It is hard to believe the beginning of the 2016–17 school year is just a couple of weeks away. It has been a busy summer in Birdville ISD as we prepare for students to return on Monday, August 22.

I am excited about the opening of the new West Birdville Elementary this fall. This beautiful new campus was one piece of the voter-approved bond referendum in November 2014. The ribbon cutting ceremony for West Birdville begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 18 at 3001 Layton Ave. in Haltom City. The public is invited to tour the new facility following the ceremony.

In addition to West Birdville, the replacement campuses at North Richland Middle and Birdville Elementary schools, along with the expansions at Watauga Elementary, Watauga and Smithfield middle schools, and Birdville High School are moving ahead full steam. The heavy rains in May and June caused delays, but contractors are working hard to get back on schedule. Progress reports on the various projects in the 2014 Bond are posted online at BISDBond14.net.

Besides construction and renovation, teachers and staff have been in various trainings throughout the summer. I appreciate their taking extra time to learn new and innovative ways to educate our children.

BISD is starting to receive results of the STAAR tests from this past spring. Once again, students are showing academic growth as reflected by their improved scores. I am proud of the hard work and great strides being made by our students and staff every year. We celebrate the accomplishments of the past and will focus on areas needing improvement in the future.

I want to take a minute to celebrate some of the successes from the 2015–16 school year.

• Fine Arts students represented BISD and their schools in performances and competitions across the state and nation, receiving recognition at all levels.
• Athletics programs were represented by both teams and individuals who participated in postseason competitions, including Birdville High School’s girls softball team which won the UIL 5A State Championship.
• Career and Technology Education students competed and won at the regional, state and national levels.
• Various campuses and departments won state awards.

Looking back, Birdville ISD has a rich history of great accomplishments. Looking forward, our students give me great hope for continued success in the future.