Welcome to Our Houston ISD/Neuhaus Friends

Brownsville ISD is pleased to welcome a large delegation of educators, administrators, and board trustees from Houston ISD on Tuesday, January 29 through Thursday, January 31. They will be accompanied by representatives from the Neuhaus Education Center. The visitors will tour classrooms at Benavides, Breeden, Gallegos, Ortiz, Pullam, and Southmost Elementary Schools and talk to BISD district and campus personnel about various programs including the implementation of the language arts program and Texas Literacy Initiative Grant.

Middle School Bands Dominate

Brownsville ISD middle school band students swept the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region 28 band audition held on Saturday, January 19. BISD students earned a total of 157 all-region band chairs including 12 of the 16 coveted first chair positions. For the third consecutive year, students in all 11 BISD middle school band programs earned chairs. Congratulations to our middle school band students and their directors. View all results.

A Message to Parents

BISD is partnering with the Texas Center for District and School Support (TCDSS) for a District Snapshot data collection to review our district level practices supportive of campus-level success. Through this process we can identify ways to more efficiently and effectively utilize our resources in the best approaches for improved performances. View more information in English/Spanish.

Science is Fun

Hundreds of district high school scientists competed on Saturday, January 19 at the annual BISD science fair held at Porter High School. View the winners and grand champions.

BISD Artists Are Tops

The Brownsville Fire Department has announced the two BISD students who placed in the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshall’s Association of Texas 2012 State Poster Contest: 1st Place - Andrea Ballesteros - Manzano Middle School 2nd Place - Christina Indridson - Manzano Middle School

Employees Can Stay Healthy with Free Flu Shots

Free flu shots are still available to BISD employees as per the district’s group health plan. Flu shots are available at CVS, HEB or Walgreens with a BISD Insurance ID card. If you are visiting your family physician, please specify that you are there for the flu shot, not an office visit, to avoid being charged for an office visit. For more information, call the BISD Benefits/Risk Management Department at 548-8061.

Hanna Represented at Inauguration

An excited group of approximately 40 Hanna High School students and chaperones will get an opportunity to attend the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Monday, January 21. They will also share their experiences with their fellow Hanna students and employees via social media and a video production as they visit national monuments, museums, Mount Vernon, and other landmarks. The students have prepared for their once in a lifetime trip by conducting extensive research on the places they will visit and the historic events they will witness while fundraising to supplement campus expenses. The Hanna group will depart on Friday, January 18 and return on Wednesday, January 23 with a wealth of new knowledge and experiences to share.

Employee W-2 Forms

All current BISD employees will receive their W-2 forms no later than Thursday, January 31, 2013. The W-2 forms for former BISD employees will also be mailed by that date.

Two Schools Welcome Famous Author

Kim Purcell, a noted novelist, journalist, and teacher, will visit two BISD secondary campuses libraries to talk to students on Thursday, January 17. At 10 am, Veterans Memorial High School will host Purcell and at 1 pm, the Manzano Middle School library will welcome her. Born and raised in British Columbia, Purcell has also lived in Guadalajara, Seoul, Los Angeles and New York City. She became the Curriculum Director of WriteGirl, and trained professional writers to lead creative writing workshops for girls and their mentors. Learn more about Kim Purcell and her visit to BISD.

Kudos to Our BISD All-State Musicians

A grand total of 28 BISD secondary fine arts music students earned chairs at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Area G auditions held on Saturday, January 12. They will perform in the All-State Band or Choir at the TMEA conference in San Antonio on February 16, 2013. By earning chairs in these prestigious ensembles, the 28 BISD students are ranked in the top 2% of Texas music students. They advanced through a rigorous process of district, regional and area competition to achieve this remarkable honor. View the BISD All-State Muscians.

Thank a School Board Member

Texans benefit every day from the tireless work and countless hours contributed by a group of more than 7,300 men and women in communities across the state. These local volunteers are elected by their constituents and receive no compensation for their work as public servants. These men and women are the school board members of Texas. January is School Board Recognition Month and Brownsville ISD will take this opportunity to thank these leaders for devoting time to support public education and serve our local schools. “It’s more important than ever before that the public shows support for public education. Board members face critical challenges in their roles as advocates, and they will continue to stand strong and guard against anything that takes away from our children and undermines our public schools,” said Dr. Carl A. Montoya, Brownsville ISD Superintendent. “Even though we are making a special effort in January to show appreciation to our board members, we realize their many contributions reflect a year-round commitment. They generously give of themselves to ensure that decisions directly affecting our local schools are made by representatives of this community, people who are close to our schools and know our teachers, parents, and students. In these challenging times, they face difficult choices and shoulder critical responsibilities. Their ultimate goal is always focused on the future success of the children in our district,” Montoya said.

