Staff
Development Dates and Guidelines
 Staff Development dates and guidelines for
teachers and administrators for the 2010-2011 school
year. Get these important dates reserved on your calendar
now. Be up-to-date on information about District and Campus staff
development requirements, exchange days, and distributed learning
credits. |
STAAR to replace TAKS
 (TEA,
AUSTIN) – Commissioner of Education Robert Scott announced today that
the next generation of student tests will be called the State of Texas
Assessments of Academic Readiness or STAAR. STAAR will replace the
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), which is the
criterion-reference assessment program that has been in place since
2003. The STAAR name, pronounced the same as star, will be
used for the 12 end-of-course assessments mandated by SB 1031 in 2007
and the new grade 3-8 assessments mandated by HB 3 in the 2009
legislative session. |
 Textbook
Inventory Program Link Has Changed
The TIPWeb server move is now complete. Because it has moved to a
new server, the link is a slightly different URL. Please access
TIPWeb from this link
http://tipweb2/tipweb. Administrators
will need to redo your bookmarks or favorites to this new location.
The link on the administrator’s page (on the right) has been updated
as well. If you encounter any connectivity issues, please let
us know. This new server should run the software a bit faster.
(Lea Bailey, Director of Learning
Resources
lbailey@irvingisd.net.) |
Employee Discount List
Updated
 (Updated
Spring '10)
As an employee of Irving ISD, the following businesses are extending
a discount exclusively to you. Discounts are listed for
LASIK eye care, home improvement, travel, restaurants,
retail and entertainment. Discounted services can be found for
telephone services, banking services, medical services, legal
services, apartment leasing, real estate and more. |
|
Walk Across Texas
 As
a part of the District’s Wellness Program we will be sponsoring a Walk
Across Texas program. This is an eight-week walking program for teams
of eight people. Team Captains will track the distance walked by each
member during the 8 weeks. Participants can walk/exercise together or
on their own and turn in their mileage to the Team Captain each week.
Everything will be posted online so that participants can see how their
team is doing compared to other district teams. The wellness program is
providing
free
pedometers to the first 225
people that sign up to be on a team. (You must be a District Employee to
be on a team). |
Notice Regarding Over the Counter Flex System Debit Card
Claims
 Due
to guidelines by the IRS, beginning January 2010,
non-medical discount merchants (such as Wal-Mart,
Walgreen’s, Target, grocery-stores, etc.) must be IIAS
certified in order for over-the-counter medical expenses
to be deemed eligible for purchase via the Claim Card.
If the merchant is IIAS certified the purchase (using
the Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) number) will be checked
against a list of eligible 213 expenses and, if
eligible, the item will be allowed to be paid with the
card and will automatically be marked ‘Substantiated’ by
FlexSystem. (read
more) |
New
Administrator Tool - Technology Work Orders
Remember that when you are having
problems with the technology in your office or school
that you can submit your work order online to your
campus CT for faster response. Select the type of
equipment you are having a problem with, provide
details, and recommend the best time for service.
Click on the administrator tool "Technology Work Order'
in the menu in the upper right-hand corner. |
Playground Committee Report to the Board
 Our
Board of Trustees recognizes the value of play in the
life of a student. Truly, playgrounds have been a
functional component of education for many, many years.
We seek to improve the condition of our play areas such
that every child has room to play in a safe and
functional environment. The committee’s charge, then, is
to develop a plan to address district playgrounds, so
that the outcome will be functional, uniform play areas
throughout the district. |
 Highly Qualified
Status of Irving ISD
NCLB requires that the LEA
publicly report the annual progress of the LEA and each campus served by
the LEA in meeting the state’s measurable highly qualified teacher
objectives. The annual targets of these objectives are as follows along
with the district percentages for the 2009-2010 school year. All
eligible campuses reported 100% Highly Qualified status. |
DRAFT 2010-2011 School Calendar
 Attached
for review, distribution and discussion with staff, parents and
community members is a proposed DRAFT 2010-2011 school calendar.
The calendar is a result of preliminary discussion with the Board of
Trustees during Noon Work Sessions and is to be release for additional
input. All comments
and/or suggestions are welcomed and should be submitted to: Ralph
Diaz, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at
rdiaz@irvingisd.net.
Other acceptable options include voicemail at 972.600.5005 or fax
comments to 972.215.5003.
|
Retirement Planning Seminar
 (February
4 or May 3, 2010)
Region 10 Education Service Center is
hosting FREE Retirement Planning Seminars to any employee of a
Region 10 District. We are pleased to have highly respected TCG Advisors
leading the seminar. TCG has specialized in advising education
professionals and is the Investment Advisor to Region 10 ESC’s Retirement
Asset Management Services (RAMS). |
|
 Submit
Working with Mr. Singley Stories
If you would like to submit your favorite story about working with Jack
Singley, former superintendent of schools, please complete the
online form. Suggestion: Type your story in Word, then paste it
into the attached form. |
 Notice of Unclaimed Property
(Updated October 30, 2009)
The following property is presumed abandoned and subject to Chapter 76
of the Texas Property Code. Any person possessing a legal or beneficial
interest in the following property may obtain information concerning the
amount of the property and establish your right to receive the property
by presenting proof of the claim. |
|
Internet Safety
Education with i-SAFE
 We
are pleased to announce that the Irving ISD has partnered with i-SAFE to
provide Internet safety education for students. An i-SAFE account has
been created for teachers who will receive an email from i-SAFE with
instructions for accessing their accounts. This district subscription to
i-SAFE will allow all teachers access to i-SAFE’s Internet Safety
curriculum.
