IISD Remembers Barbara Cardwell

Barbara Cardwell, former IISD Board of Trustees member, passed away August 12.

Cardwell served as member, secretary, vice president, and was the first woman elected as a school board president in Dallas County during her 21 years as an IISD trustee. She was also a member of numerous civic organizations including Irving Women’s Network, Friends of Irving Library, Our Children’s House in Irving, and is a past CEO of the Women’s Division of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce. Cardwell was also a member of the YWCA Advisory Committee, was a mentor at Keyes Elementary School, and served in various capacities with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Y-Teens, Irving Ballet Board, Irving Soccer Association, Irving Centennial Schools Committee, YMCA and Irving Council of PTAs. In 2008, an Irving Schools Foundation scholarship was established in Cardwell’s honor, and the first award was given at the 2009 Breakfast with the Stars.

Funeral services were conducted at First United Methodist Church in Irving and interment was at Oak Grove Memorial Cemetery. The family has requested that memorials be made to the Barbara Cardwell Future of Education Scholarship with the Irving Schools Foundation.

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Board Interviews Superintendent Search Firms

During a special called meeting August 12, the Irving ISD Board of Trustees received presentations from three prospective superintendent search firms.

The three firms responding to a recent request for proposals are:

• Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services: based in Austin, this service of TASB has placed superintendents in districts including Carrollton/Farmers Branch and Laredo.

• ProAct Search: headquartered in Illinois, ProAct has placed superintendents nationally, including Newark, New Jersey public schools Portland, Oregan public schools, and in Austin.

• Mercer Group, Inc.: Georgia-based, Mercer Group specializes in federal, state and local governments, health care providers, transit authorities, utilities and private-sector clients.

During the August 12 meeting, Trustees did not select the firm to conduct a search for the next IISD superintendent. The board may vote to appoint a firm during the August 31 regular meeting.

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New Principals, Administrators for 2009-2010

Irving ISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Neil Dugger has announced new school principal and district administrative appointments for the 2009-2010 school year:

	Stephanie Lee Clifton Early Childhood School
	Maria Elena Coronado Barton Elementary School
	Jane Lampton Britain Elementary School
	Tanya Jones Thomas Haley Elementary School
	Brenda Bingham Hanes Elementary School
	Wendi Vaughn Lee Elementary School
	Steven Wurtz Schulze Elementary School
	Desiree Marks-Arias Austin Middle School
	David Saenz Jack E. Singley Academy
	Jeremy L. Earnhart Director of Fine Arts

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Union Bower Expansion Begins

Construction and renovation have begun at Union Bower Center for Learning (UBCL), preparing the school for a major “face-lift” upon completion.

New facility construction will include a cafeteria, library and administrative wing. Science classrooms and Teenage Pregnant & Parenting Students classrooms will be added, and the interior and exterior of existing facilities will be renovated. According to Sheryl Colley, UBCL assistant principal, the additional facilities and renovated interiors will allow flexibility in scheduling students throughout the day and for night school. The renovations and additions will also create more space to meet students’ needs. To accommodate the new additions, parking for UBCL will be moved to the west side of the 285 feet of Main Street adjacent to the school.

Currently, UBCL offers four career pathways, or “houses”: Automotive Technology/Cosmetology, Technical Health Services, Child Development & Education, and Applied Technology. In planning the construction, additional houses have been discussed. Colley said decisions on what to add will be driven by the job market and research that indicates the best areas for future demand. Included in the discussions are a food management program because of the various employment opportunities afforded in the field.

UBCL currently serves 298 students, but once construction projects are complete, Colley said they hope to increase to 450 students.

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Students at Stipes Elementary School celebrate Stipes having been rated Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency.

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