Extra Credit

#FirstBell Contest: Tell us about your first day of school

School is back in on Monday at most Tarrant County area districts and Star-Telegram reporters will be out and about at several campuses.

We'll be tweeting our observations on Back to School and we want you to join in.

Parents, grandparents, students and teachers: post your experiences and photos from the first day of school using the hashtag #FirstBell. And don't forget to include the name of the school and/or location in your tweet.

Tweets with the #FirstBell hashtag may be used by the Star-Telegram online or in print.

The Star-Telegram is running a contest, giving folks to participate the chance win a backpack filled with school supplies, Mom2Mom gear and 4 tickets to the Movie Tavern.

Jessamy Brown

 

Early voting starts next week in Carroll's special election

UPDATE: Early voting in Carroll's TRE starts Aug. 28.

Voters will decide the fate of the 2-cent increase during a Sept. 15 Tax Ratification Election. In July, the board voted to adopt a tax rate of $1.42 per $100 of assessed property value. The board also decided to decrease the debt service portion of the total tax rate by 1.5 cents. (A Tax Ratification Election was triggered because the school board is considering raising the maintenance and operations portion by 2 cents.)

If voters approve the tax rate increase, residents would see a net tax rate increase of 0.5 cents, or about $25 per year. If the proposal is rejected, the total tax rate would be $1.40. That hike is expected to generate about $1.1 million to help reduce a $3 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2012-2013. 

To find out more about the Carroll budget, go here.

Tax Ratification Election

• The Carroll Independent School District is holding a public meeting to answer questions about the special two-cent tax increase. People can learn more about the Tax Ratification Election during the meeting that starts at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Johnson Elementary School, 1301 N. Carroll Ave. A question and answer session will be held after a brief presentation.
• Early voting begins Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Southlake Town Hall, 1256 Main St., on the third floor and will continue each day and on Saturdays through Sept. 11.
• Election Day voting will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 in the art building at Carroll Senior High, 1501 W. Southlake Blvd. For more information on the school district’s budget: http://www.southlakecarroll.edu/isd-home.aspx

-Diane Smith

Fort Worth schools buses will make practice runs Friday morning

As Fort Worth schools gear up to welcome students back to school on Monday, bus drivers plan to make practice runs on Friday morning.

Here's how the district put it:

"All routes are driven at the normal pick-up times and students and parents are invited, even encouraged, to ride the bus together, especially if it is a first time adventure for a student or the student is riding a new route. Specific bus schedules are available at each school campus office."

Did you know:

• FWISD operates the nation’s largest hybrid electric/diesel bus fleet.
• 2011-2012 bus mileage - 4,858,251 miles
• 2012-2013 fleet size – 492 buses
• Number of buses running daily – 362
• Number of bus routes – 1,540
• Transportation staffers - 521 total employees; includes 373 bus drivers, and 106 attendants
• All FWISD buses are diesel fueled. (Average cost for 2011-12 school year was $3.24 per gallon)
• FWISD does not pay fuel tax.

Jessamy Brown

Grapevine-Colleyville schools issue statement on counselor

The Grapevine-Colleyville school district issued a statement today regarding a Trophy Club police investigation into alleged misconduct of a high school counselor.

The freshmen counselor at Colleyville Heritage High School is on administrative leave while police investigate an allegation that he had an inappropriate relationship with a student. The student no longer attends Grapevine-Colleyville schools. Kerry D. Jones, 50, of Trophy Club, also a member of the Northwest school board. Read more in the Star-Telegram.

Grapevine-Colleyville school district spokeswoman Megan Overman today issued this statement, noting that the alleged misconduct did not occur on school property:

"On August 10, GCISD was notified by the Trophy Club Police Department that they were investigating allegations of misconduct with a former student by a Colleyville Heritage High School counselor. The district placed the counselor on administrative leave the same day we were notified.

"The Trophy Club police have confirmed that the alleged misconduct did not occur on school property and that no other students related to CHHS are involved. This is an ongoing police investigation.

"State and federal privacy laws prevent us from publicly discussing matters involving students or personnel; however, GCISD is cooperating fully with the Trophy Club police on this matter."

Jessamy Brown

Keller district convocation features speeches, awards show spoof

Keller ISD employees kicked off the year Aug. 22 at convocation with speeches wrapped by an awards show spoof.

New Superintendent Randy Reid and Board President Kevin Stevenson gave speeches, and I'll hit the high points in next week's Keller Citizen.

The fun portion of the program featured the "Kisdy Awards" with principals and administrators hamming it up on the red carpet and in videos. Timber Creek staff members and administrators from across the district were the audience for the show in the TCHS Fine Arts Center while other employees watched live feeds at their home campuses.

Much like the Superbowl for non-football fans, the "commercials" were the highlights of the show. Audience members voted on their favorite feeder pattern "commercial."

Hinson celebrates award

The Charger Connection feeder pattern won top honors with their take on "The Office."
Central's David Hinson and Friendship's David Rische got big laughs playing "Michael Scott" and "Dwight" type characters. 

Fossil Ridge feeder pattern leaders did their own version of "Messing with Sasquatch." Was that really Ridge Principal David Hadley in a Chewbacca costume?

Principals in the Keller High feeder pattern lip-synched to "Holding Out for a Hero" with Principal Jeff Bradley saving the school from flooding toilets.

Who knew so many principals in one feeder pattern could sing so well? Timber Creek Principal Todd Tunnell, Caprock's Angie Nayfa and Trinity Springs' Lindsay Anderson sang about "525,600 regulations" and "How about STAARs?"

If you've got the notion, you can check out the show online:

http://ktube.kellerisd.net/education-center/features/XCbKe3lZCPun_IQZh77l?page=2

-- Sandra Engelland

Texas A&M tops list of schools being sent ACT scores by Texas test takers

Which colleges and universities are Texas seniors sending their ACT college admissions test scores?

