BISD Earns Highest Fiscal Rating

Brownsville ISD officials have announced that the school district has received a rating of “Superior Achievement” under the Texas Schools FIRST financial accountability rating system. The Superior Achievement rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Brownsville ISD’s financial management and reporting system. View media release.

Project Share Tutorials

The BISD Instructional Technology Department offers Project Share classes on Mondays from 3:45 to 5:15 pm every week. Project Share utilizes a collection of Web 2.0 tools and applications to provide professional development resources for teachers across the state and build professional learning communities where educators can collaborate and participate in online learning opportunities. Click here for an online Project Share tutorial or register online in the ERO system for Monday training sessions. For more information, call David Mitchell, Technology Lead Teacher, at 548-8241 or email david@bisd.us.

Celebrating Afterschool Programs

Hundreds of Brownsville’s students, parents and business and community leaders are invited to attend the first “Lights On Afterschool” Rally to be held in the Garcia Middle School gym and cafeteria on Thursday, October 20 from 4:30-6:30 PM. The event is designed to celebrate the achievements of afterschool students and draw attention to the need for more afterschool programs such as the Texas 21st Century Program. Similar events will be held nationwide on the same day to emphasize the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open for afterschool programs. BISD’s “Lights On Afterschool” Rally will showcase activities from participating schools across the district. For more information, contact the BISD Grants/Texas 21st Century Program Department, Dwayne Salinas, 698-0248.

BISD Bands Deliver Pigskin Results

Brownsville ISD high school bands gave outstanding performances at the annual UIL Pigskin Jubilee Marching Contest held on Saturday, October 15 in San Benito. Five BISD bands, Hanna, Lopez, Pace, Rivera, and Veterans Memorial, earned perfect straight superior ratings on their performances. In an historic first, the Veterans Memorial Charger Marching Band will advance to UIL Area 4A competition on Saturday, October 29 in Calallen, Texas. The top 4A bands at Area will advance to the UIL State 4A Marching Contest to be held on Tuesday, November 8 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Congratulations to the band students, directors, parents, school and district administrators, and Board Trustees for their support of the district’s fine arts programs.

Public Meeting on Financial Rating

Brownsville ISD will hold a public meeting at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, October 18 in the Boardroom to discuss the district’s rating on the state financial accountability system.

District Statement

The district has issued a statement to clarify recent Board action on a lawsuit settlement. View the statement.

College Essay Assistance

BISD juniors and seniors are invited to attend one of two workshops on “Writing the Perfect College Essay,” on Saturday October 22 at Pace High School or Saturday, October 29 at Porter High School from 9-11 am. Seating is limited so register early by emailing Pilar Janis, Higher Ed Counselor, at pilarjanis@bisd.us. Send your name, your school, your phone number, and desired date. For questions call 548-8251. View the flyer.

Celebrating a Victory

In commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BISD will recognize breast cancer survivors during the halftime program at the Rivera vs. Pace football game scheduled for Saturday, October 15 at 7:00 PM at Sams Stadium. Halftime will occur at approximately 8:00 PM. Breast cancer survivors are invited to attend the football game free of charge as guests of honor. Anyone who accompanies them must pay the regular $7.00 ticket price. Survivors may also submit a photo to be displayed on the Sams Stadium digital scoreboard during the game. Survivors who plan to participate should email Pat Perez at pperez@bisd.us immediately so that arrangements can be made. Join us in celebrating breast cancer survival and the importance of prevention, detection and treatment.

3 Students Earn State Poster Awards

The Brownsville Fire Department Fire Prevention Division has announced that three BISD students earned trophies in the 2010-2011 (last school year) Firemen’s & Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas State Poster Contest.

Congratulations to:
1st Place – Ricky Garcia, Paredes Elementary
2nd Place – Kareen Luevano, Lucio Middle School
3rd Place – Luis Gracia, Lucio Middle School

College Talk

Aggie and Longhorn representatives will be available to talk to interested BISD high school students and their parents on Monday, October 24 at 6:30 pm at the Historic Brownsville Museum located at 641 E. Madison Street. The representatives will talk about admissions, scholarships, housing and financial aid. For more information, call Pilar Janis, Higher Ed Counselor, at 548-8251.

Latest News

Latest News on Employee Health Insurance

In an effort to meet our employees' needs, Blue Cross Blue Shield has designated a telephone number just for BISD employees and their providers. The number to call is 1-877-219-4303. If an employee has a doctor’s appointment prior to the insurance of a new ID card, call the BISD Employee Benefits Department at 548-8061 to obtain a user ID number. Click here to learn more.

BISD High School Choirs Hit All the Right Notes

BISD high school choirs dominated the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) District Choir Auditions. A total of 83 BISD students will advance to the next round of competition with 9 alternates. BISD students will make up 52% of the entire TMEA Regional Choir which includes all high schools from Brownsville to Donna. The next audition will be held on Saturday, November 5 at Harlingen South High School.

Choir results by campuses:
Hanna High School ……………………….35 students + 3 alternates
Lopez High School ………………………..7 students
Pace High School …………………………5 students
Porter High School ………………………..8 students
Rivera High School………………………..16 students + 3
Veterans Memorial High School…………12 students + 3

Sick Leave Bank Enrollment

BISD maintains a voluntary sick leave bank to assist employees in the event of a catastrophic illness or disability that affects an employee or immediate family member. BISD employees who are currently enrolled in the sick leave bank will be automatically enrolled for next year, if eligible. Employees who wish to enroll or discontinue membership must submit a form to the Human Resources Department, 1900 Price Road, Suite #106. The enrollment period is October 1 – October 31, 2011. No late applications will be accepted. Download forms here.

Criteria for Inter-District Transfers Expanded

The Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees has expanded Policy FDA (Local) to begin accepting inter-district transfer applications without tuition costs for the children of parents who own businesses within district boundaries and that pay school taxes. Please note that an employee federal identification number will be required on the district application. Also included are the children of employees of businesses within district boundaries that pay school taxes.*

Please note that in approving inter-district transfers, the Superintendent or designee shall consider availability of space, instructional staff, the student’s disciplinary history, and attendance records. Violation of the district’s rules and regulations may result in revocation of the transfer agreement. An approved transfer may be revoked at the end of the six weeks if the campus or grade level have become overcrowded or if the parents or students fail to abide by the school standards for academic progress, attendance, discipline, and/or cooperation with school staff. An application for transfer must be completed and submitted to Pat Perez, BISD Board Secretary, 1900 Price Road, Suite #307E. Download a transfer application here for BISD employees or non-employees. *Additional requirements may apply.

Ortiz Receives Grant to Get Kids Moving

Ortiz Elementary School is one of 50 recipients from across the United States to receive a grant from the ING Run for Something Better School Award. Solomon P. Ortiz Elementary School will receive up to $2,500 in funding to support a minimum of an eight-week running program that will conclude with a culminating running event in celebration of the students’ achievements.

Solomon P. Ortiz Elementary School will receive $1,000 immediately, with additional funds granted based on the participation in the program. View the media release.

3 Students Earn State Poster Awards

The Brownsville Fire Department Fire Prevention Division has announced that three BISD students earned trophies in the 2010-2011 (last school year) Firemen’s & Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas State Poster Contest.

Congratulations to:
1st Place – Ricky Garcia, Paredes Elementary
2rd Place – Kareen Luevano, Lucio Middle School
3rd Place – Luis Gracia, Lucio Middle School

Stellar Band Performances

BISD band students excelled at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region 28 Jazz auditions held on September 17. Six students earned chairs in the 2011-2012 All-Region Jazz Ensemble. Two students, Mario Alvarado (Lopez HS) and Jose Carlos Izquierdo (Pace HS), earned 1st chairs in their sections. The Region 28 Jazz Bands will perform on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Donna High School auditorium. Congratulations to the following district band students on their outstanding accomplishments.

Lopez High School
Mario Alvarado – 1st Chair Drums, will advance to area competition
Armando Garza – 2nd Chair Bass Guitar
Victor Mendez – 3rd Chair Bass Trombone

Pace High School
Jose Carlos Izquierdo – 1st Chair Trumpet, will advance to area competition Diana Vasquez – 6th Chair Trumpet

Porter High School
Benjamin Rovelo – 2nd Chair Tenor Saxophone, will advance to area competition

Two BISD Schools Host JROTC Meet

Porter High School, in conjunction with Lopez High School, will host a Rio Grande Valley JROTC Competition on Saturday, October 1 at both campuses beginning at 8:00 AM. Almost 20 RGV high schools and 300 students and staff are expected to participate. Porter High School will host six categories of evaluation including colorguards and unarmed and armed drill teams from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Lopez High School will host the physical endurance training and shooting competition from 8:00-10:30 PM. Scores will be tabulated and awards will be presented to 1st-3rd place winners in every category of competition. For more information, contact Colonel Aaron Heard, Porter High School Senior Army Instructor, at (956) 698-0980.

Two BISD Schools Make Honor Roll

Two BISD elementary schools, Paredes and Ortiz, have been named to the 2011 Texas Business & Education Coalition (TBEC) Honor Roll. This is the most prestigious and demanding academic award that a Texas public school can receive. This year, 253 schools made the list representing less than 4% of all public schools in Texas. The Honor Roll recognizes schools that have demonstrated three years of consistent, high performance in all subjects serving similar student populations. TBEC Honor Roll schools have the highest percentage of students performing at the state’s most rigorous standard-commended-in every subject. This year’s standards are the most demanding in the organization’s history. TBEC will recognize all Honor Roll schools on Friday, December 2 at an awards reception and dinner in Dallas. A series of seminars will also enable educators to learn about some exciting new programs.

Textbook Assistance

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.

Local Astronomer Earns a Star

Carol Lee Andrews Lutsinger, BISD teacher and district astronomer, has been selected to receive the 2011 Texas Association for Gifted and Talented Award for Region I. Ms. Lutsinger, a teacher at Faulk Middle School, was recognized for her strong commitment to gifted education at the local, regional and state level. Lutsinger is passionate about teaching and has shared her love of astronomy within the school district and Brownsville community for many years. She brought the first portable planetarium to BISD through the STARLAB program and shares her expansive astronomical knowledge with teachers at annual district GT inservices. Lutsinger also writes a weekly column in the local newspaper about celestial events of all kinds. Ms. Lutsinger will be recognized at the BISD Board Meeting on September 20.