BISD Student Historians Compete

Several hundred students will participate in the district’s 18th Annual History Day to be held on Saturday, January 12 from 8 pm – 5 pm at Pace High School. The public is invited to view exhibits in the library from 1-2:30 pm and the awards ceremony will begin at 3:30 pm. The top two contestants in each category will advance to the regional contest to be held on February 16 at UT-Pan American in Edinburg.

Attention BISD Employee Athletes

There will be organizational meetings for the volleyball and basketball recreational leagues at the BISD Wellness Fitness Center. The volleyball league will continue to be co-ed but there will be a discussion about beginner and advanced teams. The basketball league will be divided into male and female teams. The team captain or a representative must attend the meeting. Volleyball Meeting…Wednesday, January 16 @ 7pm Basketball Meeting…Thursday, January 17 @ 7pm Call Anisa Gonzalez, BISD Wellness Coordinator, at 698-0194 for questions.

Get Well, Get Fit

Wellness is Hot Stuff in BISD, even in cold January. The BISD Wellness Fitness Center, located in the Central Administrative Complex, is open for business. Check out the special hours for employees, parents and secondary students. Zumba classes, step aerobics, toning and boot camps are also available. For more information, contact Anisa Gonzalez at 698-0194. View the complete schedule.

A Message to BISD Employees

Only BISD employees classified as part-time, working less than 20 hours including substitutes, will be affected by the new Social Security tax rate which increased from 4.2% to 6.2% on January 1, 2013. Full-time employees are not impacted by the tax increase since Brownsville ISD employees contribute to the Teacher Retirement System and not the Social Security Program. For more information, contact the BISD Payroll Department at 548-8391.

Superintendent’s Holiday Message

I want to wish the Brownsville ISD family every happiness during the holiday season. Enjoy this time with your loved ones. BISD campuses and offices will be closed December 24-January 4. Employees will return on Monday, January 7 for a teacher preparation day. Students will return for classes on Tuesday, January 8. Thank you and best wishes for a safe and joyous holiday. Dr. Carl A. Montoya

BISD Administrator Earns Accolade

Maria V. Gonzales, the district’s current Texas Literacy Initiative Director and former Bilingual Director, has been selected to receive this year’s Distinguished Bilingual Educator Award from the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Association of Bilingual Educators. Ms. Gonzales will be honored at the 20th Annual RGV-TABE Conference on January 19 at the South Padre Island Convention Center. Congratulations to Ms. Gonzales on earning this outstanding acknowledgement from her Valley colleagues.

Elementary UIL Results

Six BISD elementary schools graciously hosted the 2012-2013 UIL Elementary District Competition on Saturday, December 15. Congratulations to all participants. View the school winners for each division.

Hanna Teacher Named Outstanding

Mohammad Moshfeghian, the longtime Hanna High School upper division math teacher, has been selected as one of the 2013 honorees of the Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers. The awards are sponsored by the Texas Exes (UT alumni association), the President’s Office and the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Moshfeghian is one of ten high school and two elementary teachers selected from across the entire state for his professional accomplishments as a teacher. -View the media release.

Hanna JROTC Earns Top Results

The Hanna High School Army JROTC earned the highest rating possible as an “Honor Unit with Distinction” for the 43rd consecutive year after a recent inspection. The required federal inspection by officers from the Brigade Headquarters in San Antonio occurred on Thursday, December 13. The inspectors were extremely impressed with Hanna’s JROTC program and the cadets’ performances.

Attention BISD Employees

BISD employees will receive their payroll stubs on Thursday, December 20, 2012 prior to being paid on Friday, December 21. This will allow employees an opportunity to review their payroll stubs and submit changes or corrections to the Human Resources and/or Payroll Departments prior to leaving for the holiday break.

BISD No Longer on AYP Status

Great news for our school district! Officials with the Texas Education Agency have clarified that Brownsville ISD’s 2012 Annual Yearly Performance (AYP) status has returned to the Title I stage status of “None.” The district is no longer in any Title I stage. This welcome news came as a result of the district’s successful appeal of the 2012 AYP results. BISD appealed its AYP ratings due to the loss of several hundred answer documents at the state level that adversely impacted the district’s rating as well as the ratings of several elementary and middle schools. The district AYP appeal also improved the ratings for Castaneda, Sharp and Resaca Elementary Schools.

Middle School Scientists Compete

The annual BISD Middle School Science Fair was held on Saturday, December 8 at Vela Middle School. A total of 187 projects were entered into the competition. View the first place winners by category and the Grand Champions.

