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Stay informed about Dickinson ISD events, games, programs and other important dates. Click here to visit the Dickinson ISD District Events calendar page.
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No School
on Monday, January 21
A reminder to parents that Monday, January 21 is a student and teacher holiday in observence of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. School will resume on Tuesday, January 22. |
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Early Dismissal on Wednesday, January 30
All Dickinson ISD schools will have a two-hour early release day on Wednesday, January 30 to provide for teacher staff development time. Secondary schools will release at 12:30 p.m., followed by elementary schools at 1:30 p.m. |
TEA launches new College and Career website
A new website was recently launched by the Texas Education Agency called Texas College and Career to provide the key components of college and career planning in one centralized location. This new resource is available statewide at no cost to all Texas secondary students, their families and educators.
Texas College and Career targets an increase in the rate of high school graduates transitioning to positive postsecondary outcomes. The site includes interactive planning tools, college and career search tools and communication tools.
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Food and Nutrition Services
to host Epicurean Afternoon
Do you want to help choose a food item to be included on the 2013-2014 lunch menus?
If so, come visit the Dickinson ISD Food and Nutrition Services Department's Annual Epicurean Afternoon, "Nourishing a Healthy Heart" from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 7 at the McAdams Junior High Cafeteria.
Students, parents and district employees are invited to come taste and vote on possible additions to next years's breakfast and/or lunch menus. |
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Seven Dickinson ISD student artists to have art featured at Rodeo Houston
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Judging Team visited the Dickinson ISD Art Show January 10 to view the entries of over 300 students. Three students received Best of Show honors, while four students earned Gold Medals. In addition to these seven top awards, the School Art Committee awarded Dickinson ISD students with 18 finalist ribbons, 126 blue ribbons, 111 red ribbons and 43 white ribbons. Special recognition goes to the following seven students for advancing to the Houston show.
 Elementary Level Category (grades K-4):Best of Show: Erika Garcia, third grade, Silbernagel Elementary
Gold Medal: Azare Turner, second grade, Hughes Road Elementary
Art teachers are Gen Meador from Silbernagel and Christina Todaro from Hughes Road.
 Intermediate Level
Category (grades 5-8):Best of Show: Isabella Atkins, seventh grade, McAdams Junior High
Gold Medal: Madison Johnson, seventh grade, McAdams Junior High
Art teacher is Holly Gottula from McAdams.
 High School Level Category (grades 9-12):Best of Show:
Anna Novak, junior, Dickinson High School
Gold Medal:
Vera Miles, senior, Dickinson High School
Gold Medal: John Muhm, senior, Dickinson High School
Art teachers are Colleen Steblein and Lydia Thompson from Dickinson High School.
These students have opportunities to compete for summer art school scholarships, possibly advance to the art auction, as well as attend a rodeo performance. The artwork of the Dickinson ISD Best of Show and Gold Medal winners will be displayed February 25-March 17 at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, along with those from other area school districts. From those winning entries, the 50 top pieces of art, as determined by the Grand Prix Judging, are included in the annual auction. Dickinson ISD has been fortunate to have students advance to the art auction several times.
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Energy management savings helping to fund employee raises for 2013-14
 The Dickinson ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a salary increase for all employees for the 2013-14 school year. The raise for teachers includes a one percent across-the-board increase, plus a step increase and the DISD experience increment for an average increase of approximately 2.2 percent. All other employees will receive a two percent salary increase.
"The unanimous vote by the board is a testament to the district's belief that our employees are what makes us great and shows the board's willingness to make employee compensation a budget priority," DISD Superintendent Vicki Mims said. "We have great teachers here and it shows with the quality education they give the students of this district."
The total cost to the district for the salary increase is approximately $900,000, and board members noted that much of the funding for the increase comes from the annual $750,000 savings attributed to energy management efforts. "The board was very excited about the willingness of all employees to work together to implement energy conservation," Mims said.
The energy management prorgram was started at Dickinson ISD in June of 2011, and according to Energy Educator Jeff Pulkinen, it has saved the district $822,771 through October of 2012. "This has been a remarkable savings for the district," Pulkinen said. "Everyone from teachers to custodians, maintenance staff and administrators, played a part in reducing the cost of our energy bills."
DISD contracted with Energy Education, Inc., or Cenergistic Inc., as it is known now, to help reduce the cost of its energy bills. The company provided the tools and focused on training for the district to see a reduction in its bills within the first few months.
"We started saving money immediately," Pulkinen said. "It wasn't one of those things where you learn about it for six months, then implement it. It was on-the-job training, so to speak."
Pulkinen spends most of his days, and some nights, walking the halls of all the buildings in the district to analyze data, check equipment, read meters and, even turn off lights and unplug computers if need be. He has designed a daily shutdown procedure for each campus that includes everything from lights, to computers, adjusting air conditioners and even closing the blinds properly.
"There is so much that goes into saving electricity that most people don't even think about," he said. "A little thing like the direction you close your blinds can have an effect on your bill. Leaving things on like computers, scanners, printers or even projectors will add to the electricity bill."
Pulkinen said he could not do this job by himself. He said that everyone in the district is working together to see that DISD conserves energy. "If maintenance and operations didn't do their part and the custodian who work late every day didn't do their part, then I would have a much tougher job," he said. "Everyone works together to help us out and in the long run, the board is able to do what they did with the raises. I was glad we could be a small part that helps out DISD." |
DHS Ag Barn and baseball field named
in honor of Dr. Leland Williams
 Two Dickinson High School facilities will now bear the name of Dr. Leland Williams, in honor of his 17 years of service as Superintendent in Dickinson ISD.
Dr. Williams was recognized at a ceremony Jan. 15 where the new signage was unveiled with the names Dr. Leland Williams Agricultural Science Facility and Leland Williams Field at the DHS Baseball Field. While very cold and wet weather forced the event to be moved into the ag barn, approximately 150 guests braved the weather to honor the district's former superintendent.
 Dr. Williams retired in 2001 after a 44-year career in education which started as an agriculture teacher before moving into administative positions as a Director of Vocational Programs, Assistant Superintendent for District Operations and Superintendent in other districts across Texas. He joined Dickinson ISD in 1995 as Superintendent where he remained until his retirement.
 He was a driving force behind the completion of three voter-approved bond issues in Dickinson ISD. More than $230 million has been invested in Dickinson ISD facilities through these bond issues, including several new or replacement campuses and a long list of renovations and expansions to meet the district's growing student enrollment.
The DHS Baseball Field and Agricultural Science Center are just two of the many improvements completed while Dr. Williams was superintendent. Agriculture and Baseball are two special interests to Dr. Williams and his family, so it is only fitting that these two facilities should be named in his honor. |
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