Brownsville Earns Grant Award

Brownsville was one of four communities in Texas to earn Texas Early Learning Council Grants to improve local school readiness. The BISD Curriculum & Instruction Department Collaborated with the United Way of Southern Cameron County to secure the $110,000, two-year grant awarded. View the entire media release.

A Message to Vendors

The BISD Purchasing Department has taken on the duty of issuing the letters of introduction for vendors to visit district campuses. To obtain a letter, visit the Purchasing Department located in the BISD Administration Building, 1900 Price Road, Suite #107, or call 548-8361. Rosario Peña is the Purchasing Administrator.

A Taste of Higher Education

The Guidance & Counseling Department will host “University Day” on Thursday, September 15 from 8:00 AM-12:30 PM at the Jacob Brown Auditorium. This annual event provides an opportunity for juniors and seniors from area high schools to visit with representatives from colleges and universities and learn about admission requirements and educational programs. Students from 15 local high schools will participate in this year’s “University Day.”

Walking for Graduates

Brownsville ISD wants every student in our community to graduate from high school. To reach that goal, Interim Superintendent Dr. Carl A. Montoya, Board Trustees and over 100 district and community volunteers will spend Saturday, September 10, 2011 participating in the district’s third “Walk for the Future.” The volunteer teams will campaign door to door to find students who have not returned to school or who have dropped out. Each team will visit with students and parents about the district’s many graduation opportunities. View the media release.

Faculty Artists

The BISD Department of Fine Arts will host the 16th Annual Faculty Art Exhibit on September 9-October 7 at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art located at 660 E. Ringgold Street. Everyone is invited to attend a reception on Friday, September 9 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. This year’s exhibit theme is Mother Earth. For more information, call 982-3730.

STAAR Alert

Beginning in Spring 2012, the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) will replace the TAKS as mandated by the legislature. STAAR is a more rigorous assessment program that will provide the foundation for a new Texas accountability system. The STAAR program in grades 3-8 will assess the same subjects and grades as TAKS. At high school, grade specific assessments will be replaced with 12 end-of-course (EOC) assessments in Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II, English III, world geography, world history and U.S. history.

School Zones

Zoning maps for BISD schools are available on the district’s website. The zoning areas are updated annually by the Assessment, Research and Evaluation Department. Call 554-2806 if you have a question about a specific address or zone. View the online attendance zone for each school.

Subscribe to RSS

Brownsville ISD offers RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to distribute online content beyond visitors just using browsers. RSS is a technology used by millions of web users around the world. It will allow you to keep track of the latest headlines from BISD’s homepage easily and effectively without having to visit the district’s website on a regular basis. Click here to subscribe to the district’s RSS.

The BISD Tradition Continues, 1915-2011

For 96 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 has a fascinating history. Click here and select a BISD school to learn more.

Labor Day Holiday

All BISD campuses and offices will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2011 for Labor Day. Regular district operation will resume on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.

Vela Band is Tops

The Vela Middle School was ranked 11th in the final state round of honor band competition conducted by the Texas Music Educators Association on July 24 in San Antonio.

The Vela Band has advanced to state level competition 8 times since the school opened in 1990, an amazing record. No other Rio Grande Valley middle school band program has ever ranked at the state level with such consistency.

The Vela Middle School Band is under the direction of Mario Sarmiento. Congratulations to the students, parents and directors on their most recent state level achievement.

August Grads

Brownsville ISD hosted it annual summer graduation ceremony on Wednesday, August 31 at 7 pm in the Rivera High School gym. Over 100 BISD graduates wore their home-school caps and gowns and crossed the stage to receive their high school diplomas in a traditional ceremony. For over 15 years, BISD has held a special summer graduation ceremony at the end of August for students who were unable to participate in the district’s June commencements for various reasons. Click here to view photos of the district’s 2011 Summer Graduation.

3 Days to Rescind Early Notification

The Early Notification of Resignation/Retirement deadline was Wednesday, August 31, 2011. BISD employees have until Tuesday, September 6, 2011 to rescind their resignation/retirement if they wish to do so. Written notification to rescind a resignation/retirement must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at 1900 Price Road, Suite 302.

Fun and Games for Wellness

The BISD Wellness/Fitness Center, located at the CAB, will offer volleyball and flag football during the fall semester. Two organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 6 at 6:00 pm for volleyball and 6:30 pm for flag football. Team captains need to attend these meetings to receive the league requirements, rules, procedures and forms. For questions, call Roy Alaniz at 698-0194.

Free Flu Shots for Employees

Mutual Assurance Administrators, Inc. (MMA) has arranged for local pharmacies to provide free flu shots on September 13-15 for district employees. BISD employees must present a district or campus/department ID in order to receive a free flu shot. View the schedule.

Food Allergy Notification

BISD strives to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students. The state legislature recently passed HB 742 which relates to student information provided at the time of enrollment in public schools. If your child has a food allergy or severe food allergy that you believe should be disclosed to Brownsville ISD, you will need to complete a form and return it to the school in order for the district to take the necessary precautions for your child’s safety. The form will be kept on file at the campus. The district will maintain the confidentiality of the information and may disclose the information to teachers, school counselors, school nurses and other appropriate school personnel only within the limitations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and district policy. Contact the BISD Health Services at 548-8191 for more information.

Supplies for School

Brownsville ISD provides a list of suggested school supplies for elementary students each year. Some teachers may omit or add items to the list. For that reason, parents may wish to wait until the first class day, Monday, August 22, before purchasing specific supplies. View the list of suggested elementary school supplies in English and Spanish.

Tasty Nutrition

All students are welcome to participate in the district’s school breakfast and lunch programs, free of charge, through the Special Assistance Provision 2 Program. BISD Food and Nutrition Services staff carefully analyze menus to ensure that 1/4 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are met for breakfast and 1/3 for lunch. Students can expect a menu that is balanced, healthy and offers a variety of foods for differing tastes. An assortment of salads as well as fresh fruit and whole grains are a few of the options available for health conscious students. For more information, log on to the Food and Nutrition Services website at www.bisd.us/fs.

Know the Rules

Each BISD student will receive a 2011-2012 Student Code of Conduct/Student-Parent Handbook. This booklet, available in English and Spanish, explains the standards for student conduct and discipline and provides general information about school attendance, enrollment requirements, lunch hours, textbooks, weather emergencies, field trips, career pathways, homework, requirements for graduation, etc. Students and their parents/guardians are required to sign an acknowledgment form which verifies receipt of this publication. Receipt forms are kept on file by the campuses. Everyone is encouraged to read the handbook thoroughly in order to better understand district expectations. The 2011-2012 BISD Student Code of Conduct/Student-Parent Handbook is also available online at www.bisd.us.

View Grades Online

Parents are invited to use the district’s GradeSpeed Program to access grades online. Grades for students, elementary and secondary, are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by logging on to www. bisd.us. Simply contact a BISD campus to set up a GradeSpeed account or to obtain more information.

Hanna Teacher Named

Hanna High School ninth-grade teacher Scott Sherman of Brownsville, Texas, was honored as the Secondary Educator of the Year July 21 by the state’s largest educators group. Sherman, who has 20 years of teaching experience, was presented with the honor during the 2011 ATPE Summit Awards Banquet hosted by the Association of Texas Professional Educators at the Austin Convention Center. View the entire release.

Latest News on Transportation Services

Letters from the BISD Transportation Department will be arriving in local mailboxes this week, August 15–19, prior to the beginning of classes on Monday, August 22. The letters will provide detailed information on the school bus stops and bus assignments for eligible students and their parents for the 2011–2012 school year.

As a courtesy, the Transportation Department will also host its annual telephone hotline with extended hours on Thursday, August 18 and Friday, August 19 from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The public is invited to call 698-2356 or 690-2925 to speak to a department representative for answers to their questions. Parents and students may also contact their respective campus if an address has changed or if they do not receive a letter this week regarding district transportation services.

Brownsville ISD officials have worked tirelessly for months to identify creative ways to reduce spending and control expenses. Fortunately, the district was able to adopt a budget that not only retained current employees but also maintained the regular program bus routes and bus stops that were in place last school year.

For more information, call the BISD Routes Office at 698-0272, 698-0274, 698-2357, 698-2926 or 698-2927, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Free Employee Flu Shots

Mutual Assurance Administrators, Inc. (MAA) will provide free flu shots to BISD employees before, during, and after the “Back to School” rallies on Wednesday, August 17 and Thursday, August 18 at the Rivera High School gymnasium from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. BISD employees must present a district or campus/department ID in order to receive a free flu shot. Other flu shot opportunities will be provided in the near future.

Summer Graduation 2011

Everyone is invited to attend the 2011 Summer Graduation Ceremony honoring graduates from all BISD high schools.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011
7:00 PM
Rivera High School Gym
6955 FM 802
Graduates will wear their home-school caps and gowns and participate in a traditional graduation ceremony.

A Note to Potential Summer Grads
Contact your campus head counselor immediately. Practice will be held on Wednesday, August 31 at 10:00 AM in the Rivera High School Cafeteria. Caps and gowns will be available for purchase before the ceremony from 5:00–6:45 PM. Cost is $15.00 for an 8 x 10 graduation photo. KBSD TV will videotape the ceremony.

Head Counselors
Hanna.......Mariana Figueroa.........698-0282
Lopez........Alicia Roberts................698-2336
Pace..........Sarita Garza...................698-0294
Porter........Jean Cargile..................698-1448
Rivera.......Cindy Elizondo...............698-2176

A Slight Increase

For the 2011-2012 school year, BISD has increased the adult lunch meal price from $3.00 to $3.25 in order to comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations regarding adult meal pricing. For more information

Early Notification of Resignation Plan News

At the regular Board Meeting held on Tuesday August 9, BISD Board Trustees voted to extend the Early Notification of Resignation Plan and reopen the time frame available for employee requests from August 10, 2011 to August 31, 2011 for Certified, Classified, and Special Assignment personnel. For questions, contact Maricela Zarate, Administrator for Human Resources, at 548-8031. Click here to view the details in English or Spanish.