TEA Grants District's AYP Appeal

BISD officials have been notified that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has granted the district’s appeal regarding the 2012 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results. Agency staff carefully reviewed the documentation submitted by Brownsville ISD and rendered a positive verdict. The appeal for Resaca, Sharp and Castañeda Elementary Schools was granted. TEA was asked to reconsider the Reading and Mathematics Performance measure based upon one or more boxes of State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) or Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) answer documents being lost in transit to the testing contractor, or damaged/misplaced by the testing contractor. Documentation provided by the district and agency research confirmed that 339 missing, damaged, or misplaced grade 3 answer documents affected the AYP outcome of five campuses within the district, three of which missed AYP. Since TEA has acknowledged the irregularities with the answer documents, the appeal of Reading and/or Mathematics Performance and Reading and/or Mathematics Participation has been granted and indicators set to “Not Evaluated.” The 2012 AYP status for Brownsville ISD and Resaca Elementary is “Not Evaluated”. This means that the district’s rating of Stage 3 has been returned to Stage 2 on the AYP scale. The 2012 AYP status for Sharp Elementary and Castañeda Elementary is “Meets AYP”. -View entire media release.

Young Scientists at Work

Hundreds of district elementary scientists competed in the annual BISD elementary science fair held at four school sites across the city. View the first place winners and grand champions.

A Change in Date

The annual BISD Board Tamalada has been rescheduled to Tuesday, December 18 in the BISD Administration Building lobby at 6 pm.

Santa Sold Out

The Santa & Friends performance for Friday, November

Commissioner Williams defers 15 percent grading policy for 2012-2013 school year

AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams announced today that he is deferring implementation of the 15 percent grading requirement for the 2012-2013 school year. Under the rule connected to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) end-of-course examinations, a student’s score on the STAAR end-of-course exams would count 15 percent of the student’s final grade in each tested subject area. “Deferring the 15 percent rule for this school year relieves some of the pressure being felt in Texas districts as we continue the transition to a more rigorous accountability system,” Williams said. “This deferral also allows the Texas Legislature ample opportunity to address the various issues and concerns that have been expressed about implementation of the new system.”

Records Being Broken

The good news continues! A record 54 BISD band students have advanced to 5A Area Competition, the most students ever sent to the Area G contest by one school district. BISD dominated by earning 70 % of all available chairs. Area competition will be held on January 17, 2013 in Alice, Texas. Best of luck to the BISD Area candidates as they prepare to compete for a chair in a Texas All-State group.

A Message to BISD Employees

The open enrollment for the Chapter 125 Cafeteria Plan and other optional products such as dental and vision insurance will end on Friday, November 30. BISD employees still have time to enroll or verify their payroll deductions at the BISD Administration Building Lobby from November 28-30. This is the last chance for employees to make any changes or corrections. Call the BISD Employee Benefits Department at (956) 548-8061 for questions or concerns.

Bands Set New Record

The BISD high school band program has once again set a new district record at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region 28 auditions held on Saturday, November 17. A total of 156 BISD students earned chairs and 207 earned TMEA patches, increasing the district’s student success rate for the 7th consecutive year. In addition, 102 BISD band students have advanced to pre-area and area competitions. The final area candidates will be determined on Tuesday, November 27. The TMEA Region 28 All-Region clinic will be held on Friday, December 7 at the Donna High School auditorium and the concert will follow at 7:00 p.m. Congratulations to the BISD Band students and their directors on these outstanding results.

Thanksgiving Kindness

BISD campuses and departments generously supported the district’s 2012 Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive. Thanks to their efforts, local organizations dedicated to assisting Brownsville neighbors in need received approximately 20,000 donated canned food items. Thank you.

Two BISD High Schools Earn College

Hanna and Rivera High Schools are among the top 9% of Texas high schools to earn the 2012 College Readiness Award from the Texas ACT Council. The award recognizes significant increases in ACT composite scores over five years, while increasing the number of students taking the ACT assessment. A total of 170 high schools in Texas were honored for this superior level of accomplishment, five in the Rio Grande Valley. View release.

Counting Our Bus Students

The BISD Transportation Department will conduct ridership counts during afternoon bus routes once a month in order to compile an annual service report for the Texas Education Agency. On the following dates, routes may take a little longer to complete since bus drivers will be required to manually count the number of students riding on their buses. This ridership count is very important to the district and we appreciate the patience of our parents and students. November 28, 2012 December 19, 2012 January 30, 2013 February 27, 2013 March 27, 2013 April 24, 2013 May 24, 2013

Chargers Advance to UIL Area Playoffs

The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers will play the Del Rio Rams in the UIL Area Playoffs on Saturday, November 24 at 5 pm at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. Tickets are on sale at the BISD Athletic Department located at Sams Stadium beginning on Monday, November 19. Call 548-8261 for information. Go Chargers!

