Extra Credit

Fort Worth schools will show video on big screen at Armed Forces Bowl at TCU

Fort Worth schools is planning a big presence at Saturday's Armed Forces Bowl.

The school district will show a video touting its Gold Seal Programs of Choice on the big screen during the football game at TCU's Amon Carter Stadium.

The Rice University owls will take on the Air Force falcons at 10:45 a.m. Saturday in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Also at the event, students in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) will present the colors at a Friday luncheon.

On Saturday, students will hand out Fort Worth schools materials at a display and distribute game programs. Drill teams from Eastern Hills High School and from J.P. Elder Middle School will perform on the field just before the teams enter.

Students in the Fort Worth schools Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Junior Cadet Corps (JCC) will wear uniforms and sit in special seating in the stadium stands.

Fort Worth schools superintendent Walter Dansby said in a news release: "We are part of the fabric of our greater community and it is important to use major events like this to tell our story."

Jessamy Brown

 

UNT regents discuss future of health science center president

Regents with the University of North Texas System are meeting today to discuss the future of Scott Ransom, the president of the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth.

The agenda states:

"Consideration of individual personnel matters relating to the performance evaluation, discipline, dismissal and employment agreement of the current President of the UNT Health Science Center, including possible termination of his employment agreement, and possible action."

The agenda also states the board will name an interim president if necessary.

The meeting started shortly after 10 a.m. The board of regents is currently in executive session.

Ransom, who is present at the meeting, declined to make a comment before the board entered the closed session.

Diane Smith

 

Warm-up some Yankees

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts benefits from a coat drive at Bedford Boys Ranch Activity Center, 2801 Forest Ridge Dr. Drop clean, gently used coats, jackets, scarves, hats and gloves into a donation box next to front desk during business hours through Dec. 31 — 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 to 6 Friday; 8 to 2 Saturday and Sunday.

UTA police chief announces retirement

University of Texas at Arlington police chief Robert Hayes is retiring in the spring, according to a press release.

Chief Hayes has directed a staff of 138, including 38 sworn officers, and managed a budget of more than $5 million. Hayes retires effective March 31, 2013 after serving for 45 years.

A search for his successor will follow, according to the university.

“Chief Hayes has elevated the UT Arlington Police Department to new levels of professionalism and excellence and has earned the respect of law enforcement colleagues across the nation,” said John Hall, the University’s vice president for administration and campus operations. “We all have benefited from his commitment to ensuring a safe campus environment and providing professional development opportunities to his staff.”

-Diane Smith

Environmental club at Poly High School launches community garden

Students in an environmental club at Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth are opening a community garden on Wednesday.

Here are some Fort Worth school district photos of preparation of the garden.

"With a culinary arts program at Poly, the work of the Environmental Club allows our students to utilize fresh vegetables, grown at Poly High School in their culinary creations," Fort Worth schools trustee Tobi Jackson said in a posting on the district's website. "That's a lesson of teamwork, healthful eating, and community that students can take with them for life."

The club is hosting a ribbon cutting at noon on Dec. 12, 2012 at the school, 1300 Conner Ave., Fort Worth

Jessamy Brown

Draft calendar: Fort Worth schools classes would start Aug. 26 next year

Classes for Fort Worth schools would start Aug. 26, 2013 and end June 5, 2014 if trustees approve a proposed calendar for the next school year.

The Fort Worth school board is scheduled to vote at a Tuesday meeting on draft calendars for 2013-2014 for campuses following a traditional schedule.

If approved, teachers will be at work for 187 days and students would get 180 days of instruction.

The school district has allocated $4,000 to print the calendars.

Jessamy Brown

Top Fort Worth teachers named as Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence

Fifteen Fort Worth schools teachers have been named this year's Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence.

The teachers will receive a $5,000 honorarium and are being honored at a luncheon today at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel. Here's a school district photo gallery of the event.

Launched in 1994, the program is similar to chairs named at the university level and is aimed at recognizing top teachers. Educators are nominated by parents, principals and colleagues.