Time for Gridiron Action!

Find out when and where your favorite BISD high school football team is playing. View or download the 2011 schedule here.

New Hours

The BISD Human Resources Department has extended office hours in order to better serve applicants and employees. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. In addition, an HR specialist will be available during the lunch hour from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm each weekday.

BISD Awarded Almost $15 Million

Brownsville ISD has been awarded a 21st Century Community Learning Center, Cycle 7 grant totaling almost $3 million a year for 5 years from the Texas Education Agency. This highly competitive grant will support before and after school activities for qualifying students at 9 selected campuses, 4 middle schools (Garcia, Lucio, Perkins and Stillman) and 5 elementary schools (Benavides, Castañeda, Cromack, Russell and Villa Nueva). Activities are set to begin at the end of August.

“This grant award will bring much needed funding into our district to provide some excellent quality activities, materials and staff. It will directly benefit our at-risk students and their families,” said Dr. Carl A. Montoya. “My sincere thanks to those who made it possible.” View the media release.

Governor Appoints Whittemore

Geralda Morales-Whittemore, an assistant principal at Perkins Middle School, has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Continuing Advisory Committee for Special Education. The committee provides policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in Texas. Whittemore was one of seven members appointed to this committee by Perry. She is a former teacher, guidance counselor, and past president of the Tip of Texas Counseling Association. Her term is set to expire on February 1, 2013.

No Sales Tax

The annual Texas Sales Tax Holiday/Tax Free Weekend will be held on August 19-21 this year. Click here to view the list of school supplies, clothing, footwear and backpacks that are tax exempt during this 3-day period.

43 BISD Campuses Earn Top 2011 Ratings

The Texas Education Agency officially announced the 2011 accountability ratings for school districts and campuses across the state on Friday, July 29, 2011. BISD had a total of 8 Exemplary and 35 Recognized campuses. Click here to learn more.

Open for Business

Three BISD Departments, Maintenance; Records Management; and Warehouse, have completed their moves to the new Palo Alto Support Service Center located at 4330 E. Morrison Road. Drop by for a visit and see BISD’s newest facility. There is ample parking. The three departments will retain their same telephone numbers.

BISD Cafeterias Are Tops

The BISD Food & Nutrition Services Department is a source of pride for the district. During the 2010-2011 school year, BISD cafeterias earned top marks. Officials report that all 58 district cafeterias passed not one, but two health inspections as mandated by the federal government. When possible, the Brownsville Health Department performed a third inspection to ensure all food safety and sanitation standards were in compliance. A total of 154 school cafeteria health inspections resulted in scores of 96 and above. In fact, 150 of these inspections scored at 100%. School cafeterias nationwide are held to a more rigorous standard since food is prepared and served to young people. Parents can be assured that their children are eating safe, carefully prepared food in BISD school cafeterias. Inspections scores are listed on the Food & Nutrition Services website for the public to view.

Changes to Administrative Team

Dr. Carl A. Montoya has announced a few additional changes to his top administrative team. Effective immediately, Mary Jo Monfils, Area Assistant Superintendent for the Lopez and Porter cluster schools, will assume duties as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

Berta Peña who currently holds the curriculum position has been named the Assistant Superintendent for Administration. In this position, Peña will oversee the Pace and Porter cluster schools, the Brownsville Early College High School, and the Brownsville Learning Academy. She will also provide leadership to the area assistant superintendents.

Jay Harris will supervise the Veterans Memorial cluster and the Lopez cluster. Dr. Rita Hernandez will supervise the Hanna and Rivera clusters and the Brownsville Academic Center.

“It is important to get our top administrative team in place as soon as possible to face the challenges of a leaner budget and the changes in standardized testing,” said Dr. Montoya. “These leaders are seasoned professionals who will continue to guide our district to proven student academic success. I thank them for their willingness to assume these duties.”

Postsecondary Partnership Grant Award

For the past seven months, BISD officials have been involved with several other community stakeholders in intense planning and partnership building. As a result, the United Way of Southern Cameron County has been awarded a $1,299,909 grant to guide the Brownsville postsecondary partnership in a three-year demonstration funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Partners for Postsecondary Success Initiative is part of the Gates Foundation’s postsecondary strategy to double the number of young adults (aged 16-26) who earn a postsecondary credential with labor market value by 2025. Click here to read the entire media release.

STAAR Alert

Beginning in Spring 2012, the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) will replace the TAKS as mandated by the legislature. STAAR is a more rigorous assessment program that will provide the foundation for a new Texas accountability system. The STAAR program in grades 3-8 will assess the same subjects and grades as TAKS. At high school, grade specific assessments will be replaced with 12 end-of-course (EOC) assessments in Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II, English III, world geography, world history and U.S. history.

3 Days to Rescind Early Notification

The Early Notification of Resignation/Retirement deadline was Monday, July 11, 2011. Employees have 3 days (July 12, 13, and 14) to rescind their resignation/retirement if they wish to do so. Written notification to rescind a resignation/retirement must be submitted to the Interim Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at 1900 E. Price Road, Suite 302.

Take a Virtual Tour

Brownsville ISD has several major construction projects underway this summer. One is the new Performing Arts Instructional Facility being built by the resaca in front of Hanna High School. Click here to take a 360 panoramic virtual tour of this new facility.

Interim Leader for Cummings

Dr. Carl A. Montoya, BISD Interim Superintendent, has appointed Dr. Edward Ude as the Interim Principal for Cummings Middle School.

Dr. Ude is currently serving as the BISD Attendance Supervisor, a position he has held since 2008. He has a total of 14 years of educational experience having held positions in 3 other Texas districts, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and Mathis. From 2000-2002, Ude served as principal of McCraw Junior High School in Mathis ISD. Prior to Brownsville, Ude was the principal of the Wynn Seale Academy of Fine Arts Middle School in Corpus Christi from 2002-2005.

Dr. Ude has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Cummings is in the Pace cluster supervised by Jay Harris.

"Dr. Ude has an extensive background in education and a wealth of experience. I know that he will make an excellent leader for the Cummings campus," said Dr. Montoya. "I am pleased to welcome him to our outstanding team of principals."

Preparing for Arlene

BISD officials are closely monitoring all information regarding Tropical Storm Arlene. The district is in contact with all appropriate local and state agencies. BISD campuses and facilities are preparing for the possibility of heavy rainfall in the next few days. The district has a protocol that is followed in the event of severe weather. Any updates regarding district weather procedures will be posted on the BISD homepage.

Holiday Reminder

Monday, July 4 is a holiday on the BISD 2011-2012 Calendar. Work hours for the week of July 5-July 8, Tuesday-Friday, will be from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Thereafter, work hours will continue through July 29, 2011, Monday – Thursday, from 7:30 am – 6:00 pm (30 minute lunch) and closed on Fridays.

Lopez Partners with Park

The Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park received a grant to support the launch of Student Rangers, its new innovative project that trains high school students to be National Park Rangers. Lopez High School is a partner in this grant. View the media release to learn more.

Operation Lone Star at Manzano

Manzano Middle School will host Operation Lone Star 2011 on Monday, July 25-Thursday, July 28 from 8 am-4 pm and Friday, July 29 from 8 am-2 pm. Free medical services will be provided. View the announcement in English and Spanish.

Bright Spot for Morningside

Morningside Elementary has become one of the first 12 schools in the nation recognized as a “Bright Spot School” by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Supported by dozens of funders nationwide, the Campaign is a ten-year effort to increase the number of low-income children reading on grade level by the end of third grade. The Bright Spot Schools were identified in a recent announcement by Ralph Smith, Executive Vice President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, who is spearheading the campaign. Morningside Elementary shares the honor with two other Texas schools, Loma Park in San Antonio and H.S. Thompson in Dallas. Click here to view the media release.

Early Notification of Resignation Plan Extended

At the regular meeting held on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, the BISD Board of Trustees voted to extend the Early Notification Plan and reopen the time frame available for employee requests from June 22, 2011 to July 11, 2011 for certified, classified, and special assignment personnel. Click here to view a letter from Dr. Carl A. Montoya in English and Spanish.

3 New Campus Leaders

At the regular Board Meeting held on June 21, BISD trustees unanimously approved administration’s recommendations to fill three campus principal positions left vacant by recent retirements.

Christian Calderera, currently a specialist in the Curriculum Department, will assume the duties of principal of Keller Elementary. He has a total of 17 years of experience as a BISD educator. Calderera formerly served as the principal of Faulk Middle School for 3 years and as an assistant principal at Hanna High School and Vela Middle School for 5 years. He replaces Carlos Garza who is retiring. Keller Elementary School opened in 2009 and is located in the Veterans Memorial cluster supervised by Jay Harris.

Yolanda Turbeville has been named to the top position at Peña Elementary School. Turbeville also has 17 total years of experience as an educator, all with BISD. She served as an assistant principal at Benavides Elementary School for 5 years and as a facilitator at Garden Park Elementary School for 4 years. She replaces Ernestina Treviño who is retiring. Peña also opened in 2009 and is part of the Rivera cluster supervised by Dr. Rita Hernandez.

Carla Pereira, principal of Putegnat Elementary School, has been selected to lead Faulk Middle School. She also has 17 years of experience, 12 with BISD. Pereira has served as the principal of Putegnat for 2 years and as an assistant principal for 7 years, most recently at Porter High School. She fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Mario Rodriguez. Both Faulk and Putegnat are members of the Porter cluster supervised by Mary Jo Monfils.

“I have great confidence in these fine educators,” said Dr. Montoya, Interim Superintendent. “I know their accomplishments and abilities and I am convinced that they will provide exceptional leadership in their new assignments.”

Early District Payday

Good news! BISD employees will be paid early on Thursday, June 23 due to a financial system upgrade and the district’s abbreviated Monday-Thursday summer schedule. Enjoy your weekend!

Summer Fun

Brownsville ISD offers several summer recreation activities for students from June 13-July 7, Monday-Thursday. Activities includes golf, swimming, track, tennis, basketball, volleyball, and weight training. Click here to view times and locations.

