News from Lubbock Independent School District

The Lubbock Teachers Federal Credit Union is extending their loan special! They are offering 12-month signature loans at 8.5%APR (annual percentage rate). Each loan completed qualifies for an entry to win $500!! Call for 744-8704 for details. Take advantage of this special before it's gone. It expires April 30!

Estacado UIL academic results

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) District Academic Competition for 3A schools was Thursday, April 5, and Estacado High School (EHS) competed with other 3A schools in the region. Students generate points for their schools as individual competitors and in teams in up to 24 subject areas. EHS students accumulated a total of 80 points.

Additionally, the following Matadors advanced to the UIL Regional event at Texas Tech University on April 21: Kelvin Cassity in science, Dominique Scott in calculator applications and Tiffany Vega in social studies.
Best of luck to all LISD UIL academic competitors next weekend. Both 3A and 5A schools will compete in the regional meet next weekend at Texas Tech.

Volunteers needed for Food 2 Kids

The Junior League of Lubbock is in need of volunteers to gather donations at several local United grocery stores on Saturday April 28, May 5 and May 12. All donations gathered go to the Junior League's "Food 2 Kids" program, which directly impacts hundreds of Lubbock ISD students.
Anyone interested in volunteering or affiliated with service organizations that need volunteer hours, please contact Linsey McCutchin at 766-1066 or email for details.

Contact information for state legislators

Senate District 28

Sen. Robert L. Duncan

1500 Broadway,
Suite 902

Lubbock TX 79401

Phone: (806) 762-1122

House District 84

Rep. John M. Frullo

4601 50th St, Suite 216

Lubbock TX 79414

Phone: (806) 763-2366

House District 83

Rep. Charles Perry

11003 Quaker Avenue, Ste. 101

Lubbock TX 79424

Phone: (806) 783-9934

Teacher of the Year finalists for 2012 named

Shown above (L to R) are the 2012 Teacher of the Year finalists and quadrant winners: Kara Swindell, Deana Hughes, Brian Ellyson, Amberlee Reed, Kris Ann Blodgett, David Ritter (accepting the certificate for winner Deborah Schoenecke), Lisa Powell and Andrea Gibson.

For more than forty years, the Texas Education Agency's Teacher of the Year program has honored excellence in classroom education and provided a forum to showcase many outstanding educators who inspire their students, their colleagues and the communities they serve. Lubbock ISD honored the Teacher of the Year campus winners with a reception on Thursday, April 12, and named the elementary and secondary finalists for each quadrant.

The Campus Winners for Quadrant 1 are: Cynthia Baldner, Rush; Brett Farr, Coronado; *Deborah Schoenecke, Irons; Stacy Comer, Smith; *Andrea Gibson, Stewart; Amy Smith, Wester; Donna Corbin, Bowie; Cari Huerta, Overton; Helene Thorpe, S. Wilson; Brenna Day, Hardwick; Elizabeth McCardy, Whiteside; Jaci Underwood, Centennial; Holly Duesterheft, Mackenzie; JohnathanMcMillin, Williams

The Campus Winners for Quadrant II are: Joshua Aguirre, Bayless; Ashley Lambert, Roberts; Jessica Rockwell, Brown; *Kris Ann Blodgett, O.L. Slaton; Karla Lewis, Honey; Michelle Summers, Haynes; Nancy Boyer, Parsons; Holli Myrick, Dupree; Stacy Tow, Bean; Mary Ellen Garcia, Murfee; Michel Piscacek, Wheelock; Kasey Voss, Atkins; Roger Green, Monterey; *Lisa Powell, Waters; Joshua Wheeler, Evans

The Campus Winners for Quadrant III are: Sara Alvarez, Ramirez; *Brian Ellyson, Cavazos; Christina Ramirez, Wolffarth; Rosalinda Bush, Guadalupe; Patricia Farr, Hutchinson; *Amberlee Reed, Wright; Holly Jo Camp, R. Wilson; Nikki Hearn, Maedgen; Amanda Sells, Jackson; Peggy Chavez, McWhorter; Joan Jenkins, Lubbock High

The Campus Winners from Quadrant IV are: Maria Brito, Harwell; Jannelle Long, Dunbar; Devin Street, Estacado; Jerry Goodwin, Matthews; Tim Martin, JJAEP; *Kara Swindell, Talkington; *Deana Hughes, Wheatley; Michael May, VTC; Shelli Thompson, Hodges; Margaret Ivey, Parkway, Teri Medina, LCJJC; Stacie Woodman, Bozeman; Stephanie Johnson, Iles; Nick Sanders, Project Intercept

LISD juniors top state and nation on PSAT

Eleventh-grade students in Lubbock ISD who took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test / National Merit Semifinalist Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in October of 2011 scored above the state and national mean scores of their counterparts elsewhere in Texas and the United States. PSAT Chart

In critical reading skills, LISD juniors scored 49.6, exceeding the state average of 44.2 and the national score of 47.6. In mathematics, LISD juniors scored 49.6 as compared with the state average of 46.0 and the national score of 48.3. In writing, LISD juniors scored 48.2% remaining above the state and national averages of 42.9 and 45.6, respectively.

The number of LISD students who took the test last fall (629) increased over those in 2010 (591). Additionally, those same 629 students scored higher on the PSAT/NMSQT College Readiness Benchmark (41.6%) than their state (25.9%) and national peers (34.2%). The college readiness benchmark measure is a score that a student should meet or exceed to be considered on track to be college ready.

LISD Superintendent Karen Garza, Ph.D. said, "I am proud of our students and our schools. These scores demonstrate that our students are performing above their college-bound peers, both regionally and nationally."

