San Antonio Independent School District
I’d like to update you on a couple of subjects that provide a means to help level the playing field in our offerings for students - Bond Update and Equity in Funding: January 2012
• Superintendent Update 01-10-12 - pdf
• SAISD Insider Newsletter 1-12-12 - pdf
• SAISD Progress E-Newsletter - January 2012
Just one year after voters approved the $515 million bond issue, progress on the massive program can be seen across the District. These and other issues are examined in the newsletter below. November 2011
• SAISD Insider Newsletter 11-11-11 - pdf
• Superintendent Update 11-14-11 - pdf
Grant enables SAISD and HISD students to 'GEAR UP' for college. Learn the details about this grant along with other important SAISD issues throught the distict's newsletter linked below. October 2011
• SAISD Insider Newsletter 10-13-11 - pdf
Students and staff at schools throughout the District are seeing the improvements under way through the $515 million bond program. This and other important stories are available through the links below. September 2011
• Superintendent Update 9-23-11 - pdf
• SAISD Insider Newsletter 9-22-11 - pdf
With confirmation that academic progress is being made, the new school year will get off to an optimistic start for SAISD overall, while staff and students at 29 District campuses can enjoy reaching the state’s top rankings. Read about this and other sotries through the following links. August 2011
• Superintendent Update 8-11-11 - pdf
• SAISD Dividend Newsletter 8-11 - pdf
The final results have been released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on 2011 accountability ratings, and SAISD has been officially rated Academically Acceptable. This rating will remain with the district through 2013. This and other stories are available through the links below. July 2011
• Superintendent Update 7-29-11 - pdf
• SAISD Insider Newsletter 7-22-11 - pdf
Thanks to a focused effort on reducing dropouts and reconnecting with individuals who had already left the school system, SAISD has seen a significant improvement in its Completion Rate (the percentage of students who graduate in four years or continue on for a fifth year of high school) compared to last year. Follow this and other issues through the links below. 6-21-11
• Superintendent Update - pdf
• School community meeting schedule - pdf
An educator who has spent her 21-year career helping to secure successful futures for special needs learners will represent SAISD for one of Bexar County’s most prestigious honors. Jeanette Henderson of Wilson ES has been selected by a District committee as SAISD’s nominee for the 2011 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Read more here. 2-25-11
The district been working to identify potential cost-cutting measures in response to the state funding crisis. Since my last budget update to you, the state legislature has convened, and we’re hearing numbers even higher than originally anticipated: a projected state shortfall of $27 billion, with an impact to public education of more than $9 billion. This and other issues are explored throught the links below. 1-28-11
• SAISD Superintendent Update 1-28-11 - pdf
• SAISD Insider Newsletter 1-28-11 - pdf
SAISD is preparing for a significant loss in funding by working to identify potential cost-cutting measures. Recently some initial ideas were discussed with the Board of Trustees. Some of those options involve near-term actions; others would be evaluated over a longer period of time, as we learn more about the budget cuts implemented by the state legislature and their specific impact on our District. More on this here - pdf. 1-6-11
North East Independent School District
On Election Day, the 2011 NEISD bond proposal was approved with 53 percent of the votes cast. The passage of this $399,410,000 bond was a huge undertaking – not only by district staff, but especially by the Community Bond Planning Committee and NEISD residents. Yet first and foremost, this is a big victory for our students – all of whom will benefit throughout the district. Read more here. 11-16-11
In August, North East ISD received the highest rating of "Superior Achievement" from Schools FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency. This is our ninth year to receive this distinction. Complete story here. - 10-25-11
In the fall and spring of 2010-2011, North East ISD parents, taxpayers, employees, civic and neighborhood leaders joined together to study the district’s growth and facility needs. They formed a community bond planning committee and developed a proposed list of projects after several months of research and discussion. Details on this and other stories here. - pdf - 10-10-11
North East Independent School District (NEISD) has embarked on a journey to pass a much needed bond package. Now is the time to raise the funds needed to support the campaign. We have organized a volunteer bond election campaign, and we need your financial support.
Details here - pdf. Printable flyer here - pdf. 9-23-11
North East ISD has been doing its part to conserve energy as the possibility of rolling brownouts occur throughout the city. City Public Service (CPS) anticipates high peak energy usage during the first week of school, and NEISD is working with them on emergency plans to better prepare for rolling outages. Details here. 8-12-11
North East ISD received notification from the Texas Education Agency that the district received the designation of Recognized for the fourth year in a row, making it one of the largest districts in the state to receive this rating. To read more, please click here. 8-1-11
As the last few days of my role as Superintendent of the North East Independent School District have neared, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support, dedication and investment in NEISD and its students. NEISD has been my home since 1960, and it will always be my home – in fact, it is also where my entire family has been educated. I attended North East schools, taught in them, and now for the past 21 years had the experience to lead this great school district. Read more here. 6-30-11
North East ISD would like to share important enrollment capping information. The link below provides notice to new residents and buyers explaining the new capping procedures for Tejeda and Bush middle schools. Review the latest NEISD school boundary and capping information at http://www.neisd.net/boundaries.html. June 2011
5-23-11
Dear Friend,
Another successful school year has come to a close at North East ISD. We will recognize more than 3,900 NEISD students as they walk the graduation stage and mark an important milestone in their education. Many of our graduates will embark on their next chapter, whether it’s college, the military or the workforce – and I am confident each will have continued success.