Substitute Changes

All BISD substitute teachers, new and current, are now required to complete a mandatory on-line training program and test which will replace the annual substitute inservice. For more information, click here to view the BISD Classified Human Resources Substitute Page.

Budget Process Coming to a Close

At the BISD Budget Committee Meeting held on Friday, June 10, Board Trustees and administration continued the lengthy and sometimes grueling process of creating a budget with no firm answers from the state regarding the district’s share of the budgetary shortfall. Legislators in Austin continue to meet in special session to formalize and approve a two-year state budget. Brownsville ISD’s current budget of a little over $505 million includes almost $326 million in state revenues.

On April 5, Board Trustees approved Budget Proposal #2 as the district’s working document, subject to policy modifications, legislative action, and/or legal action. Since January, the Board and administration have held a series of 8 budget committee meetings and 5 budget ad hoc committee meetings to identify creative methods to cut costs and reduce expenses. District officials are currently working on the fifth draft of Budget Proposal #2 which includes reductions in transportation, out-of-district travel, operating budgets, stipends, extra duty pay, summer school programs, overtime, and substitute rates as well as positions closed through attrition and reassignments. Previously, the district approved early notification incentives for over 200 resigning and retiring employees. On June 14, several BISD principals from schools across the district were given the opportunity to prioritize reductions in the final budget proposal that will go to the Board of Trustees.

Direct Deposit Update

Approximately 100+ BISD employees still list the former Texas State Bank as their direct deposit bank of choice. It is imperative that these employees immediately update their bank information in the BISD Payroll Department to avoid complications with their July payroll deposit. The bank of deposit is listed on each BISD employee’s direct deposit paystub. Call the Payroll Department at 548-8391 for more information.

Emerson and Morningside Earn Notice

Principal Dolores Emerson and Morningside Elementary are featured in Texas Lone Star Magazine‘s annual Good News About Texas Public Schools July issue. The magazine highlights Morningside’s selection as one of four national recipients of The 8th Annual Dispelling the Myth Award from The Education Trust. Emerson and a team of Morningside educators were recognized at the Education Trust’s national conference held in Crystal City, Virginia in November. View the entire Lone Star Magazine article.

Hanna Facility Tops Out

SpawGlass Contractors will host a “Topping Out” celebration for Hanna High School’s new Instructional Facility on Thursday, July 16 at 11:30 am at the construction site located at 2617 E. Price Road.

The Museum is Open

Effective June 13-July 29, the BISD Museum will follow the district’s summer hours from 7:30 am-6:00 pm, Monday-Thursday. The Museum will be closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Schedule a tour or just stop by and visit the ever-changing exhibits of student, employee, and building memorabilia from BISD’s past. Contact Hilda Williams at 698-1752 for more information.

New Quarters

New Quarters

Effective Monday, July 11, the BISD Warehouse/Textbooks/Fixed Assets Department will be located at the brand, new Palo Alto Support Services Center at 4330 Morrison Road.

Graduation Videos

BISD high schools reported that 2,666 graduates received their diplomas at last week’s 2011 commencement ceremonies. KBSD was there to videotape all the action. DVD’s are available for purchase for $10.00. Call 548-8288 to order your copy today.

Budget and Proposed tax Rate

Brownsville ISD is required to adopt a budget before July 1, the beginning of the district’s fiscal year. A public meeting will be held on Thursday, June 23 at 5:30 pm in the Boardroom to discuss the district’s budget and determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is welcome. Click here to view the announcement.

School Finance: Plain and Simple

This four-minute video explains basic school finance and why public schools are in a funding crisis. It was produced by Arlington ISD and has made its way to school district websites across Texas. Special thanks to KBSD-TV for adapting it to Brownsville ISD. Click here to view the video.

Montoya Appointed Interim Superintendent

At the Rescheduled Regular Board Meeting of the Brownsville Independent School District held on Wednesday, June 8, at 1:00 PM, the Board of Trustees accepted the written resignation of Superintendent Brett Springston.

Dr. Carl Montoya, the current Area Administrator for the Rivera Cluster Schools, has been appointed to serve as the Interim Superintendent.

The Board of Trustees praised Springston as an outstanding and well-respected educational leader. They also thanked him for his many years of service to Brownsville ISD.

Dr. Carl Montoya is a veteran educator with 35 years of experience. He has held administrative positions in New Mexico and Dallas. Prior to arriving in Brownsville, Montoya served as the Superintendent of Aransas Pass Independent School District for 6 years. He has worked for BISD for the past 4 years. Dr. Montoya is a certified Texas police officer and was recently re-appointed by Governor Rick Perry for another term on the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University, a committee that he chairs. He holds a Doctorate in Education from New Mexico State University.

“I want to thank the Board for this opportunity. I look forward to working with the Trustees in a productive and positive relationship that will benefit our district and community stakeholders,” said Dr. Montoya, Interim Superintendent.

Additonal Duties for Two Administrators

Dr. Carl A. Montoya, BISD Interim Superintendent, has announced two administrative assignments which are effective immediately.

Ismael Garcia, the current administrator for Special Programs, will assume additional duties as the district’s Interim Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Rita Hernandez, Area Administrator for the Hanna cluster schools, will also take on supervision of the Rivera cluster schools, formerly supervised by Dr. Montoya.

“Both Ismael Garcia and Dr. Hernandez are highly qualified. I know them well and they are excellent administrators, ” said Dr. Montoya. “I thank them for their willingness to assume additional responsibilities as we prepare for the 2011-2012 school year.”

Three area assistant superintendents now oversee two clusters of schools each. Jay Harris is responsible for the Pace and Veterans Memorial clusters and Mary Jo Monfils has the Porter and Lopez clusters.

Preliminary TAKS Released

The Texas Education Agency has released the preliminary results of the 2011 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) which was taken by Brownsville ISD students in grades 3-11 in April 2011. Areas tested include math, reading/English language arts, writing, science, and social studies. When compared to 2010 scores, the latest BISD scores indicate gains in 8 grade level and subject areas. Increases of 1–4% were posted in 5th, 7th, and 11th grade reading/English language arts and 3rd, 4th, 5th and 10th grade math. A 3% increase occurred in 10th grade science. The 4th grade writing and 10th grade reading/English language arts scores remained the same. The other 17 grade level and subject area scores recorded decreases of 1 to 5%. It is important to note that of the 27 grade level and subject areas tested, 10 recorded scores of 90% or above and 14 scored 80% or above. Overall, 80% or more of all district students met expectations in math, reading and science and 93% met expectations in social studies and writing. Every year, the state increases academic requirements and this year was no exception. For the first time, TAKS–Modified and TAKS–Alternative scores, based on modified academic achievement standards, were calculated into the overall district composite scores. Click here to read more.

Principals’ Checkout

The annual BISD Principals’ Express Checkout will be held on Wednesday, June 15 from 9:00-11:30 am and 1:00-2:30 pm in the Boardroom. Click here to view the announcement.

Preliminary TAKS Released

The Texas Education Agency has released the preliminary results of the 2011 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) which was taken by Brownsville ISD students in grades 3-11 in April 2011. Areas tested include math, reading/English language arts, writing, science, and social studies.

When compared to 2010 scores, the latest BISD scores indicate gains in 8 grade level and subject areas. Increases of 1–4% were posted in 5th, 7th, and 11th grade reading/English language arts and 3rd, 4th, 5th and 10th grade math. A 3% increase occurred in 10th grade science. The 4th grade writing and 10th grade reading/English language arts scores remained the same. The other 17 grade level and subject area scores recorded decreases of 1 to 5%. It is important to note that of the 27 grade level and subject areas tested, 10 recorded scores of 90% or above and 14 scored 80% or above. Overall, 80% or more of all district students met expectations in math, reading and science and 93% met expectations in social studies and writing. Every year, the state increases academic requirements and this year was no exception. For the first time, TAKS–Modified and TAKS–Alternative scores, based on modified academic achievement standards, were calculated into the overall district composite scores.

Click here to read more

Track Renovations

Sams Stadium will be closed to the public during the month of June due to graduation ceremonies and track renovations. Sams Stadium will reopen to the public on Tuesday July 5.

Final Training

The 2010-2011 BISD End-of-the-Year Administrators’ Inservice will be held on Thursday, June 9 from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Veterans Memorial High School auditorium. Click here to view the announcement.

2011 Ballroom Results

The Department of Fine Arts has released the results of the 2011 Red Hot Ballroom Competition held on May 25 and 26 at the Brownsville Events Center. Hundreds of students representing 43 BISD campuses participated in 7 styles of dance. This is the 5th year that BISD has sponsored this competition. Click here to view the final results.

Wellness/Fitness Center Summer Hours

BISD employees, students and parents are encouraged to use the district’s Wellness/Fitness Center, located at the Central Administrative Building (CAB) complex, during the summer. Beginning on Monday, June 6, the Center will be open from 7:30 am to 12:00 noon and 12:30 to 5:30 pm, Monday-Thursday. The Wellness/Fitness Center will follow the district’s summer schedule and will close on Fridays. For more information, call Roy Alaniz at 698-0194.

Summer Feeding

Summer Feeding

Brownsville ISD will offer the annual Summer Food Service Program beginning on Monday, June 6 at most locations. Free lunch will be provided to children, ages 0-18, at numerous school and non-school sites. The summer program will follow the district’s Monday-Thursday summer schedule. Click here to view the entire Summer Food Service Program schedule in English and Spanish.

Revised Code of Ethics

The Educators’ Code of Ethics has been updated and revised to include electronic communication. Click here to view.

Superintendent’s Scholarship Recipients

Superintendent Brett Springston has announced the winners of the 2011 Superintendent’s Scholarships. A total of 70 graduating BISD seniors will each receive $1,000 to attend the college of their choice.

Over $70,000 in scholarship funds was raised at the 8th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament hosted by Springston at the Rancho Viejo Resort on Saturday, May 14, 2011.
Scholarship recipients were selected by a committee of local Brownsville leaders and district personnel. Over 150 student applications were reviewed.

