Category Archives: BISD
Thank a School Board Member
Texans benefit every day from the tireless work and countless hours dedicated by a group of more than 7,300 men and women in communities across the state. These public servants are elected to serve by local constituents and receive no compensation for their efforts. These men and women are the school board members of Texas.
January is School Board Appreciation Month and Birdville ISD wants to take this opportunity to thank these local leaders for devoting time to support public education and serve our schools.
“It’s more important than ever before that the public shows support for public education. Board members face critical challenges in their roles as advocates, and they will continue to stand strong and guard against anything that takes away from our children and undermines our public schools,” said Darrell G. Brown, Birdville ISD superintendent.
“Even though we are making a special effort in January to show appreciation to our board members, we realize their many contributions reflect a year-round commitment. They generously give of themselves to ensure that decisions directly affecting our local schools are made by representatives of this community, people who are close to our schools and know our teachers, parents, and students. In these challenging times, they face difficult choices and shoulder critical responsibilities. Their ultimate goal is always focused on the future success of the children in our district,” Brown said.
The board members serving Birdville ISD are: Ralph Kunkel, businessman, is the 2012-13 board president. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2002. He is a 1978 graduate of Haltom High School. Brad Greene, businessman, is the 2012-13 board vice president. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2009. He graduated from Haltom High School in 1986. Cary Hancock, businessman, is the 2012-13 board secretary. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2009. He is a 1980 graduate of Richland High School. Joe Tolbert, attorney, was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2006. Dolores Webb, businesswoman, was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1990. She is a graduate of Richland High School. Richard Davis, businessman, was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2006. He is a 1974 graduate of Richland High School. Jack McCarty, CPA, was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2011. He is a 1980 graduate of Richland High School.
“Our district benefits from the contributions of the dedicated efforts of these individuals who truly care about our children. Serving as a crucial link between the community and classroom, this board is responsible for an annual budget of more than $200 million, 24,155 students, 2,978 employees, and 33 campuses. We applaud their willingness to serve as advocates for our children and the voice of public education,” Brown said.
BISD is accepting feedback on the proposed 2013-14 calendars through 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30.
The Calendar Committee is no longer accepting comments.
The 2013-14 Calendar Committee has created three calendar options to be reviewed by community, staff, parents, and students. Each calendar has slight differences related to holidays and professional learning days for teachers.
Due to the restraints of the 2013-14 calendar, graduation will occur prior to the last day of school on the Calendar C option.
Please provide the district your comments on the following calendar options.
Texas Education Code 25.0811: First day of instruction. (a) A school district may not begin instruction for students for a school year before the fourth Monday in August unless the district operates a year-round system under Section 25.085.
Calendar Option Highlights
Calendar A
- 2013 Start Date – August 26, 2013 (fourth Monday)
- 2013 Graduation Date – Sunday, June 1, 2014
- 175 days of instruction for students
- State Waiver for 5 professional learning days that must occur after August 26 and before the last day of instruction. (If we decrease these days, we have to increase student instructional days. Instructional days + State Waivers Days must equal 180 days)
- Total 187 work days for campus staff
- 4 professional learning days prior to the start of school (These are different from the state waiver days.)
- 3 staff work days ( two prior to the start of school and one at the end of the school year)
- Friday, August 16 is a teacher flex day. It can be waived if the teacher has taken at least 6 hours of professional learning during the prior summer.
- 2 inclement weather make-up days (second semester)
– Monday, Feb. 17
– Friday, April 18
- 2 staff development make-up days (second semester)
– Saturday, April 12
– Monday, June 2
- Holidays/Break
– Labor Day
– Thanksgiving (three days)
– Christmas (two weeks)
– Martin Luther King Day (Student Holiday/Staff Development)
– Spring Break (one week)
– Memorial Day
- Last day of School – Friday, May 30, 2014
Calendar B
- 2013 Start Date – August 26, 2013 (fourth Monday)
- 2013 Graduation Date – Sunday, June 1, 2014
- 175 days of instruction for students
- State Waiver for 5 professional learning days that must occur after August 26 and before the last day of instruction. (If we decrease these days, we have to increase student instructional days. Instructional days + State Waivers Days must equal 180 days)
- Total 187 work days for campus staff
- 4 professional learning days prior to the start of school (These are different from the state waiver days.)
- 3 staff work days ( two prior to the start of school and one at the end of the school year)
- Friday, August 16 is a teacher flex day. It can be waived if the teacher has taken at least 6 hours of professional learning during the prior summer.