The Texas Education Agency has listed the top 10 schools where college-bound seniors from the Class of 2012 are having their scores sent as part of admissions applications. All 10 are in Texas. Two are in the Metroplex: University of North Texas and TCU. Number 1 is Texas A & M University's main campus in College Station.

They are:

1. Texas A&M University – College Station
2. The University of Texas at Austin
3. Texas Tech University
4. Texas State University
5. Baylor University
6. The University of Texas at San Antonio
7. The University of Texas – Pan American
8. University of North Texas
9. University of Houston – Main Campus
10. Texas Christian University

Jessamy Brown

Record number of Texas students taking the ACT test

Texas students took the ACT college admisions test in record numbers this year and the number of Hispanic students taking the test has doubled in five years, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Scores for Texas and nationwide were released today. The composite score for Texas students was 20.8 out of 36. Nationwide the composite score was 21.1. Read more about Texas scores here and here for nationwide details.

For Texas, the composite score was unchanged from last year, although TEA officials pointed out in a news release that 8,611 more students took the test, bringing the total number of Texas students who took the test to 110,180 (the figure was 79,050 in 2008). The composite score for 2008 was 20.7.

The number of Hispanic students taking the exam has increased from 20,198 in 2008 to 40,827 for 2012. The number of Asian students who took the exam increased form 2,897 to 4,746 during the same time.

The folks who administer the ACT have posted a comparison between composite scores for all states. Mississippi had the lowest score, at 18.7, where 100 percent of graduating seniors took the exam. Massachusetts had the highest score at 24.1 and 23 percent of seniors took the exam. In Texas, 39 percent of seniors took the exam.

Here's a Texas Tribune report that notes that about 24 percent of students are ready for college.

"The Condition of College and Career Readiness Report for Texas is based on ACT scores, which students typically take so they can use the test to apply for college. Of the 39 percent of graduating seniors who took the ACT, 24 percent of the Class of 2012 met all four benchmarks in English, reading, mathematics and science. That percentage has been stagnant since 2010, and is just below the national average of 25 percent," the Texas Tribune reported.

Here is the breakdown of scores by subject:

Subject	Texas	USA
English
2011	19.6	20.6
2012	19.6	20.5

Math
2011	21.5	21.1
2012	21.4	21.1
Reading
2011	20.7	21.3
2012	20.8	21.3
Science
2011	20.8	20.9
2012	20.8	20.9
Composite
2011	20.8	21.1
2012	20.8	21.1

Jessamy Brown

Have questions about back to school in Fort Worth ISD? Call in on Wednesday

For parents who have questions about the first day of school at the Fort Worth school district is setting up several phone lines on Wednesday to give callers information and tips.

The school district's Parent Engagement Department is running a phone bank with extended business hours on Wednesday, Aug. 22 as families get ready for classes to begin on Monday, August 27 (See calendar).

Staffers will be available from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and will answer questions about school start times, the Parent Portal, registration (see enrollment checklist here), school supply lists, immunization records, dress standards and how the district is responding to the West Nile virus.

(By the way, here are are some details about last minute immunization events running today through Saturday and next week at La Gran Plaza. Cost is $14 for one shot or $15 for 2 or more (children 0-18 years).

The Parent Engagement office is regularly open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Here are the phone numbers:

817-814-2070

817-814-2970

817-814-2971

817-814-2973

817-814-2975

817-814-2976

817-814-3333

Jessamy Brown

 

 

 

Latest Fort Worth graduates to get diplomas at summer commencement on Friday

Students wearing multicolored caps and gowns from their representative Fort Worth high schools will gather for a summer graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday.

About 50 students are expected to make a formal processional, pick up their high school diplomas and turn their tassels, the school district announced in a news release.

Fort Worth ISD Summer School Graduation exercises are scheduled for August 24, at 7 p.m. at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, 5101 C.A. Roberson Boulevard, Fort Worth.

(Photo courtesy FWISD)

Jessamy Brown

Tonight: Carroll school board invites public to comment on proposed budget

Carroll school board trustees are scheduled to vote tonight on a proposed estimated $82 million budget that includes at 1 percent salary increase for employees and is supported by a two-cent increase in the maintenance and operations portion of the property tax rate.

Voters will decide the fate of the 2-cent increase during a Sept. 15 Tax Ratification Election. In July, the board voted to adopt a tax rate of $1.42 per $100 of assessed property value. The board also decided to decrease the debt service portion of the total tax rate by 1.5 cents. (A Tax Ratification Election was triggered because the school board is considering raising the maintenance and operations portion by 2 cents.)

If voters approve the tax rate increase, residents would see a net tax rate increase of 0.5 cents, or about $25 per year. If the proposal is rejected, the total tax rate would be $1.40.

That hike is expected to generate about $1.1 million to help reduce a $3 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2012-2013.

The district expects to raise $691,000 from pay-to-ride fees.

The biggest cost to the district is instruction with an estimated $36 million expected to be spent on teaching. The second highest is expense is a $13.9 million payment to the state. Carroll is considered a property wealthy district and must send money to the state every year under the state's share-the-wealth school funding program dubbed Robin Hood.

Detailed budget information is available on the school district website. Want to review the agenda? Here's the site.

The board is meeting at Johnson Elementary School while construction is underway on a new administration center located in the former Carroll Middle School campus.

A public hearing on the proposed 2012-2013 budget is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., Monday Aug. 20, at Johnson Elementary School, 1301 N. Carroll Ave., Southlake. A vote on the budget is scheduled for later in the meeting. 

-Diane Smith and Jessamy Brown