“The participation of our local businesses and community organizations has made this
tournament one of the largest in the Rio Grande Valley. I sincerely thank our sponsors for
enthusiastically supporting our students and enabling them to continue their education,” said Springston.

In the last 8 years, the Superintendent’s Scholarship Golf Tournament has provided $500,000 in scholarships to 400 deserving BISD graduates.

Brett Springston will personally award the 2011 Superintendent’s Scholarships to the following recipients on Tuesday, May 31 at their respective campuses.

BISD Artists Excel

The Jr. VASE Art Competition was held in McAllen on Saturday, May 14. BISD middle school students brought home more medals than any other Rio Grande Valley district. Congratulations to our district’s talented young artists and their teachers. The fine arts are alive and well in Brownsville ISD. Click here to view the results.

Website Wins Award

Brownsville ISD’s website won 2nd place in the national 2011 SchoolE Awards. Brownsville, with 1,886 votes, was edged out by Clear Creek ISD with 2,106 votes in the large district category. The SchoolE Awards recognize the best in school district website design and strategy. The voting included hits from more than 60 countries and thousands of people. Brownsville ISD’s website registers over 400,000 hits each month.

Vela Choir is Tops

The Vela Middle School A Cappella Choir has been selected to perform as an Honor Choir at the 2012 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Conference. Hundreds of choirs submitted recordings in a competitive process to select 3 or 4 honor choirs. The Vela choir triumphed again having been selected once before in 2004. Congratulations to the Vela students, Director Melody Eriksen, and Assistant Director Ginger Wheelock.

VIP at Hanna

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will speak to Hanna High School students on Friday, May 20 at 2:00 pm in the school’s gym. Solis will be in Brownsville to address graduates at Spring Commencement at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College on Saturday, May 21.

Prior to her confirmation as Labor Secretary, Solis represented the 32nd Congressional District in California, a position she held from 2001 to 2009. A nationally recognized leader on the environment, Solis became the first woman to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2000 for her pioneering work on environmental justice issues. Her California environmental justice legislation, enacted in 1999, was the first of its kind in the nation to become law.

Honors Day on Thursday

BISD will host Honors Day 2011 on Thursday, May 19 from 8:30 am – 1:30 pm at the district’s outdoor encampment located on FM 1421, west of Rancho Viejo Resort. Every year, the district rewards high school top 5% and achievement award winners with a fun-filled day of refreshments, food, music, and outdoor activities.

Weather Make-Up Days

BISD will hold classes on Friday, May 27 and Monday, May 30 although these days were originally designated as holidays on the BISD calendar. The District-wide Educational Improvement Council voted to use these days as make-up days to replace the two instructional days lost on February 3 and 4 due to inclement weather. The Texas Education Agency did not grant waiver days for this severe weather and the two instructional days must be made up.

Showcasing Our Students

The BISD Department of Advanced Academic Services will host the annual Galaxy Showcase of Stars on Tuesday, May 24 from 6:00-8:00 PM in the Central Administrative Building (CAB) cafeteria and auditorium, located at 708 Palm Boulevard. Gifted and Talented students will share their creativity and talents with parents and the community through project displays and artistic performances. Everyone is invited to help celebrate our G/T students and acknowledge their hard work.

Rising Student Stars

Brownsville ISD has 24 students who were selected to participate in The Academy for Rising Leaders, Subiendo, a five-day intensive summer program that brings together aspiring high school seniors, current juniors, for an unforgettable leadership development experience. Participants will have an opportunity to problem solve real-world issues with top business and political leaders. There is no cost for students to attend and travel is provided for students who need assistance getting to Austin. Click here to see the BISD students selected for Subiendo.

Supporting Our Dyslexia Program

Former First Lady Barbara Bush awarded Dr. Elsa Hagan, a local bilingual speech language pathologist, a check for $15,000 to match a challenge grant from the Brownsville Foundation for Health and Education for BISD’s Dyslexia Program. The funds are being used to assist all BISD dyslexia teachers in becoming licensed dyslexia practioners. No other school district in the United States has achieved this goal. BISD is partnering with the Neuhaus Education Center of Houston to mentor BISD’s dyslexia teachers and help prepare them to take the national examination and practicum. The former first lady gave the award at the 2011 Celebration of Reading Event held in Houston on April 28 to benefit the Barbra Bush literacy programs. Several Bush family members participated in the event including Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Elementary Scientists at Work

Several hundred of BISD’s best young scientists will participate in the Elementary Science Fairs to be held at four middle schools across the city on Saturday, May 21. Click here to view the sites and schedule.

Trio Earns Grants

Three BISD elementary schools, Canales, Morningside, and Sharp, received grants of up to $5,000 from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. The money will be used to expand, update and diversify their library book collections. A total of 241 school libraries received $1,086,926 in grants for 2011. Two McAllen schools were the only other Rio Grande Valley schools to receive library grants this year. The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries was founded in 2002 as a fund of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. Since its inception, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded more than $8.4 million to 1,624 schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Top Seniors Recognized

Two standout seniors from each of the five BISD high school graduating classes were recognized by The Brownsville Herald as 2011 Academic All-Stars on Sunday May 8. Each student wrote an essay, took a photo, and was videotaped. Congratulations to Luis Fernando Baez and Kimberly Carmona, Pace; Ana Blanco and Diana Reyes, Lopez; Joanna Patricia Lyles and Alejandro Eduardo Vargas, Porter; Cristina Alejandra Averill and Ravi Arvind Thakker, Hanna; and Monica Mendoza and Felipe de Jesus Velez, Rivera, on their outstanding achievements.

Telephone Book Recycling

BISD students, parents, and employees are invited to participate in an expanded district-wide recycling effort by donating their outdated phone books.

The BISD Going Green Truck will pick up phone books with the usual recycled materials during the week of May 16-20. The truck will follow the standard pick-up schedule.

Summer Learning

Brownsville ISD offers summer programs to meet the academic needs of all students. Please note that summer school programs will follow the Monday-Thursday district schedule. Click here to view the complete 2011 Summer School booklet.

BISD Seniors Earn Recognition

Eleven BISD seniors earned 2011 academic recognition from the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP). Congratulations to Lauren A. Atkinson, Dino X. Chavez II, Nicole M. Kidd, Karla V. Martinez, Leah R. Ramirez and Adam Tullos from Hanna High School; Lazaro E. Hernandez, Guillermo M. Montelongo, and James I. Murray from Porter High School; and Humberto F. De la Garza and Jose Rivas from Pace High School. Qualification for recognition is based on critical reading, mathematics and writing skill scores on the PSAT/NMSQT. A minimum grade average of 3.0 is also required. The NHRP identifies nearly 5,000 outstanding Hispanic/Latino students each year. A list all recognized students is sent to subscribing colleges and universities.

BISD Students Earn Duke Accolades

A total of 16 BISD seventh grade students have been qualified to participate in the State Recognition Ceremony of this year’s Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP). To qualify for the Duke TIP 7th Grade Search, a student must have scored at the 95th percentile or higher on the national norms of a grade-level standardized achievement, aptitude or mental ability test. A student qualifying for State Recognition is in the top 25th% of the Talent Search Pool. This year, 125 BISD 7th grade students participated in the Duke program. Click here to see the 16 BISD students who qualified for State Recognition.

Opportunity to Change Your Mind

As a courtesy, BISD employees who have been accepted for the Early Notification of Resignation plan will have until Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 5:00 pm to rescind their resignation/retirement letter. For more information, contact Susan Fox, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, at sfox@bisd.us or 698-0210.

BISD Sponsors Summer Feeding

Summer may mean a vacation from classes for many students but it does not have to mean a vacation from healthy school meals. Brownsville ISD strongly supports initiatives that provide our students with the opportunity to grow and become healthy, well-educated adults. Therefore, as in years past, BISD will sponsor the Summer Food Service Program and provide breakfasts and lunches to students at school sites and other locations around Brownville.

School meals are prepared and served by Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) staff who have undergone extensive training in food safety and sanitation as set forth by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the City of Brownsville Health Department, and the Cameron County Health and Human Services Department.

All menus are planned by registered dietitians and meet strict dietary guidelines for calories, total fat, saturated fat, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. Students have an opportunity to choose between a hot or cold breakfast and will also receive a hot lunch daily.

All children, 18 years of age and younger, are eligible and welcome to participate in both the breakfast and lunch programs. Participation is encouraged to ensure students receive the vital nourishment necessary to help them achieve academic excellence and have energy for their daily activities.

Visit the BISD homepage frequently for updated information on Summer Feeding Program locations and meal service schedules as they become available.

Energy Savings Pay Off

The BISD Maintenance Department has announced the first 11 winners of the school district’s Energy Smart Contest which includes $17,102.86 in cash awards. In November 2010, BISD campuses began participating in a competition to significantly reduce electricity consumption. Schools were able to compete against themselves by comparing their 2008-2009 benchmark averages to their 2010-2011 figures. The high school, middle school and elementary school with the highest reduction in electricity consumption for a given month will each receive recognition plaques and cash awards in the amount of ½
of their energy savings to be evenly divided into their student and employee motivational accounts. New BISD schools with no energy use history are not eligible to participate. The BISD Energy Smart Contest is part of the district’s overall Energy Management Plan which was approved by the Board of Trustees on January 19, 2010.

BISD Energy Smart Schools

November Awards
Lopez High School - $225.70
Vela Middle School - $1,254.47
Martin Elementary School - $1,979.78

December Awards
High School – No Winner
Stell Middle School - $388.94
Martin Elementary School - $2,122.68

January Awards
Hanna High School - $2,379.91
Cummings Middle School - $2,045.60
Longoria Elementary School - $1,131.01

February Awards
Pace High School - $2,864.21
Stillman Middle School - $1,784.20
Putegnat Elementary School - $926.35

Payday on Thursday

BISD monthly employees will be paid on Thursday, April 21, 2011. This was the original payday before revisions were made to the academic calendar which eliminated the Monday, April 25 holiday due to TAKS testing. Administration made the decision to pay employees prior to the Easter break. Have a nice holiday.