Pace Team Earns Recognition

Pace High School was chosen as the Action 4 News/Rio Grande Valley Chevy Dealers Team of the Week. The school will host a pep rally at 2 pm on Thursday, November 15 in the lobby to honor the Pace Vikings football team.

The Chargers Got Spirit! Yes,They Do!

Veterans Memorial High School won the McDonald’s Dr. Pepper Friday Morning Pep Rally Championship as the most spirited high school in the Rio Grande Valley. To celebrate, Veterans Memorial will host a pep rally on Thursday, November 15 at 6 pm in the school’s stadium. Tony Forina, a RGV radio and TV personality, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. The rally will feature student performances, a presentation of the Bi-District Volleyball Trophy, a presentation of the City Football Championship Trophy, and a presentation of special guests. Congratulations Veterans Chargers!!!

BISD Schools Provide A Good Start

Brownsville ISD has consistently maintained its dedication to the youngest students in the district. As a result, a total of 21 campuses have been designated by the Texas Education Agency as 2012 PreK Centers of Excellence. The BISD schools are active participants in the Kindergarten Readiness System (KRS) which evaluates the effectiveness of prekindergarten, Head Start, and licensed child care programs in preparing children for kindergarten. Providers participating in the 2010-2011 Prekindergarten Early Start (PKES) grant and Texas School Ready! programs were required to report data to the school readiness certification system. The KRS used this data and public school data resulting from each student’s reading diagnostic instrument administered at the beginning of the child’s 2011 kindergarten year. The analysis determined the impact each preschool program had on improving student learning regardless of the characteristics of its student population or the specific literacy instrument used in kindergarten. TEA Designated the Following BISD Schools as 2012 Prek Centers of Excellence Aiken, Benavides, Castaneda, Cromack, El Jardin, Gallegos, Garden Park, Garza, Gonzalez, Hudson, Longoria, Palm Grove, Pullam, Putegnat, Resaca, Russell, Skinner, Southmost, Vermillion, Victoria Heights, and Yturria Elementary Schools.

Stipend News

Good news! The first half of the Board approved $1,200 stipend will be paid to all eligible BISD full-time employees in the November paycheck. BISD employees who were employed as of June 30, 2012 and who remain employed at the time the stipend is paid on November 15, 2012 will receive the first payment of $600 minus applicable taxes. Please note that the stipend is not eligible for Texas Retirement System (TRS) benefits. The final half of the stipend will be paid to eligible full-time BISD employees in their May paycheck.

Recognizing Our School Psychologists

Governor Rick Perry has proclaimed November 11-17, 2012, as School Psychology Week to highlight the many contributions that school psychologists make to the overall academic health of students. Their responsibilities include identifying learning disabilities and other special needs as well as offering counseling and intervention services to students and their families. View the Governor’s proclamation.

In Tribute

Several BISD school groups will participate in the 13th Annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 10 at 1 pm. The parade will began at Porter High School, proceed down Coolidge Street to Southmost Road concluding at Cromack Elementary School which is located on the corner of Southmost Road and 30th Street. The Veterans Day Parade is sponsored by the Southmost Veterans Day Parade Committee and the City of Brownsville to honor the brave men and women who have served or are serving in the armed forces of the United States. Please note that the parade will be held on Sunday, November 11 if there is rain on Saturday.

Two BISD Earn Top Marks

The Hanna Golden Eagle Band and Lopez Lobos Band both competed in the 2012 UIL Texas State Marching Band competition held at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Tuesday, November 6. Both Brownsville ISD bands presented their best performances of the year. Earning spots at the state contest ranks the Hanna and Lopez bands in the top 5% of 5A high school bands in the state. This also marks the third trip for Lopez and the sixth trip for Hanna. These BISD students have proven themselves to be among the best in Texas. Congratulations to the students, parents, directors, employees and administrators.

Middle School Choirs Soar

Brownsville ISD middle school choir students participated in a Solo & Ensemble Contest in San Benito recently. Once again BISD schools dominated the competition. View the results.

Vote for Our Student Athlete

Oscar Baez, a football player for the Veterans Memorial High School Team, has been nominated for the Gridiron Legends Player of the Week Award presented by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Oscar is one of ten nominees for the weekly statewide award which is decided by fan voting. Click here to vote for Oscar Baez.

