January 28, 2016

Notice from the Texas Education Agency

Effective January 26, 2016, the minimum passing score for the high school equivalency exam has changed from 150 to 145 on all GED subject area tests. As a result, tests taken since January 1, 2014 in the score range from 145 to149 are now passing. By early February, the state will award and email high school equivalency credentials to those who have now passed all four tests. For Frequently Asked Questions and technical information, please visit www.GEDtestingservice.com/score-changes. If test takers have any questions, they should email ged@tea.texas.gov.

BISD Brains At Work

A total of 275 students with 244 projects participated in the BISD Brainsville Inventions competition held on Saturday, January 23 at Perkins Middle School. Brainsville Inventions is an activity designed to promote problem solving skills and creative thinking for 3rd-12th grade students. Students use creative imagination to scientifically develop problems and solutions in selected categories and create a prototype of their inventions. View the 2015-2016 results by campus.

W-2 Forms Are Online

Current BISD employees may access their W-2 forms through the Employee Online. The paper copies will be distributed on Friday, January 29, 2016. The W-2 forms for former BISD employees will also be mailed by that date.

January 25, 2016

Beyond Astronauts

The BISD SPACE Academy is featured in the January/February issue of RGVision magazine which is currently available on newsstands throughout the Rio Grande Valley. View the article.

January 20, 2016

Spring Training

The BISD Wellness Fitness Center is offering a 9-week training designed to help BISD employees run a 5k race. Training begins on February 29. Learn more.

January 19, 2016

Food Product Concern Addressed

The Brownsville ISD Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) meets all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) procurement guidelines in the purchase of food products for student and employee consumption. In November 2015, a batch of meat product that was not up to district standards was immediately recalled from all BISD cafeterias. It is important to note that none of this meat product was served at any BISD campuses. The product was returned to the vendor for full credit. Several district and campus FNS employees noticed that the product was defective and proactively reported their concern. Out of an abundance of caution, BISD has discontinued the purchase of meat products that are processed in Mexico. This meat product was raised and purchased in the United States from a USDA vendor but was processed in Mexico according to USDA guidelines and under the supervision of a USDA inspector. It is allowable to purchase foreign processed food products and it not uncommon for child nutrition programs in the U.S. to buy foreign products such as produce. Brownsville ISD has and will continue to abide with all USDA procurement guidelines to ensure that quality products are served to BISD students. The BISD Food and Nutrition Service provides over 96,000 breakfasts, lunches, and suppers each weekday to district students.

ECHS Scientists at Work

A total of 265 secondary scientists competed with 163 projects at the BISD ECHS Science Fair held on Saturday, January 16 at Lopez ECHS. The top 5 winners from each category will represent BISD at the UTRGV Regional Science and Engineering Fair on February 12-13, 2016. Congratulations to all participants. View the BISD results.

January 14, 2016

BISD History Day Results

BISD’s secondary student historians competed on Saturday, January 9 at the 21st BISD History Day held at Porter ECHS. The 1st and 2nd place winners will advance to regional competition. View the BISD History Day results.

January 11, 2016

BISD Musicians Score A New Record

A record-breaking 45 BISD fine arts students earned chairs in the 2016 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Band and Choir Ensembles. The selections were made on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the Area G Auditions. This ranks the BISD performers in the top 2% of all Texas music students. In addition, BISD band students earned 10 first chair positions, almost half of the available All-State chairs, and more than any other Area G school district. Two Veterans Memorial ECHS students, Eduardo Aquino, Bari Sax, and Manna Dellota, Soprano 2, earned 1st chairs for the 4th consecutive year. To place at the state level, the BISD students advanced through district, region, and area auditions against students from Houston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and the Rio Grande Valley. They will perform at the TMEA conference in San Antonio on Saturday, February 13. Congratulations to these top Texas musicians. View the BISD results!

January 8, 2016

BISD Students Offer Tax Help

Five BISD early college high schools, Hanna, Lopez, Pace, Porter, and Rivera, have been designated as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites this year. Students in business classes at these schools have been specially trained to assist with free tax preparation for families or individuals with an annual earned income under $54,000. View the Cameron County VITA locations.

January 7, 2016

Reader’s Choice

Three BISD educators and three campuses earned recognition in the Reader’s Choice Awards sponsored by The Brownsville Herald. Congratulations to Portia Belmont, Lopez ECHS; George Treviño, Lopez ECHS; Jason Starkey, Lopez ECHS; Brite Elementary School; Oliveira Middle School; and Lopez ECHS. The winners will be highlighted in the newspaper and receive recognition plaques.

January 6, 2016

New Year, Better You!

The BISD Wellness Fitness Center has announced the 2016 Spring exercise classes for BISD employees. View the exercise opportunities here.

Thank You to Our School Board

Each January, Texas school districts celebrate School Board Recognition Month. This month provides an ideal time to express our appreciation to the special group of men and women who comprise the BISD Board of Trustees. These local volunteers provide an important public service because they care about our children’s education. They care about our next generation and the future of our community and state. They are super-heroes for schools. Take a moment to thank them for their dedicated service.

January 5, 2016

Early College High Schools Highlighted

Texas Scholars Magazine recently featured BISD Early College High Schools in the Fall issue. View the article here.

January 4, 2016

W-2 Forms Are On the Way

All current BISD employees will receive their W-2 forms no later than Friday, January 29, 2016 at their respective work locations. The W-2 forms for former BISD employees will also be mailed by that date.

Holiday Greetings from Dr. Esperanza Zendejas

I wish our BISD students, families and employees a joyous season and a bright and happy new year. BISD campuses and offices will be closed December 21 – January 1, 2016. We look forward to welcoming our students and employees back to the district on Monday, January 4, 2016.

BISD Flag Football Championship

The NFL Flag Football Championship will be held on Friday, December 18, 2015 at the Brownsville Sports Park. Burns Elementary School is in first place with a 7-0 record. Garden Park, Peña, Morningside, and Southmost Elementary Schools are in a 4-way tie for second place. The games will start at 6:20 pm and the Championship Game will begin at 8:50 pm. Make plans to see the final BISD NFL flag football teams compete.

More Snack Packs This Year

Thank you to those who donated to the Snack Pack Project to provide food to BISD students in need during the two-week holiday break. A total of 424 Snack Packs were delivered to students at 35 BISD schools, a significant increase over last year's numbers. The students were identified by school nurses and counselors as being especially dependent on the food served by BISD for their daily meals. The Snack Pack Project is an annual collaboration between Brownsville ISD, the United Way of Southern Cameron County, and other local organizations. This is the project's fifth year to provide meal assistance to Brownsville.

Rivera Coach Wins National Awards

Congratulations to Daniel Espinosa, the Rivera ECHS Tennis Coach, who was named National Tennis Coach of the Year by Tennis Industry Magazine. Coach Espinosa was also named to the 2015 No-Cut Coach All Star Team by the United States Tennis Association. View the article on Coach Espinosa.