Board of Trustees Calls Bond Election

At the Board of Trustees Meeting August 27, Trustees voted 7−0 to call a bond election for Tuesday, November 6, 2007. The bond proposal totals $249,975,000.

The process to consider a bond election began in June 2007 when a 29-member Citizens’ Capital Needs Task Force, composed of community members, was appointed by the IISD Board of Trustees. The task force visited IISD schools and other facilities to determine the needs of the district.

After two months of study, the Citizens’ Committee presented $314,235,238 in capital needs in a report to the Board of Trustees August 6. Trustees reviewed the Citizens’ Committee’s report and worked with IISD administrators to identify a total of $249,975,000 in prioritized needs.

The amount will be used to build new facilities, renovate existing schools and other facilities, provide replacement technology, and purchase equipment.

Back to top   

Enrollment Running Slightly Ahead

IISD enrollment reached 32,755 students on Tuesday, September 4 and is 420 students below the projected peak of 33,175 for the 2007-2008 school year.

Tuesday was the sixth day of class, with an enrollment of 33 more students than the sixth day of class last year.

Compared to the same day last year, elementary enrollment has increased 177, middle school enrollment has decreased 32, and high school enrollment has decreased 112.

The two grades with the largest student populations district-wide are ninth grade with 3,005 and first grade with 2,700.

Back to top   

National Poll Finds NCLB Concerns

The 39th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward The Public Schools was released August 28.

The 39th poll comes at a time when K-12 schooling is near the top of the agenda in state and national policy discussions, and efforts to improve student achievement dominate those discussions. In addition to the annual findings of rankings and other matters, this year’s report gives the public’s opinion on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

For example, Americans worry that NCLB is pushing art, science, health and social studies out of the classroom, and one in two Americans believe that NCLB is limiting what children are taught. A large majority of Americans believe that their schools must do more to prepare young people to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.

To view the findings, visit www.pdkintl.org/kappan/kpollpdf.htm.

Back to top   

Flag Raising at Bowie

Next Tuesday, a Junior ROTC unit from Nimitz High School will be at Bowie Middle School to raise the flag outside of school to honor U.S. troops and the lives lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The American flag to be flown was sent to last year’s Bowie sixth graders from a troop unit in Iraq. The flag, which was flown by troops in Iraq, was sent to Bowie in appreciation of school’s troop drive last year.

The flag-raising ceremony will take place at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Back to top   

Brandenburg to Partner with SAP America

SAP America volunteers and Brandenburg Elementary School staff will sign a partnership agreement during a ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11 at the school's library.

Back to top   

Beginning Sign Language Class Offered at Britain

Irving ISD is offering a Beginning Sign Language class that will be held each Monday between September 24 and December 3 from 5:45-7 p.m. in the Britain Elementary School cafeteria.

The class is free to families with deaf students, $15 for IISD employees, and $20 for community members. For more information, call 972-554-3800.

Back to top   

Tutors Sought for AVID Program

Local college students have tutoring opportunities through AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination), an in-school academic support program that prepares students for college eligibility and success.

Tutors would be required to attend 12 hours of training and work 6-8 hours weekly with students in the AVID program. Tutors are paid for training and tutoring.

For more information, contact Deborah George at dgeorge@irvingisd.net or 972-215-5262.

Back to top   

Registration Scheduled for Adult ESL Classes

Free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults begin this month at the following six locations:

Administrative Annex
820 N. O’Connor   972-273-6956
Mondays and Wednesdays
9:00−11:30 a.m., noon − 2:30 p.m. and 5:30−7:30 p.m.
(Start Date/Registration: September 10)

Austin Middle School
825 Union Bower   972-721-3100
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30−8:00 p.m.
(Start Date/Registration: September 12)

Townsell Elementary School
3700 Pleasant Run   972-215-5500
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:15−7:45 p.m.
(Start Date/Registration: September 11)

Lively Elementary School
1800 W. Plymouth   972-273-6700
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:45−8:15 p.m.
(Start Date/Registration: September 13)

Irving High School
900 N. O’Connor 972-273-8300
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30−8:00 p.m.
(Start Date/Registration: September 13)

Nimitz High School
100 W. Oakdale   972-273-8600
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30−9:00 p.m.
(Start Date/Registration: September 12)

Also, the ESL Computer Lab is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Administrative Annex using IBM Reading Recognition and Side by Side software. Registration fee is $50 for six months.