HAC Service Provides Grades Online

Brownsville ISD has launched the Home Access Center (HAC), an online software that helps keep parents informed about their child’s academic performance at school. Using a simple login, parents can view grades and assignments for each course their child is enrolled in at school. To gain access, a parent/ guardian must register and sign a user agreement at their child’s campus. School personnel will verify the information on the form and establish an account. Parents should contact the campus with questions regarding the Home Access Center.

Two BISD Bands are Bound for State

Two BISD high school marching bands, Hanna Eagles and Lopez Lobos, have earned coveted spots at the 20012 UIL 5A State Marching Band Championship scheduled for Tuesday, November 6 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio. The BISD bands advanced to the state contest after scoring top notch performances at the UIL area 6 Marching Band Competition held in Laredo on Saturday, October 27. The Rivera and Veterans Memorial bands also participated in the area competition. Best of Luck to our bands at the State contest.

Explorer/Wildlife Expert will Visit BISD

Mireya Mayor, a renowned Anthropologist/Primatologist, will visit Breeden and Sharp Elementary Schools and Vela Middle School on Tuesday, October 30. Dr. Mayor, often referred to as the female Indiana Jones, has worked as a wildlife correspondent for the last ten years on television shows including National Geographic’s television series “Ultimate Explorer.” Her visit to Brownsville is sponsored by National Geographic Learning and Cengage Learning, BISD’s state adopted provider for ESL instructional materials. She will visit Breeden from 8:30 am to 9:30 am and Vela from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Mayor will also speak at a luncheon to be held from 12-2 pm at the UTB/TSC ITECC Center. Her last visit is Sharp from 2:30 to 3:15 pm.

Breeden Elementary To Be Dedicated

On Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 10 AM, the Brownsville Independent School District will officially dedicate its newest elementary school to Daniel Breeden, a respected former school administrator. Daniel Breeden was appointed principal at the newly named Hanna High School in 1974 and continued in this post until he retired in 1986. His retirement marked the completion of a 29-year career with BISD. He remains the longest serving principal of BISD’s oldest and still existing high school.

Porter Student Commended

Brownsville ISD is pleased to announce that Hugo A. Valdiva, a Porter High School student, earned “Commended” status in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Competition is Healthy

Brownsville ISD campuses are joining the City of Brownsville in participating in the Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge which runs from September 1-October 31, 2012. Communities across Texas are competing by logging in their healthy initiatives to see which community can mobilize the most healthy action and win the title. Points are earned with activities such as zumba, running clubs, etc. Brownsville has already topped the Statewide Scoreboard in the mid-size city category with over 6,000 points. For more information, click here or contact Anisa Gonzalez, the BISD Wellness Coordinator, at 698-0194 or agonzalez@bisd.us, Wellness is hot stuff in BISD!

Four BISD Bands March On

Brownsville ISD high school bands competed at the annual UIL Region 28 Pigskin Jubilee held in San Benito on Saturday, October 20. A total of twenty-three 5A bands participated in the marching contest and earned ratings from 1 to 5 with 1 as the highest rating. All BISD high school band programs gave exceptional performances. Four BISD schools, Hanna, Lopez, Rivera, and Veterans Memorial, earned perfect superior ratings and have advanced to the UIL Area Competition to be held on Saturday, October 27 at the Laredo United ISD Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex Stadium. Bands from Laredo, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley will all compete at the area contest for a chance to advance to the UIL 5A State Marching Band competition to be held at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio on Tuesday, November 6. Best of luck to our four BISD bands!

BISD receives $10,000 grant to support STEM program

Many public schools across the country are placing greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum. Thanks to the support of local farmers and America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education℠, Brownsville Independent School District (ISD) received a $10,000 grant to support STEM Infinity Magnet programs among its middle schools. Classes began this year with 100 6th grade students at each campus and will grow one grade level per year for the next three years. America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives farmers the opportunity to nominate a public school district in their community to compete for a grant of either $10,000 or $25,000 to enhance education in the areas of math and/or science. More than 1,000 nominated school districts submitted applications. The Monsanto Fund will invest $2.3 million into rural education through this program. “By directing these funds into our STEM Infinity Magnet Program, we hope to help further a vision of sustainability and innovation in order to protect and preserve our planet,” said Dr. Carl A. Montoya, Brownsville ISD superintendent. “Brownsville ISD is honored to receive this grant. These funds will directly impact many of our students who are enrolled in the new STEM Infinity Magnet Program at 11 district middle schools.” -View media release

Stipend News

Good news! The first half of the Board approved $1,200 stipend will be paid to all eligible BISD full-time employees in the November paycheck. BISD employees who were employed as of June 30, 2012 and who remain employed at the time the stipend is paid on November 15, 2012 will receive the first payment of $600 minus applicable taxes. Please note that the stipend is not eligible for Texas Retirement System (TRS) benefits. The final half of the stipend will be paid to eligible full-time BISD employees in their May paycheck.

