Trustees Release TASB Community Input Report

The Irving ISD Board of Trustees has released the report from Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services (ESS) regarding community input provided through input sessions and an online survey conducted in November.

According to the report, the Irving ISD strengths reported by respondents included effective leadership at all levels, widespread use of modern technology, competitive salaries, sound financial condition, diversity of student body, staff professional development, and great curriculum with a wide variety of classes and activities. Concerns raised by community input included: lack of diversity at the administrative level, perceived achievement gap between student groups, reducing the dropout rate, and lack of effective parental involvement.

Community input sessions and the online survey also asked respondents their opinions of professional and personal characteristics of the next superintendent. Characteristics cited included: collaborative and approachable management style, bilingual speaking abilities, experience in a large-district with similar demographics, a person who desires to remain in IISD for the foreseeable future, visible throughout the district, and an experienced classroom teacher, campus administrator and superintendent.

In concert with the staff, students and community, the Board of Trustees has identified specific qualifications and characteristics as highly desirable in a superintendent of schools. The ESS report detailing the Board’s report, as well as input from community meetings, can be viewed by accessing www.irvingisd.net/board_SuperintendentSearch.htm.

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Nimitz Students Pledge to ‘X the Text’

Students at Nimitz High School will be encouraged to “X the Text” during an event sponsored by Allstate at 11 a.m. December 10 at Nimitz.

A recent Allstate survey revealed that 24 percent of Dallas-Fort Worth teens report frequently texting while driving, compared to 20 percent of teens nationwide. In response to this trend, Allstate has developed the “X the Text” campaign, asking Texas teens to make a personal pledge by stamping their thumb print on a banner that will travel across the country. Nimitz is one of two Texas tour locations among 30 stops across the country.

Effective September 1, Texas enacted specific laws for drivers under the age of 18. For the 12 months following earning a driver’s license, under-18 drivers cannot drive in the following circumstances:

1. After midnight and before 5 a.m. unless for employment, a school-related activity or because of medical emergency
2. With no more than one passenger under 21 in the vehicle who is not a family member

Also, drivers under the age of 18 cannot use a wireless communications device, except in the case of emergency, regardless of when their license was issued.

In support of the wireless communications ruling, Allstate created their campaign and hopes “X the Text” will remind teens that texting while driving is not only dangerous, but also is a traffic violation if they are under 18.

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Ribbon Cutting for Singley Academy Addition

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new addition at Jack E. Singley Academy is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. December 17 in the Singley Academy auditorium.

Activities for the ribbon cutting include a reception beginning at 6:30 p.m., remarks from IISD and local leaders, and a performance from the Singley Academy Girls’ Choir. Also on display will be the collection of local, state and national awards presented to former IISD Superintendent of Schools Jack E. Singley during his 21-year tenure as superintendent.

New auditorium at the Jack E. Singley Academy.

The new addition, which includes the auditorium, learning labs and a gymnasium, was completed prior to the beginning of the current school year. With the completion of the new addition, the comprehensive high school was expanded and currently serves almost 1,700 students.

Singley Academy is located at 4601 N. MacArthur in Irving.

	Ad Design Class at Singley Academy
	New Auditorium at Singley Academy
	Culinary Arts at Singley Academy

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Program Brings Business Professionals to Barton

For the fifth year, American Airlines and American Eagle are partnering with Junior Achievement (JA) of Dallas to bring the “JA in a Day” program to Barton Elementary School December 9.

According to JA, more than 95 airline employees have volunteered to teach 42 classes to Barton’s more than 800 students. The curriculum includes subjects focused on financial literacy and workplace readiness. By the end of the day, students in grades kindergarten-fifth will have completed five JA lessons and will earn a certificate of completion.

In addition to teaching about financial literacy, airline employees will serve as role models to help the children progress as members of the future workforce.

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Athletes of the Month

Odyssey Sims, senior at MacArthur High School, and Kevin Daniel, senior at Nimitz High School, are Athletes of the Month for December.

Odyssey Sims

Kevin Daniel

Sims is featured on the cover of the December issue of ESPN’s RISE Magazine. She has signed a national letter of intent to attend and play basketball at Baylor University. Sims was also named Athlete of the Month in December 2006.

Daniel was named junior varsity Most Valuable Player in 2008-2009, and is the current year leading scorer for Nimitz with 17.2 points per game. Daniel maintains a 3.0 GPA and has volunteered with the Sports Extravaganza for the Blind for the past four years.

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