MS Choir Shine

Hundreds of Rio Grande Valley students competed for a coveted spot on the prestigious Region 28 Middle School Choir. The competition was held on Saturday, April 16 at the Donna ISD Performing Arts Center. A total of 212 BISD students from all 11 middle schools, 19 more than last year, qualified for the regional choir. Click here to see the individual BISD campus results.

Update on Early Notification of Resignation

As of Monday, April 18, a total of 208 BISD employees have submitted applications to participate in the Early Notification of Resignation plan. Trustees approved the resolution at the Board Meeting held on April 5, 2011. Of that total, 137 are teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians, and speech pathologists; 12 are administrators and special assignment employees; and 59 are classified personnel. Interested employees must contact the BISD Human Resources Department and submit all required paperwork no later than Monday, April 25, 2011 at 5:00 PM. Some restrictions do apply.

BISD Bands Excel at Region 28

BISD bands set another all time record at the 2011 Region 28 High School Band UIL Concert and Sight–Reading Contest held on April 12-14 at the UTB Arts Center. Brownsville ISD bands earned more 1st division ratings than ever before. Every BISD high school top band received a UIL sweepstakes trophy and straight 1st division ranking. Of the BISD high school bands that competed, all 12 received UIL awards, 10 earned sweepstakes trophies, and 4 improved their ratings over last year. BISD’s strong band program has raised the bar another notch for future bands. Congratulations to the band students, directors and parents. Click here to see the results.

Comptroller Notifying Texans

The Texas Comptroller is notifying a large number of Texans, including many served by the Texas Teacher Retirement System, that their personal information may have been inadvertently disclosed to the public on an agency computer. A toll free phone number 1-855-474-2065 has been established for individuals to call and see if their personal information was compromised and if they will be receiving a notification letter. Click here to obtain more information.

BISD Students Score at VASE

Five BISD high school students won top Gold Seal Awards at the State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) held on April 8 and 9 in League City, Texas. The number of state qualifiers was cut in half this year, but BISD students still increased their total of Gold Seal Awards from 3 last year to 5 this year, a new BISD and Region One record. Congratulations to Blanca M. Soberanes, Hanna; Rodrigo Hernandez and Victor Torres, Lopez; Alexander Aguilar, Porter; and Eduardo Sanchez, Veterans Memorial. Click here to view the VASE results.

Saavedra Tapped for CUBE Committee

A member of the Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees has been elected to a coveted position on a respected national education panel. Dr. Christina L. Saavedra, BISD Board Assistant Secretary, has been made a member of the Steering Committee of the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). Established in 1967, CUBE is the only national membership organization governed solely by urban school board members dedicated to the needs and interests of urban school boards.

Dr. Saavedra’s election came during the 71st Annual National School Boards Association
Conference held in San Francisco, California on April 9–11, 2011. The entire CUBE
membership voted on her nomination. CUBE is governed by a Steering Committee
composed of 15 urban school board members from across the United States who meet
quarterly. Saavedra was first elected to the BISD Board in 2010.

CUBE represents over 110 urban school districts in 35 states and the Virgin Islands. Member districts educate nearly 8 million students in over 12,000 schools with a collective budget of approximately $99 billion. For more than 40 years, CUBE has been at the forefront of helping urban school districts strive for excellence. CUBE helps urban school leaders find solutions to challenges at the local level and seeks to improve their policy making effectiveness.

In 2008, the BISD Board of Trustees won the prestigious CUBE Annual Award for Urban
School Board Excellence and the district won the Broad Prize for Urban Education. In July
2010, the Texas Education Agency designated Brownsville as a State Recognized School
District for meeting absolute standard criteria. All 52 BISD schools, 100% of all district
campuses, were rated Exemplary or Recognized in the state’s 2010 accountability system.

Porter OAP Off to Regionals

Casts from Porter and Lopez High Schools competed at the Area UIL One Act Play (OAP) Contest held at Veterans Memorial High School in Brownsville on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Porter earned a trip to the UIL Regional OAP Contest scheduled for Thursday, April 14 at Judson High School in Converse, Texas. Lopez was designated as an OAP alternate. Both the Porter and Lopez teams have successfully secured spots in the list of top 28 OAP 5A schools in Texas.

Board Budget Meeting on Wednesday

The BISD Board Budget Committee will meet again on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 5:30
PM in the Boardroom. The meetings are open to the public. At the Board Meeting held on April 5, 2011, trustees approved a resolution for an Early Notification of Resignation plan that offers a one-time payment to interested BISD employees who meet the criteria and submit all required paperwork by the April 25, 2011 deadline. Trustees also unanimously approved using Budget Proposal #2 with a little over $31 million in reductions as the district’s working document for the 2011-2012 compensation plan and budget, subject to policy modifications, legislative action, and/or legal action. All district budget drafts have been developed using funding reduction estimates compiled by the Texas School Alliance. The BISD Board of Trustees and administration remain firmly committed to retaining all district employees while continuing to offer the same high quality educational programs that the district is known for. The state of Texas is facing its most serious budget challenge in decades. Since spending on public education makes up about 44% of the state budget, much of the responsibility for balancing the budget falls squarely on local school districts. Brownsville ISD will continue to work diligently to identify creative ways to reduce spending and control expenses. All budget progress will be communicated to district stakeholders during this trying and uncertain time.

Board Approves Early Notification of Resignation Plan

At the regularly scheduled meeting held on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, Brownsville ISD Board
Trustees approved a resolution to survey employees to determine who is interested in
participating in an Early Notification of Resignation plan.

BISD, like all Texas districts, is facing a budgetary shortfall with limited funding from
state, federal, and local revenues for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year and beyond.
Approximately 78% of the district’s annual budget is comprised of employee compensation and benefits. This survey is an attempt to obtain an accurate forecast this school year of employees who do not intend to return to employment next year. The survey totals will allow the district to assess its personnel needs and costs for the upcoming 2011-12 school year resulting in significant cost savings.

The district is prepared to offer early notification payments in the amount of:
* $10,000 for Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Nurses, Librarians, and Speech
_Pathologists (Cap of 200);
* $4,500 for Administrators and Special Assignment Personnel
_(Cap of 25), and
* $3,000 for Classified Personnel (Cap of 50).

Interested employees must contact the BISD Human Resources Department and submit all required paperwork beginning April 11 and no later than April 25, 2011 at 5:00 PM. Some restrictions do apply.

“Through a series of meetings, the BISD Board Budget Committee and administration have identified several methods to cut costs and reduce expenses. This early notification plan is one way to close our anticipated financial deficit while still maintaining the academic progress that has become the standard in our district,” said Superintendent Brett Springston.

Click here to download Resolution #018-10-11 and the Resignation of Notification Waiver and Release Agreement. Questions or emails from employees can be directed to Susan Fox, sfox@bisd.us or 698-0210; Maricela Zarate, z@bisd.us, 698-1259; and Judy Cuellar, jcg@bisd.us, 698-1245.

One Act Play Contest This Saturday at Veterans High School

BISD will host the UIL 5A Region IV Area 3 One Act Play Contest this Saturday, April 9 at the Veterans Memorial High School Auditorium located at 4550 U.S. Military Highway 281. The performances are open to the public and will begin at 1:00 pm. Admission is $5.00. Please plan to arrive early. Doors open at 12:30 pm and no one will be admitted once performances have commenced. All plays will run back to back. The theater has audience seating for 525.

Garden Park and Aiken Advance to Global Competition

Teams from Garden Park and Aiken Elementary Schools will represent BISD and the South Border Bridge Region at the Destination Imagination Global Finals to be held on May 25-29 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Garden Park placed 2nd and Aiken placed 3rd in the Texas DI State Affiliate Tournament held on March 31-April 2 in Lubbock, Texas. Sharp, Southmost, and Russell Elementary Schools and Garcia and Manzano Middle Schools also competed in Lubbock.

Going to Work with Mom and Dad

The Board of Trustees has approved Thursday, May 5, 2011 as the official BISD date for “Take Our Children to Work Day.” Participation is limited to students in grades 5-8. Students are required to write a composition for their language arts class describing their reflections and experiences. Students participating in BISD’s “Take Our Children to Work Day” who meet these guidelines will be counted present for attendance and funding purposes.

BISD Visual Arts are Thriving

Congratulations to all BISD students and teachers for their enthusiastic participation in the BISD Middle and High School Art Competition held on March 26 at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts. Click here to view this year’s contest results.

Middle School Bands Break Another Record

Brownsville ISD had the largest number of middle school bands to date earn 1st division scores at the 2011 UIL Band Middle School Concert and Sight-Reading Contest held at Lopez High School on March 30 and 31. A total of 22 BISD bands competed and 20 earned UIL awards. A record 11 bands earned UIL Sweepstakes trophies and 10 bands significantly improved their ratings from last year. BISD, known as a band powerhouse, produced top results once again with these middle school band performances. Click here to view the results.

BISD Sweeps District OAP

One Act Play (OAP) teams from Porter and Lopez High Schools qualified to compete at the Area 5A Competition to be held on Saturday, April 9 at Veterans Memorial High School in Brownsville. Both schools advanced after their successful performances at the District 5A OAP Contest held at Pace High School on March 30. The event on April 9 will mark the first time that a BISD school has ever hosted an Area OAP competition.

Three-Year-Old Program Registration

Pre-registration for students who will be entering the BISD three-year-old program in August 2011 will be held in conjunction with the pre-kindergarten registration from 8:30 AM-3:30 PM, April 11-21, 2011, at 10 BISD elementary campuses. The elementary campuses with three-year-old programs are Aiken, Burns, Castaneda, Cromack, El Jardin, Longoria, Morningside, Putegnat, Russell and Villa Nueva. Call Federal Programs at 548-8231 for more information.

BISD Homepage Adds Project Share

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has announced a new initiative called Project Share that will explore the development and delivery of high quality professional development in an interactive and engaging learning environment. Project Share utilizes a collection of Web 2.0 tools and applications to provide professional development resources for Texas teachers and build professional learning communities where educators can collaborate and participate in online learning communities. BISD now has a Project Share link on the district’s homepage to assist users. To learn more, click here to download a Project Share newsletter with the latest information.

