Laura Sichi, teacher at Secondary Reassignment Center (SRC), was honored as Teacher of the Month for April. Sichi is a native of Westerville, Ohio, and graduated from Westerville North High School before attending Xavier University in Cincinnati. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international business affairs from Xavier, and worked in the private sector before coming to Irving ISD. Sichi earned her certification in special education grades early childhood through 12 through Region 10 alternative certification, and joined IISD as teacher at SRC in 2006.
Gaskill Recognized as Employee of the Month
Emily Gaskill, campus technician at Brown Elementary School, was recognized as Employee of the Month for April. Gaskill joined IISD in 1986 as physical education aide at Lee Elementary School. She served in this role at Lee and Brown until becoming campus tech at Brown in 2007. In addition to her work with IISD, Gaskill is an active member in her community and her church.
Academic Decathlon Participants Recognized
IISD Academic Decathlon students, coaches and high school principals were recognized for their participation in the program which features competition in 10 academic events. The Nimitz High School team won the regional competition for the 19th time in 22 years. Among the 15 teams in the large-school division, MacArthur High School placed eighth and Irving High School placed 14th. The Academy of Irving ISD placed 12th in the medium school division.
Team members were introduced by their coaches, who told trustees about each team’s hard work and dedication.
The MacArthur team includes Jael Ahmad, Emilie Anderson, Adrian Barry, Conor Bell, Betsy Bethea, Theo Beyene, Katherine Edwards, and Karissa McCalip. Coaches are Sherry Martinez and Paula D’Spain. Cynthia Bean is principal.
Nimitz team members are Merhawi Hailemariam, Marcus Johnson, Patrick Lewis, Celeste Martinez, Vy Cao-Nguyen, Maria O’Connor, David Orozco, Jasmine Perkins, and Marcos Vera. Coaches are Greg Jackson, JoAnna Easton, Jeremy Chumley, Prana Thoppil, and Greg Thomson. Rick Nolly is principal.
The Academy team includes Karen Martinez, Anjelica Midkiff, June Ng’ang’a, Victor Ordonez, Samuel Partida, David Phan, Ana Salvador, Taylor Terry. Coaches are Laura Hayes and Connie Cooley. Robbin Wall is principal.
In other business, Trustees:
•Approved minutes of Noon Work Session and Regular Board Meeting on Monday, April 6, 2009.
•Approved Financial Statement for February 2009.
•Approved Resolution & Order #08-09-17 authorizing April amendment to the 2008-2009 Budget decreasing total revenue to $279,020,513 and decreasing total appropriations to $282,013,052.
•Approved Resolution & Order #08-09-18 accepting supplements to the Irving ISD tax rolls.
•Approved Resolution #08-09-119 accepting proposals for Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) #09-23 school furniture from vendors Midwest, Artco Bell, Fleetwood, Hon and Office Source for MacArthur High School and Hanes Elementary School, at a total cost of $142,527.
•Approved Resolution #08-09-130 authorizing the method for selection of a superintendent of schools search firm.
•Approved Resolution #08-09-121 authorizing purchase of two Mac computer labs, a server and software for The Academy of Irving ISD from Apple Computer Inc. through an agreement with Texas Department of Information Resources at a total cost not to exceed $132,000.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-122 extending contract with Comerica Bank until August 31, 2011, for services as IISD depository.
• Approved plans for elementary and secondary summer school instructional programs and athletic camps for summer 2009 to be funded through tuition fees, budgeted funds, Title III funding, and/or other grants.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-123 authorizing dual credit agreement between Dallas County Community College District and Irving ISD for emergency medical training at Brookhaven College.
• Approved the 2007-2008 Irving ISD Academic Excellence Indicator System Report.
• Approved the Texas 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Cycle 6, Year 1 grant application for Quality Education for Students, a program collaboration among 10 IISD schools.
• Approved the Learn & Serve Texas Grant application for $80,000 per year for career & technology education (CTE) teachers at Nimitz High School to integrate service-sector learning with CTE curriculum.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-128 accepting construction documents phase for Union Bower Center for Learning school bond construction project at a base cost estimate of $6,874,093.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-129 amending contract with SHW Group, Inc., to analyze parking, vehicular circulation, and accessibility issues at the Administration Building.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-127 authorizing payment of a stipend to individuals performing additional temporary responsibilities following the resignation of the division director of secondary teaching & learning.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-131 establishing a Board of Trustees meetings schedule.
• Approved Resolution & Order #08-09-19 authorizing 2009-2010 salary schedules for teachers with new money in the amount of 4.5 percent.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-120 accepting proposals for CSP #09-24 to Hewlett-Packard for the purchase of 6,000 desktop and 1,400 laptop computers to replace out-of-warranty models at a total cost of $3,584,594.
• Approved the level-four appeal of D. Neyland pertaining to proper wearing of the IISD school uniform.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-132 naming Neil Dugger, Ed.D., acting superintendent and assistant superintendent for personnel & administration, as interim superintendent.
• Approved Resolution #08-09-133 pertaining to the election and resignation of personnel as recommended by the acting superintendent.
• Received public input on 2009-2010 Budget.
• Discussed the 2009-2010 operating budget outlook.
• Discussed the expansion and transition of the dual-language program at Brandenburg Elementary School to Travis Middle School.
• Discussed the establishment of a Risk Pool Trust for governing and holding employee welfare benefit funds of the IISD self-funded employee health benefit plan.
• Discussed the follow-up report on scheduling for Irving High School, MacArthur High School, and Nimitz High School expanding the fourth period into an alternating block in order to build extra time to provide educational remediation, acceleration and re-teaching of students.
• Discussed redesign of Nimitz High School bond construction project to include an additional 28 classrooms to reduce the number of traveling teachers.
• Discuss possible boundary change for the 2009-2010 school year to provide enrollment relief to Townsell Elementary School by shifting approximately 100 students to Thomas Haley Elementary School.
• Discussed proposals and opportunities to recognize Jack Singley’s 44 years of service to IISD.