When given the right foundation, NEISD students excel academically and personally. They pursue challenging coursework and display incredibly creative talents, while earning coveted recognitions at the same time. It's this reputation that greatly contributes to our growth. Families still flock to our district because they want their children in our schools and programs. It's great news, but it also brings us challenges.
With an expected enrollment next year of more than 66,000 students, we are faced with overcrowding in some areas and the need for more schools. Tuscany Heights and Cibolo Green elementary schools will alleviate some of these issues when they open their doors for the 2010-2011 school year. However, some schools remain capped to new enrollment until new campuses can offer relief. New students in Wilderness Oak Elementary and Tejeda Middle School attendance areas will still be overflowed to other schools, and Bush Middle School is close to being capped as well.
As new schools open, the district's tradition of excellence is as strong as ever. Our students, staff, schools and district have been recognized for their leadership and best practices throughout the year. There are a few notable accolades earned in the past few months I would like to share with you.
Just recently, the district's 509 Summa Cum Laude graduates were honored for earning a grade point average of 100 or higher. Many worked hard for this while also participating in extracurricular activities and working jobs. NEISD is also home to 18 National Merit Finalists, 22 National Merit Semifinalists, 53 Commended Scholars, 62 Hispanic Scholars and 3 Achievement Scholars.
NEISD was named the large district winner for the 2010 H-E-B Excellence in Education awards. The district was chosen out of five finalists from around the state and won a $100,000 cash prize. This is a great honor and testament to the quality of work by our teachers and staff and their commitment to the district. It also shows the commitment H-E-B has to the community and education.
Another honor came from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). NEISD is one of only five school districts recognized for having exceptional high school completion and college readiness programs implemented with 2008-2009 High School Allotment funds. TEA recognized the district's credit protection and recovery programs, instructional interventions, and the addition of more math and science teachers at the ninth-grade level.
Also taking notice of our efforts to prepare students for success is the Children at Risk organization. They evaluated and ranked 415 elementary, middle and high schools in the greater San Antonio area. Twelve NEISD schools ranked in the top 10 -- the most for any local school district. Among the criteria reviewed were participation in advanced coursework, performance on college entrance exams, commended performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, and attendance and retention rates.
You may have also heard our district mentioned in the news for our budget reduction plan. We have successfully met our goal of reducing $12 million for the 2010-2011 budget. We plan to continue reductions in the following two years to protect our financial future in uncertain times.
You are invited to attend our next budget study session on June 14 at 6 p.m. The official public hearing to adopt the budget will be June 21. Each session is open to the public and will be in the North East Education Center Board Room, 8961 Tesoro Drive.
To better explain the NEISD financial story, we have a Web page (http://www.neisd.net/NEISD_Budget_Info.html) dedicated to informing our public about this important issue. Here you will also find budget study presentations given to the Board of Trustees. As stewards of taxpayer dollars, we want our community to be engaged in the district's financial planning; and in turn, we will work to reduce expenses, maximize cost savings, and offer the highest quality programs and opportunities for our students. An example of this has already been implemented at the district's Central Office. After 24 years, the district's associate superintendent for Business Services is retiring, and I have decided to not refill this position. Instead, I will reorganize the functions of the three remaining divisions.
The district's Associate Superintendent of Instruction will also oversee Technology Services; the Associate Superintendent of Operations Services will gain all responsibilities related to Business Services, including Risk Management, Employee Benefits and Health Services departments, and Finance and Accounting Services. Finally, the Associate Superintendent of Campus Support will also oversee Human Resources. Communication Services, which includes Community Relations, Media Production and Partners in Education, will be reporting directly to me.
As my staff knows, I continually look for ways to improve our business. This means re-examining the way we've always done things -- not necessarily because things don't work in their current state, but because change can bring new ideas and opportunities our way. All changes and reorganization are purposeful to make us more efficient and provide better customer service, not only to our students but parents, community members and partners as well.
From time to time, I'd like to continue sharing news with you and keep you informed of what is happening at NEISD. If you would like to be removed from my distribution list, please reply to this e-mail but do not change the subject line.
Sincerely,
Richard A. Middleton
Superintendent of Schools
North East ISD