BISD Wins Grant

Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) has been selected as a $10,000 grant winner in America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, which gives farmers the opportunity to nominate their public school district to apply for a merit-based grant to enhance math and science education. The grants are available through the Monsanto Fund. After a three tier grant review process, Brownsville ISD was selected as one of nine winners in Texas. Brownsville ISD faculty, local farmers and Monsanto representatives will participate in a check presentation ceremony on Monday, October 22 at 5 pm in the Vela Middle School Gymnasium, 4905 Paredes Line Road. BISD will use these grant funds for the district’s new STEM Infinity Magnet Program which was established at all middle schools this school year. Infinity classes began with 6th grade students and the program will grow one grade level per year for the next three years. More than $2.3 million will be invested in rural education across 39 states through this program. This year, more than 61,000 farmers nominated 3,342 school districts to apply for grants. America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education is part of a four-part initiative, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, which highlights the important contributions farmers make every day to our society.

Tour the New BAC

Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) will host a grand opening ceremony for the new Brownsville Academic Center (BAC) building on Friday, October 19 at 9 AM. Everyone is invited to tour this new alternative education campus which opened to students on August 27, the first day of class. The new BAC is located at 3308 Robindale Road on a 9 acre tract of land. With a motto of “Enter to Learn…Leave to Lead,” BAC is designed to provide meaningful academic experiences for students in grades 6-12. Students who are assigned to BAC participate in the Performance Training Program for either a 30 or 45-day time period. The school features a military setting that provides consistency, structure, intense academics, and support services to enable students to grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, and psychologically. View the release

On Camera

The Brownsville ISD Transportation Department is currently installing mobile video surveillance systems complete with audio on the district’s school buses. The addition of these systems will increase student and employee safety. Over 50 systems have already been installed. Plans are to install this state-of-the-art equipment in the majority of the district’s buses by the end of the school year.

Six Top BISD Students

Six BISD high school students were named scholars in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP). The district’s 2012-2013 recipients are: Marissa Gonzalez – Homer Hanna High School Andrea Martinez – Brownsville Early College High School Olivia Vasquez – Lopez High School Sergio Cavazos – Veterans Memorial High School Carlos Sandoval – Porter High School Hugo Valdivia – Porter High School Congratulations to these outstanding students.

Porter Student Commended

Brownsville ISD is pleased to announce that Hugo A. Valdiva, a Porter High School student, earned “Commended” status in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Go Team!

The final total is in and the news is fantastic. Brownsville ISD employees generously donated $362,498.69 to the district’s 2012 United Way campaign. Campus by campus, department by department, BISD employees contributed so that the United Way of Southern Cameron County can continue its work in providing support services to our local community. This total is $58,868.65 more than last year and the second largest amount ever donated by BISD employees. Thank you for your strong support of this organization.

Tour the New BECHS Building

Brownsville ISD (BISD) will host a grand opening ceremony for the new Brownsville Early College High School (BECHS) building on Saturday, October 13 at 10 AM. Everyone is invited to tour this new educational facility which opened to students on August 27. The specially designed school occupies almost 4 acres on the University of Texas/Texas Southmost College (UTB/TSC) campus reinforcing its focus on college academic readiness. The BECHS mission was to hand-pick middle school candidates and give them an opportunity to be the first in their families to earn a college degree. That was the promise when BISD and UTB/TSC, with assistance from several partner organizations, established BECHS at the historic Clearwater campus in August, 2008. It was a chance to earn college credit, at no cost to the student, and accumulate hours towards a college degree. -View the entire release.

Enjoy Sams Stadium (Updated)

BISD’s historic Sams Stadium is open to members of the public who would like to exercise on Mondays through Fridays from 6 am – 7:00 pm. The stadium is closed on weekends and during school district functions. For more information, call the BISD Athletic Department at 548-8261.

Chess Cancellation

The BISD chess tournament scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 20 at Porter High School has been cancelled. The next tournament is the Dr. Americo Paredes Fall Chess Scholastics Tournament on Saturday, November 3. For more information, call advanced Academic Services at 548-8291.

West Nile Virus Prevention

•Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside and follow the instructions on the label. Approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. •Regularly drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. •Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. •Use air conditioning or make sure there are screens on all doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home. For more information on West Nile virus, visit the City of Brownsville Health Department website at http://health.cob.us, call 956-542-3437, or visit the State of Texas DSHS website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westNile/.