i-SAFE is the worldwide leader in Internet
safety education. Founded in 1998 and endorsed by the U.S. Congress, i-SAFE
is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the online
experiences of youth everywhere. i-SAFE incorporates classroom
curriculum with dynamic community outreach to empower students,
teachers, parents, law enforcement, and concerned adults to make the
Internet a safer place. |
 LoTi
Training for Administrators
Each session
will give a brief overview of LoTi then focus on strategies for
conducting classroom walkthroughs. Sessions are offered in February 2010. |
District Guidelines for Receiving Delivery of Merchandise
 The
following guidelines are provided to campus personnel relative to
accepting merchandise at the campus from a supply truck, direct shipment
from the vendor, or shipment from the district warehouse. Each campus
should designate at a minimum two persons with the responsibility of
receiving such shipments. There should always be someone designated to
receive at the campus when it is open. These guidelines will be posted
on the district warehouse webpage, and should be kept in a central
receiving location at the campus.
 2009-2010 |
|
Benefits Information for New Hires
The IISD Benefits Office has
received phone calls from several new hires about signing up for their
insurance. If you have not already signed up, we need you to sign up as
soon as possible. Your insurance coverage begins next Tuesday September
1 and we will need to get all new hires your ID cards. Here is a
webpage for new hires with information on signing up for benefits.
Also videos and information are available on the Medical Health Benefits
Tab of the Benefits website and on the Voluntary Benefits Tab.
New Hire Benefit Deductions will be doubled on the September paycheck. |
|
Click here for Video |
|
Revised Grading Policy 2009-2010
Dr. Morris gives an overview of the revised Irving ISD
Grading Policy (EIA
Local) which was mandated by the passage of Senate Bill
2033. All administrators need to be aware of the
revisions to the Grading Policy which may affect your
schools standard grading practices. |
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|
Irving ISD Free/Reduced Lunch
Policy
 Irving
Independent School District has announced its policy for providing free
and reduced price meals for children served under the National School
Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program ... The household size and
income criteria identified in the chart will be used to determine
eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. Children from
households whose income is at or below the levels indicated are eligible
for free or reduced price meals. Foster children who are the legal
responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for
benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they
reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child’s
income... |
Online
Meal Payments
 Manage your child's meal account with ease ...
Irving ISD is proud to offer a safe and secure way for parents to make online
payments for school meals and view student meal account activity from home or
work.
To setup your online
account you will need your student's Irving ISD Student ID Number. |
 Irving
ISD Construction Reports
Keep up to date on the status of construction during the
summer by visiting our Irving ISD Construction Reports page each
week. Information is posted about the status of renovations, new
facilities and special projects along with current photos of some of the
sites. |
 FREE
Panda AntiVirus Software for Irving ISD Staff
Yes, free Panda
AntiVirus Software for your home or personal computer. Panda
AntiVirus
currently has Irving ISD on record to receive 800 matching
copies of Panda AntiVirus Software to distribute among Irving ISD
employees for personal use.
|
OpenOffice will
Replace Microsoft Office on Irving ISD Student Laptops
 In
an effort to familiarize our students with emerging standards and to
extend our bond funds, all student laptops will now come with
OpenOffice as the productivity suite. So OpenOffice 3.0
will replace Microsoft Office 2003 on student laptops. Teacher
laptops will also have OpenOffice, but will continue to have Microsoft
Office 2003 for one more year. For the 2010-2011 school year, the
district will have to move to Microsoft Office 2007 for teachers and
staff. All desktops will continue to have Microsoft Office and
OpenOffice. Teachers and students may familiarize themselves with
OpenOffice by using the Tutorials
& Guides link provided. |
|
Grant for Candidates Seeking Alternative Teacher
Certification
 Irving
ISD has entered into a grant partnership with Quality ACT
Alternative Certification Program. If a recommended candidate for a
position in Irving ISD is enrolled in the Quality ACT program for
certification, they may qualify for a $1,300 grant to offset
the cost of their certification program. The teachers must be
seeking certification in selected fields. |
Irving
ISD Status of Highly Qualified Teachers
The No Child Left Behind Act
of 2001 (NCLB) requires each local education agency (LEA) to
publicly report progress of the LEA toward meeting the highly
qualified (HQ) teacher requirements. To be HQ, a teacher
must have... |
 Free Food for Your
Students?
(ATTN:
Principals) Through the After School Snack Program, the IISD Food Service
Department can provide free snacks (in nearly all cases) to your
students who are involved in after school academic programs. To qualify, your after school
program must meet these criteria ... |
Outstanding Teacher or Employee of
the Month Nominations
Administrators and Staff: It is never too late to nominate
outstanding teachers and employees for the Outstanding Teacher or
Employee of the Month Award. Committees select one from each
category to honor at a school board meeting each month and we are
always in need of new nominations! Thank you for your input!
|
Got a Project That You Would Like to Get
Funded?
Have you looked at the Grant Services Web site
lately? A variety of grant announcements has been posted
to the Grant Services website. Take a look at
www.irvingisd.net/devfedfunds. |
 Tutorials
& Guides for the New Phone System
Provided with this article are some
helpful tutorials and guides that you can use to learn the new Verizon Voice
Polycom SIP phones. During the summer months, Irving ISD will be
installing a new telephone system in all schools and support facilities, and
creating a common exchange of 600. All of the new school phone numbers
will be effective by August 24, 2009. |
 Free Online Training
Videos for School Districts
Free, online training at your convenience! You can watch these tutorial videos from any computer connected to the
internet that has the free QuickTime plug-in installed.
Their library contains hundreds
of tutorial videos for multiple software applications. Their
content is created by certified teachers, for teachers and students.
They are continuously adding tutorials, so check back with them often
to see new content. |