Your TRS Benefits - what you need to know
(The first in a three-part series)

In 2011, the Texas Legislature directed the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS) to conduct studies on the sustainability of their pension funds, which are "defined benefit plans." The studies come on the heels of a national debate on pension plans, of which some public and private sectors plans have exhibited a lack of long-term solvency. The TRS plan is actuarially very sound. At the end of the plan year in August of 2011, TRS net assets were $107.4 billion, an increase from $95.7 billion the previous year. Benefit payments last year were about $7.18 billion.

TRS is a "defined benefit plan" as opposed to a "defined contribution plan." In a defined benefit plan, a certain payout is guaranteed at retirement according to a fixed formula, which is calculated based on the employee's years of service and average salary. Active TRS members, who are current educators and employees at school districts across Texas, contribute 6.4 percent of their pre-tax payroll to TRS, and the State of Texas contributes 6 percent to the plan. Once an employee retires, they are guaranteed a consistent monthly payment for the rest of their lives.

A "defined contribution plan" provides a payout on retirement based on contributions made to the account and the performance of the investment vehicles utilized. In these plans, the risks and investment rewards are typically assumed by each individual employee/retiree. Although retirees in this type of plan can direct the investments, they also run the risk of outliving their assets.

The TRS sustainability report is due to the Texas Legislature by September 1, 2012. TRS staff is prohibited from making recommendations to the Legislature; however, comments by TRS members may be submitted. More information is available at www.trs.state.tx.us.

Iles students dance at Festival de Oro

Iles Elementary third graders Ahlandra Cox (left, in red) and Dante Mallory (right, in black) danced at the Fiesta de Oro at Lubbock High School. The Iles Ballet Folklorico program is one the "extended day" activities at Iles and runs from 3:20 to 5 p.m. each day. A total of ten students are enrolled in the program. The troupe has several more performances this spring.

Best of luck to gifted and talented state contenders

Lubbock ISD's eight Future Problem Solving (FPS) teams and six individual competitors in addition to seven Destination ImagiNation (DI) teams are competing at their respective state tournaments this weekend. The FPS state tournament is in Austin and the DI state meet is in Corpus Christi.

Three of the state-bound FPS teams are from Murfee Elementary, one is from O.L. Slaton Middle School and one is from Lubbock High School (LHS). The remaining three teams are "hybrid" or combined teams from multiple schools. One team is comprised of students from Evans and Irons Middle Schools and two are comprised of students from Coronado High School (CHS) and Lubbock High. Five of the six individual competitors are from LHS and one is from CHS.

Three of the advancing DI teams are from Waters Elementary. Other campuses with teams advancing include: Murfee and Smith Elementary Schools, Cavazos Middle School and Talkington School for Young Women Leaders.

Swap Shop, Cheers and LISD Family News

FOR SALE: Twin bed frame. $15. Twin white metal headboard, brand new. $15. Twin box spring. $15. Five drawer dresser. $40. Graco highchair. $30. Leap Frog learning table. $20. Playskool explore and grow busy ball popper. $20. Fisher Price sillytown stack'n surprise blocks. $25. All in great condition. Please call 795-8336.

FOR SALE: Two miniature schnauzers, one male and one female. Both are solid white and recently groomed. The male is three years old and the female is almost five months. We love these pups, but need to downsize and would like to find good homes for them. Please text 543-2744 or email cgipson@lubbockisd.org

FOR SALE: Beautiful A-line spaghetti strap wedding dress fit for a princess. Size 16, but will fit a 14. Details make the dress with embroidery on bodice, trim at bottom and built in petticoat for a goddess fit. Originally special ordered and paid $800, will sacrifice for $500. Serious inquiries only, please call 745-5920.

FOR SALE: Paladin sofa purchased from Spears. Light green, in great condition and very comfortable. Asking $300. Havertys cherry wood entertainment center with doors, inside platform measures 34". Asking $300. Casio CTK-720 electric keyboard with stand and music book. Asking $100. Please call 744-1284 if interested.

GARAGE SALE: Sat. April 14, 7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 1420 Chicago Avenue in the Hardwick ES Cafeteria.

GARAGE SALE: Sat. April 14, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 4515-87th Street, corner of 87th and Salem in Lakeridge. 17 family sale with many items including a sleeper sofa, love seat, TV entertainment center, treadmill, two security systems with cameras, boys bicycle, beer pong table, three sets of stoneware dishes with serving dishes, craft supplies, material scraps, clothing, books, and much more.

SERVICE: Dependable lawn care service and/or general clean-up. Call Grayson at 281-8087.

SERVICE: Honest and dependable woman seeks housecleaning jobs; cleans for other district employees. References available upon request. Call Ruby at 773-1094.

CHEERS TO: Melinda Hatfield, Atkins MS choir director and the Atkins men's and women's choirs for earning sweepstakes at the UIL concert and sight reading contest. We are proud of you!--Chris Huber, Atkins MS

CONGRATULATIONS TO: ♦ Stephanie Brown, kindergarten teacher at Roberts ES on the birth of her son, Baylor Wayne Brown, April 9.

♦ Nathan Edgar, manager of materials production center and his wife Melissa on the birth of their son, Dalton Pratt Edgar, April 10th.

SYMPATHY TO: Robbi Crumpler, teacher at Iles Elementary, on the death of her father-in-law, Phillip Crumpler, on April 6.

FAMILY BRAGGING TIME: Travis Everett will graduate in May with a double master's in public relations and creative writing from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Travis is the son of Ann Hill special education teacher at Hodges ES and Russell Hill, journalism and computer teacher at Coronado HS.

RETIREMENT RECEPTION: LCJJC invites you to a retirement reception honoring Coach Gregory Jeffcoat from 1- 4 p.m. April 21 at On the Border located on Slide Road. We extend our congratulations to him for a job well done!