Flu Shots for BISD Employees

The final free flu shot clinic for BISD employees will be held on Wednesday, October 10 from 3-5 pm in the Administration Building lobby. The clinic is provided by BlueCross Blue Shield of Texas, BISD’s current third party administrator for group medical insurance. The clinic will be hosted by Walgreens Pharmacy.

Enjoy Sams Stadium

BISD’s historic Sams Stadium is open to members of the public who would like to exercise on Mondays through Fridays from 6 am – 7:30 pm. The stadium is closed on weekends and during school district functions. For more information, call the BISD Athletic Department at 548-8261.

Lopez Graduate Awarded Scholarship

Jose Rodrigo Leal, son of Jose and Theresa Leal of Brownsville, Texas, has been awarded the 2012 American Meteorological Society/Earth Resources Technology, Inc. Scholarship. Jose is a graduate of Lopez High School and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric sciences at Harvard College. The AMS/Industry Minority Scholarship is intended to encourage minority students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, especially Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Black/African American students, to pursue careers in the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. Five scholarships have been made possible through the generous contributions of AMS members to the AMS 21st Century Campaign, Baron Services, Inc., and Earth Resources Technology, Inc. The award is $3000 for a nine-month period in the freshman year and an additional $3000 for a nine-month period in the sophomore year, based on performance in the first year. Read the news release.

Student Attendance: Everyone’s Responsibility

Brownsville ISD will conduct monthly attendance sweeps in an effort to improve student attendance, get students college ready and college connected, and produce productive and responsible citizens. Students who skip school or who are not enrolled in school will be targeted. BISD personnel from several departments and campuses as well as security and police officers will participate in the sweeps at homes and other community locations on a monthly basis. View the announcement in English/Spanish.

BISD Dominates District Auditions

Brownsville and five other school districts competed in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region 28 choir auditions held on Saturday, September 28 at Weslaco East High School. A total of 87 BISD choir students earned places in the regional choir and secured 7 alternate positions. This number represents 54% of the choir spots that were available. BISD choir results -BECHS - 1 -Hanna – 31 +1 alternate -Lopez - 6 -Pace – 5, Brandon Binder won 1st chair in the bass I section -Porter – 5+2 alternate -Rivera – 25 + 1 alternate, Briana Salas won 1st chair in the soprano II section -Veterans Memorial – 14 + 3 alternates and students on their achievements

White House to Honor Hanna Grad

San Juana Zavala, a 2009 Hanna High School graduate and current student at The University of Texas at Brownsville, will be recognized at the White House on Friday, September 21 as a Kiwanis International “Champion of Change.” She is one of 14 Kiwanis to be honored for doing great work in their communities. View the media release.

Campus Crimestoppers

BISD sponsors the Scholastic Campus Crimestoppers Program consisting of a tips hotline, 408-0049, to assist 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.

Dancers Lead at State

A delegation of 100 ballroom dancers from Brownsville ISD earned 2nd place at the State Texarama Ballroom Competition held in Galveston, Texas on Friday, September 14. This was Brownsville’s first time to participate. The BISD students competed against hundreds of couples from the Houston area and as far away as Arizona and Colorado. Ten styles of dance were included in the competition, waltz, foxtrot, tango, Viennese waltz, rumba, chacha, swing, salsa, samba, and merengue. Brownsville’s dancers were the audience favorites. A total of 24 BISD campuses were represented at Texarama: Benavides, Champion, Egly, Ortiz, Paredes, Pullam, Skinner, Villa Nueva, and Yturria Elementary Schools; Cummings, Garcia, Lucio, Manzano, Oliveira, Perkins, Stell, Stillman and Vela Middle Schools; Hanna, Lopez, Pace, Porter, Rivera, and Veterans Memorial High Schools. BISD’s ballroom dancers have already achieved well-deserved recognition at the local level. Now, their skills have brought statewide success. Congratulations to our outstanding ballroom students and their teachers.

West Nile Virus Update

Brownsville ISD is closely monitoring any developments in our area related to the West Nile Virus. District officials have been in contact with the Brownsville Health Department to ensure that areas around BISD campuses are fumigated. District coaches have also adjusted their practice and game times to avoid having students outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Here are some preventative measures that you can take: •Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside and follow the instructions on the label. Approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. •Regularly drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. •Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. •Use air conditioning or make sure there are screens on all doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home. For more information on West Nile virus, visit the City of Brownsville Health Department website at http://health.cob.us, call 956-542-3437, or visit the State of Texas DSHS website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westNile/.

