008 summer school principal. Breakfast
and lunch will be at Barton Middle School.
TAKS Review Summer School, for students who
have not met the standard on the exit level exam, will be June 9
through July 9, with no class on July 4. Tuition is free. TAKS
summer testing dates are July 15, 16, 17 and 18.
Recovery Summer School, where high school
students may “recover” credits, includes the four “core”
subjects of English, science, social studies and math, as well
as Spanish, health, fitness, communications and business. Cost
for these classes is $200 for full-credit courses ($100 for
half-credit courses). Fee waivers are available to reduce the
cost for students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch.
Acceleration “Get Ahead” Summer School will
be offered for students wanted to get ahead in credits. Classes
are June 9 through July 9, with no class on July 4. Cost for
these classes is $200 for full-credit courses ($100 for
half-credit courses). Fee waivers are available to reduce the
cost for students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch.
Applications are in the schools’ counseling
offices and on the district web site. Deadline to register for
summer school is May 30.
link to Summer School 2008
As in past years, free breakfast and lunch
will be provided Monday through Friday at six campuses: Tobias
Elementary School, Kyle Elementary School, Fuentes Elementary
School, Negley Elementary School, Barton Middle School and
Wallace Middle School.
Adults 22 and older will be charged $1.75 for
breakfast and $3 for lunch. Children do not have to qualify for
free meals.
Gratis - Programa de Comidas De Verano (pdf)
link to Free Summer Feeding Sites & Schedule (pdf)
Many of the schools and extracurricular
programs are offering summer enrichment activities. For a list
of these activities, please call 268.2141.
The district’s Wellness Encouraged through
Lifelong Learning (WELL) Clinic at Science Hall Elementary
School will be open for sports physicals, immunizations and
other clinical visits throughout the summer. For an appointment,
please call 268.5218. The school-based health center is open to
all students of Hays CISD. Hours will be Monday through
Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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May
13, 2008
100
use their heads in 3rd annual chess tourney
The 3rd Annual Hays CISD
Chess championship was bigger than ever, with 100 participants from
all 13 middle and elementary schools in the district.
Brantle Smith of Wallace Middle School became the first repeat
champion by going undefeated again this year. He led his impressive
1st Place team from Wallace, which included Hamza Usman, Charles
Byfield, Nicholas Wittkopp, Tyler Wampler and Garrett Sides. A lot
of the credit for the outstanding team effort must go to the
Communities in Schools program at Wallace which has provided the
coaching for the chess club the last two years. Magda Flores is the
chess club sponsor this year.
Dahlstrom Middle School presented a much improved team that finished
2nd Place. Grant Garcia and Michael Wenzel led the Dahlstrom team
with four wins out of five. Grant’s final round matchup against
champion Brantle Smith was definitely a tournament highlight.
Dahlstrom’s team effort also included three more winning records:
Grant Seligman, John Ibarra-Peyton and Jake Norman. The chess club
at Dahlstrom this year was an informal group that met in the library
under the supervision of Betty Copeland.
In the elementary school group, Negley Elementary School followed up
on its dominating performance last year by repeating as champions.
Negley’s team, coached by 5th grade teacher TJ Moreno, contained
seven players scoring 3.5 points or higher: JT Warren, Tanner Bush,
Chris Hackworth, Garret Miller, Hunter White, Drake Bartz and Nathan
Jackson. As strong as the team was, the highest individual was
second to the individual elementary champion, Alex Ryno of Elm Grove
Elementary School, the only undefeated competitor in a field 66
elementary students, who completed five rounds.
Out of nine teams in elementary, three walked away with trophies.
Fuentes and Buda finished in a virtual tie for 2nd Place. Fuentes
took home the 2nd place trophy with team leaders Jacen Jones and
Benjamin Volker each winning four matches. Buda Elementary also had
two members with four wins, Will Cooper and Connor McClanahan. Both
of these schools benefited from the work of their club sponsors,
Jose Campos, a parent volunteer at Buda Elementary and David
Johnson, 3rd grade teacher at Fuentes Elementary.
The purpose of the Hays CISD chess championship is to build a
district wide chess program that can expand and improve enough to
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