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April 22, 2013 Board Meeting
This Board Brief highlights this month's Board meeting. More detail can be found on the BISD web site.
Board Workshop
Eric Haugeberg, Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations, gave an overview and preliminary review of the budget planning process. Many unknowns currently exist, but the financial outlook for the District is more promising than it has been in the last two years. We will be closely monitoring the legislative session as we further develop the budget for the next fiscal year.
Superintendent's Report
CTE Presentation
Demand for Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses is growing at a fast rate. BISD offers over 70 CTE courses in fifteen career pathways. A recent presentation for the Temple Rotary Club caught the attention of several businesses who are interested in partnering to employ students and provide training in specialized areas. A video highlighting our CTE courses may be viewed by clicking on this link. 
Academic UIL
We are very pleased with the results of our high school UIL Academic Team in district competition, placing second out of eight schools. Sixteen students competed at Regionals, with four students placing in their events.  
Legislative Update
We are watching SB 1458 which raises the minimum retirement age to 62 to receive full benefits. Also, HB 1025 is a supplemental appropriations bill which would give us approximately $840,000 in additional funding for the current school year. The Senate Education Committee has approved HB5, which will reduce the number of tests given to high school students.
Long-Range Facilities Planning
We are in the process of reviewing and revising our ten-year Long-Range Facilities Plan and will meet with the Board on June 3 to discuss plans for the future.
Groundbreaking 
The groundbreaking event for North Belton Middle School was held today at 1:00 p.m.  Students from Lakewood Elementary and Belton Middle School were in attendance to help us celebrate. Look for pictures on Facebook! 
Attendance Boundaries Transfers
The Administration approved 100% of the elementary transfer requests that were received during the early transfer process. These requests were approved based on wanting to stay at an existing campus due to the change in attendance boundaries.  
BHS Principal Search
The BHS Principal position is posted. A video highlighting BHS is available for applicants to review and over 400 postcards were mailed to experienced principals across the State.  
Apple, Inc. Visitors 
Stephanie Curillo, Vice-President for Apple's Education Division, visited BISD on Apr. 11. She toured Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow. We enjoyed the conversation about teaching and learning and the vision of technology integration for our students.  
Amended 2013-2014 Calendar 
The Board approved the change in the school calendar for Spring Break to be the week of March 10-14, 2014, instead of the previously approved March 17-21. This will be more in line with other school districts and colleges/universities in the area.
Technology Use at BHS

BHS has implemented iPads into instruction in ELA classes, including reading and annotating novels digitally, creating products such as videos, Keynote presentations, and digital posters to explore elements of literature in a creative way. Social studies students use an array of different apps, including timeline and video apps, to create products demonstrating mastery of content. Special thanks to our students for sharing their work with the Board! 

Athletic Facilities Long-Range Plan

Eric Haugeberg, Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations, and Rodney Southern, Athletic Director, reviewed the Athletic Facilities Long-Range Plan, which has been part of the Long-Range Facilities Committee's work since 2003. Many items have been completed in bond programs or through general fund budgeting with capital outlay funds or fund balance expenditures. Several items are still left to be completed in the future. See this month's Board packet for more information.   

Vision, Mission, & Goals

The Board approved the continuation of the District's Vision, To Be a Leader in Preparing Every Student to Excel in Tomorrow's World; the District's Mission, To Provide an Education that Challenges All of Our Students to Excel; and the

Board Goals. The six goals continue to provide clear guidance for decision-making in every aspect of the District's work.
Personnel

Calvin Itz, currently principal at Tyler Elementary, was named the new principal for Chisholm Trail Elementary, which will open for the 2014-2015 school year. The staff at Tyler, with the excepton of PreK teachers will also be reassigned to Chisholm Trail Elementary.

Watching Over West

Thank you for the overwhelming response to "Watching Over West" as we collected approximately 250 boxes of school supplies and almost $7,700 for our neighbors in West ISD. These will be delivered as soon as possible.

Blood Drive 

A blood drive is planned for May 9 to benefit the West community. The Scott & White Blood Bankmobile will be at the BHS Health Science Center on 6th St. from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The drive is for adults. 

Election Reminder
Early voting for the Board of Trustees election for Area 5 between incumbent Mike Cowan and Manuel Alcozer begins Monday, April 29-Tuesday, May 7 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Administration Building. As a reminder of our policies on elections, please see the District's Election Guidelines Frequently Asked Questions. The election is Saturday, May 11 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at Harris Community Center.
I have enjoyed the Spring Campus/Department Update presentations we have done thus far and look forward to being with the rest of you in the coming days. Thank you for all of your hard work in preparing our students for testing.  
  

Sincerely,

 

Susan Kincannon, Ed.D.
RECOGNITIONS
        
Central Texas Incredible Kids
Evan Smith and Austin Couillard, both seniors at Belton High School, were named as Incredible Kids by the Central Texas Youth Coalition. Also named were Bethany Shafer, fifth grader at Pirtle Elementary, and Kobe Sanchez, eighth grader at South Belton Middle School. 
 
      
Duke Talent Search State
 Recognized Students Eighteen eighth grade students met the state level qualifying criteria for either the ACT or SAT. This is a large increase from previous years and may be attributed to the Junior Scholars program instituted during the fall semester.  
          
Bell County Spelling Bee Champion
Madeline Chaput, eighth grader at Lake Belton Middle School, won the Bell County Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Temple Daily Telegram.
 

      
American Choral Directors Assn. Honor Choir 
Cassidy Rendon, sixth grader at Belton Middle School, was selected to participate in the prestigious choir.  
    
Citizen Bee State Qualifiers
Jacob deKeratry finished first in the Region 12 Citizen Bee and will compete at State in May. Mitch Anderson finished second.
        
Visual Arts Scholastic Event
Austin Couillard 's art entry "Eye Pop" was selected to advance to the State VASE Competition.
         
Rotary Educator of the Quarter
Stephen Jehl, Instructional Facilitator and teacher at Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow, was selected as Rotary Educator of the Quarter for the Belton Rotary Club.
        
Rotary Educator of the Month
Sandi Harmon, sixth grade history teacher at Lake Belton Middle School, was selected as Rotary Educator of the Month for the Temple Rotary Club.
         
Watching Over West
Thank you BISD staff for assistng with this most worthwhile project!
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