Competition is Healthy

Brownsville ISD campuses are joining the City of Brownsville in participating in the Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge which runs from September 1-October 31, 2012. Communities across Texas are competing by logging in their healthy initiatives to see which community can mobilize the most healthy action and win the title. Points are earned with activities such as zumba, running clubs, etc. Brownsville has already topped the Statewide Scoreboard in the mid-size city category with over 6,000 points. For more information, click here or contact Anisa Gonzalez, the BISD Wellness Coordinator, at 698-0194 or agonzalez@bisd.us, Wellness is hot stuff in BISD!

Veterans Makes Gridiron History

The Veterans Memorial Chargers Football Team will play its first varsity game at Sams Stadium on Friday, September 14. The Chargers will take on the Porter Cowboys at 7:30 pm. Be there to watch this historic Brownsville game. David Cantu is the Veterans Memorial Athletic Coordinator/Head Football Coach.

Payroll Deduction for Employees

Brownsville ISD employees may use payroll deduction to enroll in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund, the state’s prepaid college program. The enrollment period started on September 1 and runs through February 28, 2013. This program provides a way to prepay all or part of a child’s undergraduate tuition and fees at Texas public colleges and universities at today’s prices. Read the release and guidelines in English or Spanish to learn more. Download an Employee Payroll Deduction Form.

Attention BISD Students and Parents

To 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 sectionof both libraries and may be used during regular library hours. They are not available for check out.

Wellness is Hot Stuff!

Anisa Gonzalez is the new BISD Wellness Coordinator. She is ready to launch the intramural sports season starting with the volleyball league. There will be an organizational meeting on Monday, September 10 at 5:30 pm in the BISD Wellness Fitness Center. A team captain or team representative must attend. View more BISD Wellness Fitness Center opportunities. Brownsville ISD statement regarding se

Brownsville ISD statement regarding settlement in lawsuits by Antonio Juarez and Hector Gonzales

BISD considered and voted to approve settlement in two lawsuits brought by a former BISD Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer concerning their former employment with the District. The Board took this action to avoid costly litigation that had a significant potential for damages and attorney’s fees far in excess of the settlement. It took this action in consultation and with the support of its employment practices liability insurer and the lawyers representing the District. The Board did not want to risk large jury verdicts and judgments, which would have to be paid from District funds; rather, it chose to pay a potentially much smaller amount from District funds. The potentially larger amount of several million dollars would have severely hampered BISD’s abilities to deliver its quality educational services to the students of Brownsville. The settlement monies paid by BISD will have an impact, but not at the disastrous level a jury and court could have awarded. Read the entire media release.

BISD Students Welcomed to New Biomedical Science Degree, Health Scholars Program

Three BISD graduates from Hanna and Lopez High Schools are included in the first cohorts of the bachelor’s degree in biometrical science and Health Disparities Scholars Program at The University of Texas

New Home for BLA

Beginning this week, over 200 Brownsville Learning Academy (BLA) students in grades 7–12 will begin moving into their new home, the former Brownsville Academic Center (BAC) located on Morrison Road. The BAC students recently relocated to a new building on nearby Robindale Road. BLA students and employees will make the transition to the former BAC campus over a 3-week period beginning on Monday, September 3 with grades 7-8 moving from the Webb campus. Students in grades 9 and 10 will move from the Clearwater campus during the week of September 10-14 and grades 11-12 will follow on September 17-21. BLA students have been attending classes at the historic Webb and Clearwater campuses for the past several years. This relocation will give BLA students an opportunity to regroup at one main campus and it will also give BISD Maintenance Department employees time to make much needed renovations at the Clearwater campus. BLA students will continue to receive the same transportation and food services at their new location. The BISD College and Career Connections (CCC) Program will also be relocated to the new BLA campus. This program is designed to assist adults, ages 18-25, who are missing 6 or fewer credits to earn their high school diplomas. “We are pleased to join both Brownsville Learning Academy campuses into one complete learning community to serve as a school of choice for students, grades 7-12, who are experiencing difficulties in a traditional school setting. Locating BLA at one campus will enhance our vertical and horizontal alignment and allow us to provide even better student academic services,” said Aimee Garza, BLA Principal. West Nile Virus Prevention

West Nile Virus Prevention

Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside and follow the instructions on the label. Approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. •Regularly drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. •Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. •Use air conditioning or make sure there are screens on all doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home. For more information on West Nile virus, visit the City of Brownsville Health Department website at http://health.cob.us, call 956-542-3437, or visit the State of Texas DSHS website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westNile/.

The BISD Tradition Continues, 1915-2012

For 97 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.