Emerson Earns H-E-B Recognition

Dolores C. Emerson, the principal at Morningside Elementary, was selected as a finalist for an H-E-B Excellence in Education Award. She was surprised at a student assembly held in the school’s cafeteria on March 31 by an entourage of H-E-B employees bearing balloons, flowers, a cake, and a giant check for $1,000 for her and a second $2,500 check for her school. Emerson will represent the Rio Grande Valley region at the statewide H-E-B awards ceremony to be held in May in Austin. Brownsville ISD is also one of five finalists for the 2011 H-E-B large district award which includes a $100,000 prize. Ortiz Elementary School has already been named one of ten state winners of an H-E-B Excellence in Education Fit Campus Award which includes $10,000.

Doors Are Open to BISD Family Centers

BISD has three Family Centers staffed with professional counselors to help families learn the skills necessary to live healthy, positive lives. Click here to view the schedule in English and Spanish.

Superintendent’s Message on the Current Budget Challenge

Brownsville ISD, like all Texas school districts, is grappling with the budget shortfall announced by the Comptroller at the start of the legislative session. Superintendent Brett Springston has released the following message to BISD employees and community stakeholders regarding the district’s efforts to reduce spending and control expenses. Click here to read Mr. Springston's letter in English and Spanish.

Retiree Portraits

Brownsville ISD 2010-2011 retirees are eligible for a free 8x10 photo. No appointment is necessary. Click here to view the details.

Summer Hours (Revised)

All BISD offices and departments will observe the following schedule during the months of June and July. Effective June 13–July 29, 2011, the hours of operation are:

Monday–Thursday...... 7:30 AM–6:00 PM, (30 minute lunch)
Friday.......................................... Closed

NOTE: Monday, July 4, 2011 is a holiday. Work hours for the week of July 5-8, Tuesday-Friday, will be 8:00-5:00 PM. BISD offices will not be closed for vacation this summer.

Choirs Hit All the Right Notes

A total of 38 high school choirs from Region 28 participated in the UIL Concert and Sightreading competition held at the UTB Arts Center on March 24 & 25, 2011. BISD choirs earned 10 of the 16 sweepstakes trophies that were awarded. That is 4 more than last year. A sweepstakes trophy is awarded to a choir that receives a superior rating of 1 on stage in concert and a 1 in sightreading. It is the highest award that a choir can achieve. Click here to view BISD’s phenomenal choir results.

BISD Casts Take Center Stage

BISD dominated the recent 5A Zone A One Act Play competition held at Pace High School. Three of the four schools tapped to advance to district competition are BISD schools, Lopez, Porter and Rivera. BISD students also earned 5 of the 6 best actor/actress awards and 13 of a possible 24 all-star cast positions. At the 4A Zone A One Act Play competition, Veterans Memorial rose to the top. District competition will be held on Wednesday, March 30 at two locations. The District 5A contest is scheduled once again at Pace High School. The BISD Veterans Memorial 4A cast will compete at Veterans Memorial High School in Mission, Texas.

Scholarship Help

BISD has a program to help seniors and graduating juniors with their college scholarship applications. Counselors are available at various district locations to assist students in filling out applications revising essays and making good decisions about the future. Click here to view the schedule in English and Spanish.

Diabetes management for BISD Employees

Brownsville ISD and Personalized Prevention, the district’s Wellness provider, have partnered to offer new benefit for employees and dependents covered by the medical plan who are struggling with diabetes. The new program will provide you with FREE testing supplies, and give you new tools to better manage you diabetes. The program provides you with a personal monitoring system that will help you track your blood sugars, and more importantly, help you feel better and lead a healthier life. Click here to learn more.

Summer School Employment

The BISD Human Resources Department has released dates and deadlines for summer school employment. Click here to view the flyer.

A Note to Kinder and First Grade Parents

Pre-registration for all students new to BISD who will be entering kindergarten or first grade in August 2011 will be held from 8:30 AM-3:30 PM, March 21-31, 2011, at all BISD elementary schools. Note: the BISD 2011-12 pre-kindergarten registration will be available at a later date. Notices will be posted in local newspapers and on the district’s website and KBSD TV. Click here to learn more about the kindergarten and first grade pre-registration. -English -Spanish.

Employee Newsletter

The BISD Human Resources Department has created another informative e-newsletter full of relevant information for district employees. Click here to learn more about important district deadlines and other pertinent information.

School Finance: Plain and Simple Video

In an effort to keep local stakeholders informed about the ongoing 2011-12 budget process, BISD will post frequent updates and helpful information on the district’s homepage. This four-minute video explains basic Texas school finance and why public schools are in a funding crisis. It was produced by Arlington ISD but has made its way to websites across the state. Special thanks to KBSD TV for adapting it for Brownsville ISD. Click here to view the video.

BISD Choirs Hit High Note

BISD choirs dominated the Region 28 Middle School UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest held at Veterans Memorial High School on March 3 and 4. Congratulations to all the BISD directors and students on their spectacular achievement. Click here to view the results.

Readers’ Choice Awards

Three BISD schools and three employees earned the most votes in the 2010 Readers’ Choice survey conducted by The Brownsville Herald. Congratulations to Russell Elementary School, Stell Middle School, and Hanna High School for scoring in the Favorite Businesses category. In the Favorite Professionals category, Teddy Cumberworth, a Rivera High School English teacher; Sandra Gracia, the nurse at Russell Elementary School; and Jimmy Haynes, the Southmost Elementary principal, were local readers’ favorites.

Ortiz Elementary Named an H-E-B Fit Campus

Ortiz Elementary School has been selected to receive a 2011 H-E-B Excellence in Education Fit Campus Award. Ortiz is one of ten state winners and will receive $10,000 to implement a new health and fitness program or enhance their current program. Ortiz campus representatives will have the opportunity to attend several celebratory events in Austin on May 13-15. Activities include a fitness session with Jillian Michaels from TV’s “The Biggest Loser” and an awards dinner featuring Colin Powell as the keynote speaker. The H-E-B Excellence in Education Fit Campus Award was designed to honor schools that are increasing the health and nutrition of children by developing, implementing and improving physical activity, fitness and health through educational and/or hands-on nutritional and fitness programs.

Tracking the Education Dollar

Do you have questions about what composes public education in Texas? Take a moment to read this publication which breaks down the educational dollar from the Texas public school student's perspective. View the article.

Summer Hours

BISD Administrative Offices will observe the following schedule during the months of June and July. Effective June 13–July 29, 2011, the hours of operation are:

Monday–Thursday...... 7:30 AM–6:00 PM, (30 minute lunch)
Friday.......................................... Closed

NOTE: Monday, July 4, 2011 is a holiday. Work hours for the week of July 5-8, Tuesday-Friday, will be 8:00-5:00 PM. BISD offices will not be closed for vacation this summer.

Budget Meeting on Thursday

The BISD Board Budget Committee will meet on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 5:30 PM
in the Boardroom to discuss a fourth budget proposal that takes several new funding
recommendations into account. Board trustees made the recommendations at the Budget Committee Meeting held on February 17 after reviewing three draft budgets prepared by administration. The drafts were based on funding reduction estimates made by the Texas School Alliance.

The BISD Board of Trustees and administration remain firmly committed to retaining all
district employees while continuing to offer the same high quality educational programs
that the district is known for.

The state of Texas is facing its most serious budget challenge in decades. Since spending on public education makes up about 44% of the state budget, much of the responsibility for balancing the budget falls squarely on local school districts. Brownsville ISD officials have been warned that the district’s share of funding reductions could fall between $15-$50 million. However, the final amount will not be officially known until the Texas legislature formalizes and approves the State budget which is several months from now.

District employees are working diligently to identify creative ways to reduce spending and control expenses. BISD will continue to communicate our budget progress to stakeholders during this trying and uncertain time.

Inclement Weather Make-Up Days

At the Regular Board Meeting held on March 1, 2011, BISD trustees approved holding classes on Friday, May 27 and Monday, May 30 to make up for the two instructional days cancelled on February 3 and 4 due to severe inclement weather. Click here to view and download the revised 2010-2011 BISD academic calendar.

Campuses Host Spring Open Houses

Brownsville ISD will join districts across the state in celebrating Texas Public Schools Week in March. BISD’s celebration will be held the week of March 7-11, 2011. Students and educators are opening the doors to classrooms so that parents and community members can get an inside look at educational programs offered by Brownsville public schools. To see how our community’s students are being inspired to become future leaders, make plans to attend a campus open house event scheduled from 5:30-7:30 PM on three evenings. Elementary open houses will be held on Monday, March 7. Middle schools will be open on Tuesday, March 8, and high schools will open their doors on Thursday, March 10.

Lucky Number Seven for DI Teams

A total of 7 BISD Destination Imagination (DI) Teams, the largest number in district history, won first place in their respective divisions at the DI Regional Tournament hosted by BISD at Veterans Memorial High School on February 19. Teams from across the Rio Grande Valley, 155 in all, participated in the event. Brownsville ISD had 50 teams in competition. The 7 BISD first place winners will advance to state competition in Lubbock, Texas on April 1 and 2. Additionally, one team from Russell Elementary School will also advance to state due to the large number of teams that competed in that division.

Budget Update

Brownsville ISD officials will present three draft budget recommendations to the Board of Trustees Budget Committee for discussion purposes on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 5:30 PM in the Boardroom. Consultants with the Texas School Alliance estimate possible funding reductions for Brownsville ISD at $15.9 million, $31.3 million and $50.6 million. The three draft budgets to be presented are based on these estimates.

Brownsville ISD, like all Texas school districts, is grappling with the $18–$27 billion budget shortfall announced by the Comptroller at the start of the legislative session. Since funding for public education makes up approximately 44% of the state budget, local school districts are feeling a major impact.

Brownsville ISD’s current budget of a little over $505 million includes almost $326 million in state revenues. All school districts are slated to lose funding in the coming biennium. Just how much BISD will lose will not be known until the Texas Legislature officially formalizes and approves the budget which is several months from now. Superintendent Brett Springston and the Board of Trustees continue to monitor the legislative events in Austin and their impact on BISD.

