Recognizing lawmakers for prioritizing public ed

You may have read Monday’s story about the Senate Finance Committee passing Senate Bill 3, a piece of legislation that would provide annual $5,000 pay raises for all full-time classroom teachers.

Even though the bill doesn’t meet everyone’s expectations, I am extremely appreciative that our senators and representatives recognize the great contributions that teachers have made to the lives of our students. SB3 is a positive sign that our state leaders are serious about addressing the needs in our public school system.

As the 86^th Texas Legislative Session moves forward, I am confident that our lawmakers will also find a way to reward the essential contributions that our campus leaders, librarians, counselors, diagnosticians and other professionals provide to the success of our school system. We are grateful to have thousands of operations support personnel and instructional aides in CFISD. These hard-working employees make sure our campuses are operational and our students succeed in the classroom.

I applaud our legislators from both sides of the aisle for uniting on an issue that impacts more than 90 percent of the school-aged children in Texas who attend public schools. Government works best when our leaders work together!

When you get a chance, thank our state leaders for taking this first step toward helping Texas public schools be the best that they can be. You can find out who represents you by entering your address on the Texas Legislature website.

~ Mark Henry, Ed.D.

A Year to Cheer About

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“Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art is of ending;

Many a poem is marred by a superfluous verse.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We have nearly reached the end of our school year in CFISD. Although we tend to remember an experience by the way we finished it, we cannot forget all the great accomplishments that have added up to a banner 2016-2017.

Our fine arts and visual arts groups continued to validate CFISD’s education of the whole child. Many musicians represented CFISD on national and state levels. Cypress Ranch’s one-act play advanced all the way to the regional competition, and students claimed six national Scholastic Art & Writing medals. I won’t soon forget the three marching bands (Cy-Fair, Cypress Falls and Langham Creek) that qualified for the state contest in the fall. 

This spring, we all cheered on the Cypress Falls Golden Eagle boys’ basketball team as it captured its first-ever state championship and CFISD’s first boys’ title since Cy-Fair High School did in 1971. Student athletes from all of our schools will represent CFISD on the next level, as we had hundreds sign letters of intent to play in college. One of our alums, De’Aaron Fox of Cypress Lakes, led Kentucky to a great season and is projected to be a top-five NBA Draft pick in June. 

Not only does CFISD account for some top athletes, but outstanding academic achievers as well. Several of our students recorded perfect ACT scores this year, and one of our top-notch seniors was accepted into seven Ivy League schools! High schoolers in our career and technical education (CTE) programs worked with NASA to create implementations for the International Space Station. Computer science students at Cypress Woods brought home first-place awards from the UIL Academic State Meet!

We are completing our third year of the 2014 Bond program, which has delivered new schools, renovations and technology and security upgrades throughout the district. Cypress Park High School had a great first year, and we are excited to open Bridgeland High School, Wells and Hoover elementary schools and a new Matzke Elementary replacement campus to serve our students in 2017-2018. Major renovations at Adam and Bane elementary schools and Watkins Middle School are ongoing, as well as athletic field replacements at several high schools and our new natatorium next to Pridgeon Stadium. 

Bane Elementary renovations.

The 85^th Texas Legislature has been underway since January, and members of the CFISD Community Leadership Committee have met with local representatives to vouch for our district. Although there appears to be some good legislation related to public education that will be passed, we do not expect any significant additional funding for schools. Having said that, our financial leadership team has made many good decisions over the past few years to put CFISD in a position to weather the storm and continue to take care of our students and employees.

We honored 2016-2017 Spotlight Teachers in a special ceremony last week, and I was awed by the talent on display at the Berry Center that night! The 92 who were highlighted are emblematic of the teaching excellence that runs throughout CFISD. 

Their efforts as educators helped make it possible for nearly 8,000 seniors to walk the stage at graduation in a few days. These young men and women will represent colleges and universities all over the country. Many will serve our country in the military, and others will head directly into the workforce. I am proud to be part of the ceremony as they continue the next step in life’s journey.

As your routines transition into the summer, I bid you a similar (but temporary) farewell until we reconvene in August. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am so thankful for the heroic educators who serve our children on a daily basis, and the community members who show their support in so many ways.

Until 2017-2018,

~ Mark Henry, Ed.D.

More committee appointments

Yesterday I posted about the new chairman of the House Public Education Committee, Rep. Dan Huberty, and one of his committee members, District 138 Rep. Dwayne Bohac.

I also wanted to update you on the other committee appointments by our local constituents who represent Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

District 126 Rep. Kevin Roberts earned a coveted seat on the House Appropriations committee, which devises the House’s proposed state budget. Rep. Roberts was also assigned to the County Affairs Committee that oversees all 254 counties in Texas, as well as the Speaker Straus-appointed House Select Committee on Texas Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure. This is a big economic development opportunity for Houston and the entire state.

District 130 Rep. Tom Oliverson was asked to serve on the House Administration, Insurance and Public Health committees. As a practicing physician, I know Dr. Oliverson will be well-utilized in these capacities!

District 132 Rep. Mike Schofield will serve on the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committee, as well as the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues committee. The former attorney will certainly be an asset to these two groups.

District 135 Rep. Gary Elkins will chair the Government Transparency & Operation committee. He will also serve on the Urban Affairs committee. A veteran legislator since 1995, the Jersey Village resident has been a dedicated leader to our community and I wish him well.

In the Senate, District 7 Sen. Paul Bettencourt will have an essential role on the Education committee. Sen Bettencourt has been very complimentary of CFISD in the past, will continue to support us in this key role. The former county tax assessor and collector will also serve on the Senate Finance committee.

I pray for all of our local leaders in the difficult task they have in the months to come. To stay tuned to 85^th Legislative Session and how it impacts CFISD, I encourage you to check out the Community Legislative Committee webpage on our district website, and give the CLC a follow on Twitter -- @CFISD_CLC.

~ Mark Henry, Ed.D.