- 2 inclement weather make-up days (second semester)
– Monday, Feb. 17
– Friday, April 18
- 2 staff development make-up days (second semester)
– Saturday, April 12
– Monday, June 2
- Holidays/Break
– Labor Day
– Thanksgiving (one week)
– Christmas ( one and one half weeks)
– Martin Luther King Day (Student Holiday/Staff Development)
– Spring Break (one week)
Calendar C
- 2013 Start Date – August 26, 2013 (fourth Monday)
- 2013 Graduation Date – Sunday, June 1, 2014
- 175 days of instruction for students
- State Waiver for 5 professional learning days that must occur after August 26 and before the last day of instruction. (If we decrease these days, we have to increase student instructional days. Instructional days + State Waivers Days must equal 180 days)
- Total 187 work days for campus staff
- Seniors take exams prior to June 1 and will not be required to attend June 2-3
- 4 professional learning days prior to the start of school (These are different from the state waiver days.)
- 3 staff work days ( two prior to the start of school and one at the end of the school year)
- Friday, August 16 is a teacher flex day. It can be waived if the teacher has taken at least 6 hours of professional learning during the prior summer.
- Thursday, June 4 is a teacher flex day. It can be waived if the teacher has taken at least 12 hours of professional learning during the prior summer.
- 2 inclement weather make-up days (second semester)
– Monday, Feb. 17
– Friday, April 18
- 2 staff development make-up days (second semester)
– Saturday, April 12
– Thursday, June 5
- Holidays/Break
– Labor Day
– Thanksgiving (one week)
– Christmas (two weeks)
– Martin Luther King Day (Student Holiday/Staff Development)
– Spring Break (one week)
– Memorial Day
- Last day of School – Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Richland Senior High School Receives College Readiness Recognition
Richland Senior High School has received the “2012 College Readiness Award” from the Texas ACT Council for increasing the number of students taking the ACT Assessment over the past five years and significantly increasing their level of achievement and college readiness. The Texas ACT Council is comprised of secondary and postsecondary educators who advise ACT, Inc. on the utilization of ACT programs and services in Texas schools and colleges. ACT, Inc. is the not-for-profit organization that provides assessment, research, information, and program management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development and the publisher of the ACT Assessment. The ACT Assessment is the college admissions test that is used and accepted by all colleges nationwide and throughout Texas. In 2012, over 39 percent of Texas graduating high school seniors took the ACT in Texas while the total number of Texas students taking the ACT has increased over 40 percent since 2008.
According to Karen L. Pennell, Assistant Vice President and ACT Southwest Regional Manager:
“The Texas ACT Council wanted to recognize those Texas high schools that have made significant strides in increasing the college and career readiness of their graduates as demonstrated by their ACT score increases over the past five years. This can only happen as a result of the high school’s faculty and staff efforts and the dedication of Richland Senior High School students and parents to focus on college and career readiness and raise the level of academic readiness for all students. Only 170 high schools in Texas were honored for this superior level of accomplishment which represents only 9 percent of all Texas high schools. These outstanding Texas high schools should be proud of their faculty, staff, and students! Congratulations!”
2012 College and Career Night
BISD exceeds state in all areas of SAT
BISD’s 2012 SAT composite score of 993 for critical reading and mathematics is considerably higher than the state average of 973. Individual campus composite scores were 998 for Birdville High, 947 for Haltom High, and 1,029 for Richland High. In 2006, SAT added a writing component to the test. Individual campus scores on the writing portion were 472 for Birdville High, 442 for Haltom High, and 495 for Richland High. Both Birdville and Richland high schools scored above the state average in all areas, and Richland scored above the national average in all areas. A total of 647 BISD students took the test this year.
BISD’s 2012 ACT composite score of 21.8 is higher than the state average. Individual campus scores were 22.3 for Birdville High, 19.5 for Haltom High, and 23.1 for Richland High. A total of 418 BISD students took the test this year.
“I am proud of the students’ performance on the SAT and ACT tests,” said Superintendent Darrell G. Brown. “The district will continue to review the progress of our students and will address areas needing additional focus. I am also proud of our staff for the role they play in preparing our students for these rigorous tests.”
In order to help prepare students for the SAT test, BISD will continue to require sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT test in October at district expense. The PSAT test helps the district identify areas where students need additional assistance. In addition, it helps identify potential National Merit Scholars.