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