Community Leaders Go Back to School

Brownsville ISD will host its popular Principal for a Day (PFAD) activity on Friday, February 18, 2011. Each BISD campus has invited a business or community leader to serve as a guest principal for the entire morning. Started in 1992, Brownsville’s PFAD has enabled hundreds of local leaders to experience the joys and challenges of school administration. The guest principals will begin the day at their assigned schools where they will shadow the campus administrators and participate in a variety of school activities. The day will conclude with a luncheon which allows participants to share stories about the morning they spent in the principal’s office. Over the years, many Brownsville PFAD guest principals, inspired by their experiences, have continued their involvement with BISD schools.

Parent Behavior Training

Everyone is invited to attend a parent training presented by the BISD Behavior Specialists on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 from 9:00-11:00 AM at Vela Middle School located at 4950 Paredes Line Road. The topic is “Behavior Strategies for the Home.” It is a back to the basics session with strategies to manage your child’s behavior including how to raise healthy, well-adjusted children and create a peaceful home environment. For more information, call Gary Wilhite at 548-8400.

Change in Crimestoppers Number

The hotline number for BISD’s Scholastic Campus Crimestoppers Program has been changed to 408-0049. The tips hotline assists in maintaining safe and secure schools. Monetary rewards are available to reporting individuals upon completion of a prosecution or arrest for reported crimes. The identities of reporting individuals are kept confidential and no court testimony is required.

Superintendent Addresses Parents

Superintendent Brett Springston addressed parents from the schools served by the Pace and Veterans Clusters at a Coffee held on February 8, 2011 at Veterans High School. Two more Superintendent’s Coffees will be held in March and April. View the Powerpoint presentation made at the first Superintendent’s Coffee in English or Spanish.

New Location for Fine Arts

The BISD Fine Arts Department has been relocated to the Central Administrative Building (CAB), Suite 228. The department’s telephone number, 982-3730, remains the same.

BISD Weather Update Updated: February 2, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Brownsville ISD schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, February 3, 2011 and Friday, February 4, 2011 due to expected frigid weather, frozen precipitation, hazardous road conditions, and short-term electrical outages. District officials will continue to closely monitor reports from the National Weather Service and work with all local and state agencies during this winter storm.

BISD Maintenance Department personnel and all head custodians will need to check with their supervisors to see what needs to be done to secure district facilities. Any maintenance problems should be reported immediately to Rey Arteaga, Maintenance Administrator, at 466-5635 or Carlos Guerra, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, at 455-7796. BISD Police and Security Services personnel will also monitor and patrol district facilities.

Further updates will be communicated to district stakeholders via the district’s website, www.bisd.us; KBSD TV, the district’s instructional television station (Cable Channel 17.17); local television and radio stations and newspapers.

Regular district operations will resume on Monday, February 7, 2011.

Change in Madrigal Dinner
The Madrigal Dinner scheduled for Friday, February 4, 2011 has been changed to Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the same time and location.

Science Fair Cancelled
The BISD Middle School Science Fair scheduled for Saturday, February 5, 2011 has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

BISD Weather Update Updated: February 2, 2011 at 9:45 am

Local power companies are conducting “rolling blackouts” throughout Brownsville in an effort to curtail load. These short-term curtailments are necessary to keep the lights on region-wide. Rolling blackouts will continue throughout Wednesday and will impact BISD campuses and offices. The blackouts should not last longer than 30 minutes at a time. Please be patient and conserve electricity, whenever possible. Brownsville ISD administrators will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions. Information will be communicated to district stakeholders via the district’s website, www.bisd.us; KBSD TV, the district’s instructional television station (Cable Channel 17.17); local television and radio stations and newspapers. BISD will continue to issue weather updates periodically for the remainder of the week.

BISD Weather Update Updated: February 1, 2011 at 4:17 pm

Based on the most current information from the National Weather Service, Brownsville ISD will hold classes at the regular time on Wednesday, February 2, 2011. School buses will also follow their regular schedules and routes. Due to expected frigid temperatures, parents are advised to dress students warmly. All scheduled out-of-district trips for Thursday, February 3, 2011 have been cancelled. District officials will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions and work closely with all local and state emergency preparedness agencies. Any changes will be communicated through the district’s website, www.bisd.us; KBSD TV, the district’s instructional television station (Cable Channel 17.17); local television and radio stations and newspapers. BISD will continue to issue weather updates periodically for the remainder of the week.

AEIS Report Now Available

The 2009-2010 Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) report for Brownsville ISD, as prepared by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), contains a great variety of information on the district as a whole as well as each individual campus. The report is based on the PEIMS data submitted by the district and analyzed and disaggregated by TEA. It also compares the district to state standards, comparable districts and campuses across the state and previous year’s data in terms of student populations, TAKS data, dropout and attendance rates and budgetary allocations. Click here to view the entire AEIS report.

Madrigal Dinner Is Sold Out

The Department of Fine Arts will present the Fourth Annual Madrigal Dinner, “A Feast of Love,” on Friday, February 4, 2011 at the Central Administrative Building (CAB) cafeteria. Doors open at 6:30 PM and dinner is served at 7:00 PM. The Madrigal Dinner features an unforgettable evening in Merry Olde 15th Century England with heraldry, pageantry and song by the Brownsville ISD Court singers.

BISD Weather Update

Based on the most current information from the National Weather Service, Brownsville ISD will hold classes at the regular time on Wednesday, February 2, 2011. School buses will also follow their regular schedules and routes. Due to expected frigid temperatures, parents are advised to dress students warmly. All scheduled out-of-district trips for Thursday, February 3, 2011 have been cancelled. District officials will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions and work closely with all local and state emergency preparedness agencies. Any changes will be communicated through the district’s website, www.bisd.us; KBSD TV, the district’s instructional television station (Cable Channel 17.17); local television and radio stations and newspapers. BISD will continue to issue weather updates periodically for the remainder of the week.

Employee Health Insurance Assistance

Brownsville ISD provides group medical insurance with Mutual Assurance Administrators, Inc. (MAA) as the third party administrator. Diana Morales is BISD’s on-site representative. She can be reached at (956) 698-0112 on Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon; Tuesday from 1:00-5:00 PM; and Wednesday from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Her email is diana-m@maa-tpa.com and her cell is (956) 572-6354. The MAA Customer Service Line is 1-800-851-8320. The BISD Employee Benefits Department is also available to assist employees at (956) 548-8061 on Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Go Brownsville!

Brownsville ISD has been named one of five large district finalists competing for the 2011 H-E-B Excellence in Education District Award which carries a prize of $100,000. A team of judges will visit the district on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 to make on-site observations. The other four large district finalists are Conroe ISD, Mesquite ISD, Edinburg CISD, and Harlandale ISD.

Schools Recognized for Academic Performance

The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA), a department of ACT, Inc., has recognized 21 BISD campuses on its list of 2010 Higher Performing Schools in Texas.

Congratulations to Aiken, Benavides, Egly, Gonzalez, Morningside, Ortiz, Paredes, Putegnat, Russell, Southmost, Vermillion and Yturria Elementary Schools, Besteiro, Cummings, Lucio, Oliveira, Perkins, Stell, Stillman and Vela Middle Schools and Hanna High School.

The 2010 Higher Performing Schools (formerly known as Just for the Kids Schools) are identified by two measures: academic growth of students at the school and/or absolute student achievement using the school’s Commended Performance results on the Spring 2010 TAKS test. NCEA’s higher performing methodology controls for school and student demographics to allow for an apples-to-apples comparison of school achievement and to demonstrate that with the commitment of educators, all schools can succeed no matter the zip code.

NCEA began identifying Higher Performing Schools in 1998 and continues to annually release these lists as well as College and Career Readiness Charts for every public school in Texas.

BISD Faces Budget Challenges

Superintendent Brett Springston and the Board of Trustees are closely monitoring legislative events in Austin as the Texas Legislature grapples with a $18-$27 billion budget deficit as announced by the Texas Comptroller at the start of the session. Since funding for public education makes up about 44% of the state budget, much of the responsibility for balancing the budget has been placed squarely on local school districts.

Brownsville ISD’s current budget of a little over $505 million includes almost $326 million in state revenues. All school districts are slated to lose funding. Just how much BISD will lose will not be known until the Texas Legislature formalizes and approves the budget which is likely several months from now. Preliminary figures range from $15 to $50 million for Brownsville’s share of the school funding reductions. BISD officials anticipate
the district will need to identify $30-$35 million in possible funding reductions based on various state budget models. The Texas Comptroller is scheduled to issue a revised Biennial Revenue Estimate in March which could include additional revenue.

Consultants with the Texas School Alliance produced three state models for Brownsville ISD that peg possible funding reductions at $15.9 million, $31.3 million and $50.6 million. Brownsville officials will draft a proposed budget for each of the three models to present to the Board of Trustees Budget Committee for discussion purposes on Thursday, February 17, 2011. The district is considering several options to reduce next year’s budget. The following measures are currently under review:

• Reduce transportation services not reimbursed by the State
• Eliminate academic teaming
• Fund mandatory summer school only, consolidate summer school sites,
4-day summer school
• Employee health insurance contribution
• Reduce campus and department budgets
• Increase student/teacher ratios districtwide to 25:1
• Reduce overtime
• Reduce extra-duty pay
• Consolidate departments
• Consolidate the number of copy machines
• Revise staffing ratios for custodians, food service staff, office staff, librarians,
counselors, etc.
• No second conference periods
• Reduce stipends
• No re-appropriation for carry over purchase orders
• Incentives for early retirement
• Consolidate smaller schools

“Less state funding presents a challenge for our school district. However, we have a proven track record of succeeding regardless of the obstacles placed in our path. We will find creative ways to do more with less and work to reduce spending while minimizing the impact on student instruction,” said Superintendent Brett Springston.

Middle School Bands Raise the Bar

BISD middle school band students set another all-time record for the fifth consecutive year by earning a total of 164 All-Region Band chairs at the Middle School Band Auditions held at Rivera High School on Saturday, January 22, 2011. In addition, BISD students earned 13 of the 16 available first chair positions. Over 35 middle schools from across the Rio Grande Valley participated in the auditions. Click here to view the number of chairs earned by each BISD middle school.