Board President to Address LULAC

BISD Board President Caty Presas-Garcia will speak at the Texas LULAC State Board Meeting which will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in McAllen on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 8:00 AM. Ms. Garcia will talk about the status of Brownsville ISD, the recent elections, and her new position as board president.

Grant for Porter

Porter High School has been awarded an “Online College and Career Preparation Technical Assistance Program” grant for $110,000 from the Texas Education Agency. This program will allow Porter students to create and maintain online portfolios for college applications, financial aid applications, scholarship applications, resumes, teacher recommendations, essays, etc. Congratulations to Principal Dora Sauceda and her team for securing these funds to help Porter’s students with college and career readiness.

The Tradition Continues

For 95 years, Brownsville ISD has provided a quality education for our community’s children. The addition of more public school students and schools has not changed the district’s mission. Each BISD campus from the original Putegnat Elementary School to the new Daniel Breeden Elementary School, currently under construction, has a fascinating history. Click here and select a BISD school to learn more.

Two UTB/TSC Doctoral Candidates from BISD

Norma Ibarra-Cantu, an assistant principal at Del Castillo Elementary School, will be the keynote speaker at the UTB/TSC 16th Winter Commencement to be held on Saturday, December 18 at 9:00 AM on the Cardenas South Hall Lawn.

Ms. Cantu and Aidee Vasquez, the dean of instruction at El Jardin Elementary School, are candidates for doctorates of education degrees in curriculum and instruction. They are part of the first cohort of doctoral students to enter the degree program at UTB/TSC. They started classes in the Fall of 2007.

Band Students Set Record

BISD band students have once again set a new district record. The students earned an astounding 52 chairs in the 2010 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) 9th Grade All-Region Band competition held on Saturday, December 4, 2010 in Harlingen. BISD students earned 10 of the 16 first chairs available and over one half of all available chairs.

BISD Musical Performances

BISD students are presenting holiday musical performances almost every night until December 17, 2010. Click here to view the schedules for:

Band and Estudiantina
Choir
Dance

BISD Holiday Celebrations

The Board of Trustees and Superintendent Brett Springston cordially invite you to attend the annual BISD Tamalada to be held on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at the BISD Administration Building at 6:00 PM when the Board recesses its meeting. The Administration Building Lobby and Boardroom have been beautifully decorated in preparation for this holiday event. In addition, musical performances by BISD student groups are scheduled each and every day until December 17, 2010 at the BISD Administration Building. If you would like to schedule a BISD student performance, call Daphnie Valdez in the Public Information Office at 548-8000. Click here to view the current schedule of student performances.

It's Flu Season

Seasonal influenza (flu) activity in the United States is low nationally, but there are early signs that it is on the rise. Click here to view what actions the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend to protect yourself and others from the flu.

Textbooks at the City Library

To better assist students and parents, the district has placed one complete set of secondary core subject textbooks, grades 6-12, at the Brownsville Public Library located at 2600 Central Boulevard and the Southmost Branch Library located at 4320 Southmost Road.

The core subject textbooks reside in the reference section of both libraries and may be used during regular library hours.

SBEC Updates Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics was updated by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), which oversees educator certification issues. The update addresses the use of social media by educators. Click here to read the entire Texas Education Agency media release.

Leader for Manzano Middle School

Brett Springston, Superintendent of Brownsville public schools, has announced a principal for the new Edward Manzano, Jr. Middle School, scheduled to open in August 2010.

Norma J. Torres has been appointed to lead Manzano, BISD’s 11th middle school. Torres currently serves as the principal of Yturria Elementary, located a short distance from Manzano. She will be a familiar face to Manzano’s students since many began their education at Yturria.

Torres has a total of 18 years of educational experience. For the last 13 years, she has held elementary and secondary BISD administrative positions. She worked as a dean of instruction at Oliveira Middle School, assistant principal at Clearwater Elementary, and facilitator at Villa Nueva Elementary.

“I have great confidence in Norma Torres. She is a talented school administrator who is well-known to the community that will be served by Manzano. She possesses the skills necessary to ensure that Manzano quickly becomes a premier middle school,” said Springston.

Torres will continue as principal of Yturria until the end of the school year while overseeing the opening of Manzano.

Edward Manzano, Jr. Middle School, located at 2580 W. Alton Gloor Boulevard, is being constructed with funds from the 2006 school bond. It sits opposite the new Thomas W. Keller Elementary School which opened to students in January 2010.

It's Showtime!

You are invited to attend the 2010 Spelling Bee to be held on:
Saturday, February 13, 2010,
at Perkins Middle School,
4750 Austin Road.

Registration... 7:30 - 8:00 AM
Opening Exercises... 8:00 AM

W-2 Update - February 1, 2010, 4:45 PM

W-2 Forms for BISD employees were distributed on Monday, February 1 to all campuses and departments. The forms are also being mailed to individuals who are no longer employed by BISD.

Note: Box 14 on the BISD W-2 Form mistakenly reports only January’s Teacher Retirement (TRS) deposit. Box 14 contains informational items that should not be used for additional tax deductions. Items in Box 14 do not impact an employee’s tax return nor do they impact the retirement tax credit which is based on voluntary tax deferred contributions. Only boxes 1-12 are used for the preparation of income tax returns.

For more information, call the Payroll Department at 548-8391.

Help with College Financial Aid

The BISD Guidance and Counseling Department will host five Financial Aid Completion Nights in February at district high schools. Trained personnel will be available to assist parents and students in completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). In order to complete a FAFSA application, parents are asked to bring a 2009 income tax form with W-2 and student’s 2009 income tax form, if applicable. Social Security, TANF Benefits, or child support documents for 2009 are also needed, if applicable. A completed FAFSA qualifies students for federal and state aid as well as student and parent loans. For more information, call Pilar Janis in the Guidance & Counseling Department at (956) 548-8251.

