Message from Superintendent
It’s good to have everyone back for the 2005-2006 school year. We have a few new faces and I hope you will take the time to get to know them and make them feel comfortable in the Bastrop ISD family.   

One thing that remains constant each year in our school district is the outpouring of support by parents, community members and business partners. We believe that the  entire community has a stake in the improvement of public education, and there are many opportunities for everyone to get involved.

“BISD – Family, Friendly Schools and a Culture of High Achievement” will continue to be the theme that we carry throughout the 2005 – 2006 school year. I strongly believe in these four things – students, family, community and excellence. I encourage you to get involved in our schools. Volunteers and mentors are always needed at every level. Community members and parents are needed to serve on district advisory committees. You can make a difference in the life of a child. Thank you for your help and support as we move forward to make BISD one of the best school districts in the state. Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous school year.

Roderick Emanuel

2005 Bond Proposition

This proposition provides funding for additions and renovations to the existing high school facilities. Projected cost for additions and renovations to the existing high school is $23,430,000.

Bastrop High School Additions
·        Construct new Science wing to meet state standards
·        Construct a new Kitchen/ Cafetorium

Bastrop High School Renovations
·        Library expansion into cafeteria
·        Convert kitchen into P.E. dressing rooms and classrooms
·        Upgrade electrical systems for Technology
·        Improve lighting levels where needed to meet current state standards
·        Improve outdated facilities to meet current disabled accessibility standards in areas of major renovations  
·        Install telephone and intercom system in classrooms for safety

Bastrop High School West Campus Renovations
·        Library expansion
·        Upgrade finishes with new paint, replace worn out floors & ceilings
·        Replace gym bleachers
·        Replace and modify air conditioning in selected areas where units are old and where walls are relocated
·        Upgrade electrical systems for Technology
·        Improve lighting levels where needed to meet current standards
·        Improve outdated facilities to meet current disabled accessibility standards in areas of major renovations  
·        Renovate restrooms
·        Install telephone and intercom system in classrooms for safety

Bastrop High School Site Civil Improvements
·        New bus drive
·        400 additional parking spaces
·        Site drainage improvements
·        Utility upgrades for expansion

Early Release Day for Elementary Schools

All elementary schools (Pre-K through 4^th grade) will have an early release day on Friday, September 2, 2005 . Bus riders will be released at 12:45 p.m. and all other students will be released at 12:55 p.m. Pre-K students that attend in the afternoon will come at regular time and be dismissed at 12:45 with all the other students. Students in grades 5^th – 12^th will be released at the regular time.

Parents are encouraged to check with their after school childcare providers to make sure they will be open to receive your child.

Bastrop ISD Meets AYP Standards

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released the 2005 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results and Bastrop ISD has earned the “Meets AYP” standard. As a district, 9 out of 10 campuses (90 percent) that were evaluated have met AYP, compared to the state average of 87 percent.

Adequate Yearly Progress is a federal evaluation system that was implemented with the No Child Left Behind Act. These evaluations are based on participation and performance on state reading and math exams in grades 3-8 and 10, graduation rates, and attendance rates. The passing rates are determined using results from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), the State-Developed Alternative Assessment II (SDAA II), the Locally-Developed Alternative assessment (LDAA), and the Reading Proficiency Test in English (RPTE).

Data is analyzed for each student and each of the following student groups that meet minimum size requirements: African American, Hispanic, White, economically disadvantaged, special education, and limited English proficient.

According to the TEA, under the 2005 criteria there were 149 districts and 900 campuses that missed AYP. The most common reason that a school missed AYP was due to math performance.

Of the campuses in BISD, Bastrop Middle School was the only one to miss AYP.  BMS missed due to mathematics performance.

Bluebonnet and Lost Pines Elementary schools were not evaluated due to being new campuses. The district’s alternative education school, Gateway was also not evaluated.

Parents provide leadership

Bastrop ISD students and teachers benefit from the support provided by PTA, PTO and Booster organizations. Click the link listed below to view the points of contacts for these organizations. http://www.bastrop.isd.tenet.edu/parents/ptacouncil.htm

New Staff Assignments

Sherrell Moore has been named assistant principal at Bluebonnet Elementary.
James Hallamek has been named the assistant principal at Bastrop Middle .
Bruce Nelson has been named the interim principal at Cedar Middle School .
Melinda White has been named assistant principal at Cedar Creek Intermediate .
Robert “Doc” Washington has been named Athletic Director.  
Merv Doherty has been named principal at Bastrop Intermediate School.
Mary Hernandez has been named Science Coordinator for the district.  
Alfred Carter has been named Custodial Manager.
Paul Coy has been named Assistant Custodial Manager.

At the Board table…

Heard Update on Delinquent Property Tax Collections. Lee Gordon updated the Board on delinquent property tax collection activity. As part of recouping delinquent taxes, the delinquent properties will be offered for sale.

Curriculum Report

A report from Curriculum concerning Accountability, 2005 was given to the Board. Betty Richardson stated that state and federal reports are now out. Betty is currently working through the manual. Once the process is complete, she will be willing to hold a Board workshop meeting to provide additional information on AYP & accountability.  Also Mina, Red Rock and Emile where applauded for receiving “Recognized Campus” Status. Jennifer Womack presented a report that stated SDAA II now has higher standards. She would like to see more guidance from the state.

Heard an update on proposed BHS Renovation Program for September 2005 Election. Becky Bunte reviewed FAQ, ballot language, and actual program. Discussed size of cafeteria and possible layouts and how they affected capacity.

Consent Agenda

Approved Minutes from July 19 and July 26, 2005

Approved Tax Refunds for Bastrop ISD

Approved Bids for Athletic Equipment and Student Software Financing

Action Items

Approved to Publish Proposed Tax Rate in the Notice of Public Meeting to be held in September

Approved Licensing agreement with the City of Bastrop for attachments to Utility Facilities.

FYI
Student enrollment continues to increase, reaching 7,932 on September 25, 2005 .

The Bastrop Independent School District would like to congratulate Red Rock Elementary, Mina Elementary and Emile Elementary Schools for being Recognized campuses.

Bond Election Early Voting

Early Voting began on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 and will continue through Tuesday, September 6, 2005 . Early voting hours at the following locations will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mark Your Calendar

Friday, September 2^nd – Elementary Early Release Day
Monday, September 5^th – Labor Day Holiday
Friday, September 9^th – Bear Football @ Round Rock
Saturday, September 10^th – Election Day for Bond Election
Friday, September 16^th – Bear Football @ Del Valle
Tuesday, September 20^th – School Board Meeting
Friday, September 23^rd – Bear Football vs. Crockett

In Our Prayers

Carol Barron (death of mother)
Monica Kadura (husbands illness)
Family and friends of Whitney Blair (student that died this week)
Jinger Myers (death of brother in law)
Marlene Young (death of father)
Karen Stevens (birth of daughter)

BISD Staff Update

Published monthly during the school year (except during the winter and spring holidays) by the Bastrop Independent School District ’s Community Services Office. It can also be read online at www.bastrop.isd.tenet.edu under News & Current Events. Comments and information may be sent to Donald Williams, Director of Community Services, dwilliams@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu, 321-2292 (office) or 321-1371(fax).

Donald Williams,
Director of Community Services
(512) 321-2292