Here is some information about each teacher. They are:

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Math
Kimberly Greer, Lowery Road Elementary

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Science
Deborah Stewart, Como Elementary School

Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching Excellence in Visual Arts
Phyllis King, South Hills High School

Bayard H. Friedman Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts (selected last spring)
Sara Montañez, J.T. Stevens Elementary 

Target Chair for Teaching Excellence in Library Science
Courtney Butler, Sam Rosen Elementary

RadioShack Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Science
Iris Betancourt, Success High School

Sewell Lexus of Fort Worth Chair for Teaching Excellence in Humanities
Bethanne Chimbel, Arlington Heights High School

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health & Physical Education
Natalie Ayala, Daggett Montessori

Quicksilver Resources Chair for Teaching Excellence in Acquisition of Language
Cara Kuhl, McLean Middle School

Crescent Real Estate Chair for Teaching Excellence in Career and Technology Education
Darcy Deupree, Southwest High School

Freese and Nichols Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Mathematics
Jennifer Nicholson, North Side High School

XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Gillian Nash, Sunrise McMillan Elementary School

Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in Special Education
Jimmie Nealey, West Handley Elementary

Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary English
Renee Peters, North Side High School

Outreach Communications Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Reading
Rhonda McGuire, L. Clifford Davis Elementary School

Jessamy Brown

Applications ready, due Jan. 11 for Fort Worth ISD's Gold Seal Programs

Update:

Applications for the Gold Seal programs and schools are online and due on Jan. 11. The school district posted some pics from the weekend Expo event.

 

Fort Worth schools officials expect hundreds of students and parents to learn about programs for specialty study at their annual Gold Seal Programs of Choice Expo this weekend.

It is a chance for families to find out about Gold Seal Programs of Choice and Schools of Choice, billed as "a private school education without the cost."

 

 

High schools offer courses in culinary arts, fire science, law enforcement, business marketing, aviation technology, engineering and medical art professions. 

In middle school, Choices programs are offered that focus on college readiness, international studies and science and the arts. Elementary schools offer programs in orchestra, science, math and technology and in Spanish immersion.

Here's how the school district describes the initiative: "Simply put, students and their parents have the power of choice - the power to choose courses of study based on personal interests and passions; the power to take ownership in the education experience; and the power to be engaged in learning and excited about the future."

• Third annual Fort Worth ISD Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice Expo
• Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, 5201 CA Roberson Blvd., Fort Worth
• 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7 and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8
• View the Catalog
• Information: Advanced, Accelerated and Innovative Learning Dept., 817-814-2580
• Twitter: #FWISDgold
• Spanish/Espanol: Programas De Seleccion Con Sello De Oro Del Fort Worth ISD
  

Upcoming dates for Choices:

• Dec. 10: Choices applications available. Complete online or on paper
  
• Dec. 11-13 and 17: Presentations at high schools
• Jan. 11: Applications due by 5 p.m.
• Feb. 15: Acceptance letters mailed to students this week

Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth schools beats goal for United Way pledges, raises $253,000

Fort Worth school district students, staffers and retirees have exceeded their goal for the United Way campaign, pledging more than $253,000 to the initiative, officials said Wednesday.

The total is being finalized, but the amount surpassed the goal of $250,000 in donations, the school district announced on its website. Waverly Park Elementary School collected enough loose change and bills to fill three five-gallon buckets.

“We have taken this campaign to heart and we are always amazed at voluntary generosity of the Fort Worth ISD family,” Superintendent Walter Dansby said in the post. “These funds will be put to good use in our community and for that we are very grateful to all who consider the needs of others above themselves.”

Jessamy Brown

Whistleblower lawsuit against Fort Worth schools will move forward

A whistleblower lawsuit against the Fort Worth school district filed by a former assistant principal will move forward after a judge overruled the school district's motion to dismiss the case.

The case, involving former Arlington Heights High School assistant principal Joe Palazzolo, is expected to go to trial in the spring in the 271st District Court in Decatur, said Jason C.N. Smith, a Fort Worth attorney representing Palazzolo.

Palazzolo filed suit against the school district in July, saying he was improperly demoted and then fired after reporting falsification of student attendance records and misuse of booster club funds by officials.

In a Dec. 5 news release, Smith summed up the case this way:

Palazzolo "reported in the spring of 2011 that school officials were altering student attendance records, misusing booster club funds, using inappropriate comments in front of students, and discriminating against minority students in applying discipline. Shortly after the reports, FWISD transferred Palazzolo to a lower paying position. Soon after that, FWISD recomended termination of Palazzolo.

"(Former) TEA Commissioner Robert Scott reversed Palazzolo's termination, concluding that FWISD had improperly paid the hearing examiner who heard Palazzolo's case over three times the amount allowed.  FWISD then purportedly terminated Palazzolo in February 14, 2012 in a questionable action."

Palazzolo is pursuing two lawsuits against the school district, one involving the job transfer and another involving the termination. Both are expected to be heard at the same time before Judge John H. Fostel, Smith said.

Jessamy Brown