BISD Financial Aid Completion Nights
6:00-8:00 PM

Thursday, February 4
Lopez High School Cafeteria

Tuesday, February 9
Porter High School Cafeteria

Thursday, February 11
Rivera High School Cafeteria

Tuesday, February 16
Pace High School Cafeteria

Thursday, February 18
Hanna High School Cafeteria

Attention BISD Employees

For calendar year ended December 31, 2009, the IRS Form W-2 due date is Monday, February 1, 2010. As such, W-2s will be distributed to all BISD employees no later than Monday, February 1, 2010. For individuals who are no longer employed by BISD, the W-2s will be mailed no later than February 1, 2010.

Madrigal Dinner: Friday Performance Only

Due to demand, there will be one command performance of the Third Annual Madrigal Dinner “A Feast of Love” on Friday, February 5, 2010. Anyone with tickets for the Saturday performance is asked to call the BISD Department of Fine Arts at 698-0190.

Veterans Memorial Magnet Night

Veterans Memorial High School, set to open in August 2010,
will offer magnet programs in Architecture & Construction
and Government & Public Administration. Learn more by
attending a magnet program night meeting on :

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Pace High School Auditorium

Call Dr. Juan Chavez at 698-0285 for more information.

19 BISD Schools Ranked Higher Performing

Nineteen BISD schools have made the National
Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA)/Just
for the Kids List of 2009 Higher Performing Schools.
The list features schools that have grown their
students’ academic performance more than
students of demographically similar schools. Congratulations to Benavides, Castañeda, Cromack, Egly, Gonzalez, Longoria, Martin, Morningside, Ortiz, Paredes, Putegnat, Resaca, Russell, Sharp, and Yturria Elementary Schools and Lucio, Stell, Stillman and Vela Middle Schools.

2nd College Awareness Day

By popular demand, Brownsville ISD will celebrate College Awareness Day on Thursday, January 28, 2010. All students and employees are urged to show their support for higher education by wearing appropriate t-shirts from their favorite college or university to schools and work locations. Jeans and tennis shoes can also be worn on this day.

BISD College Awareness Day is sponsored in conjunction with BISD College & Financial Aid Night to be held on Thursday, January 28 at 6:30 PM at the Brownsville Events Center. BISD high school students and their parents are invited to meet with university representatives, financial aid officers and lenders.

Welcome to Brownsville ISD

A team of administrators from the Philadelphia School District is visiting BISD on Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22 to see our district’s transitional bilingual program at the elementary level and ESL program at the secondary level. They are interested in the effective practices BISD utilizes to support English Language Learners. The team will spend time at Yturria Elementary and Pace High School as well as the BISD Administration Building.

Next Two School Calendars

The BISD Board of Trustees has approved the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school calendars.

Click here to download 2010-2011 or 2011-2012

Take the BECHS Challenge

Parents and incoming ninth grade students are invited to attend one of three Brownsville Early College High School Information Meetings:

Tuesday, January 19 . . . . . . 6:30 PM . . . . . . Perkins M S Cafeteria
Wednesday, January 20 . . . 6:30 PM . . . . . . Besteiro M S Cafeteria
Thursday, January 21 . . . . . 6:30 PM . . . . . . Central Admininistration Building Cafeteria (CAB)

Incoming BISD 9th grade students who will be the first in their family to complete a college degree are encouraged to apply. Teacher recommendations, attendance, TAKS scores, and grades will all be considered in the selection process.

100 highly motivated incoming BISD 9th grade students with a strong desire to succeed academically will be selected to meet the BECHS challenge.

Students may achieve up to 2 years of college credit, tuition-free, while also earning a high school diploma. Financial savings for a family could equal or exceed $14,000 in tuition, fees, and textbook costs.

Contact a BISD middle school principal or counselor for more information or Roni Rentfro, BECHS Administrator, at 698-1476.

H1N1 Mist/Seasonal FluMist Vaccine

BISD Health Services, in conjunction with the Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services, will administer free H1N1 Mist/Seasonal FluMist Vaccine to BISD students, parents, and employees on a first come, first serve basis.


H1N1 Mist /Seasonal FluMist Vaccine Distribution
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
4:00-7:00 PM
Central Administration Building (CAB) Cafeteria
708 Palm Boulevard

Students may choose to receive either H1N1 Mist or seasonal FluMist, NOT both. Parents should contact their child’s health care provider for questions.

Attention BISD Employees

All BISD employees are invited to attend the district’s 1st Annual Vendor Fair on Monday, January 18, 2010 (Teacher Preparation Day) from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the UTB/TSC ITEC Center, 301 Mexico Boulevard.

Numerous awarded BISD vendors will showcase their products and services in areas ranging from furniture, supplies, and incentives to machines and uniforms.

BISD employees who plan to attend should register on the ERO System as soon as possible using SRN #729100110.

Door prizes will be awarded hourly.

Contact the BISD Purchasing Department at (956) 548-8361 for more information.

Click here to download flyer.

Training for Our New Teachers

BISD will host the New Teachers’ Inservice on two consecutive Saturdays, January 9 and January 16, 2010, at the Central Administrative Building (CAB) Cafeteria, 708 Palm Boulevard.

Registration and breakfast will be held from 7:30 – 8:00 AM and sessions will run from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day.

For more information, call the Professional Development Department at 548-8250.