Good morning!  Welcome to the last week of school for the 2007-08 school year.  I am sure that all of you are looking forward to the end of school and I know the students are ready.  We have had a great school year and I cannot believe it will be over this week.  Each year seems to be busier and busier and go faster and faster!  Last Friday night we had the first of our graduations with the Reddix Center.  I enjoy this graduation ceremony so much and I compliment David Lamoureux, Janice Keeler, and their staffs on the wonderful job they do at the Reddix Center and a great graduation ceremony.  This Thursday we will have Health Careers High School graduation at Paul Taylor Field House, and then the following week we will have the other high school graduations at the Alamodome.  It is certainly an exciting time of the year!

On Friday of last week I received the state results for the 2008 TAKS testing.  I am happy to report that we were above the state passing percentage in each subject area tested at each grade level.  The area where we were the closest to the state was in 6^th and 7^th grade math.  Our lowest area of passing percentage was 9^th and 10^th grade math and this was also true at the state level.  I do want to mention that our science passing percentages exceeded the state passing percentages by a wider gap than in most of the other subject areas.  In particular, the 10^th grade science scores exceeded the state by 11% and 11^th grade science by 9%.  Also, in fifth grade math our passing percentage exceeded the state by 12%.  I am attaching a chart which shows the data!  Again, thanks for all you have done to help our students be successful on the TAKS test, and we will be working to prepare a special focus on mathematics improvement at all levels.

I am especially proud to report that our Board of Trustees approved a compensation package at the Board meeting which includes a 4% salary increase for our employees.  The total cost of this compensation package which addresses salaries is $19,245,065.  The 4% applies to all of those on a step plan such as teachers, counselors, librarians, and nurses, and also applies to all midpoint employees such as administrators, classified, and auxiliary.  Basically, the 4% applies to everyone.  I will note that the beginning salary of a teacher with a bachelor's degree and zero years experience is $45,250.  I never thought I would see the time that the beginning salary of a teacher would be over $45,000.  Fortunately, the last five years our Board has given a 3% or higher raise, and the last four years has been 4% or higher.  In addition, we have been able to pay a retention stipend.  In developing our budget we work very hard to provide as good a compensation package as possible and I am thrilled we have been able to do what we have done the last five years.  However, I will emphasize that if the Legislature does not address the school funding issue in the 2009 legislative session, then salary increases such as we have seen these last few years will be no more.  We simply cannot operate on a "target revenue" of 2006-07 and also not benefit from property appraisal increases, and at the same time provide a salary increase.  As I have said before, we build into our projection model a 3% increase, but it may be doubtful if we can meet that figure if funding does not change.  Yet we need to be very thankful and appreciative for what we are able to do for 2008-09!

Also, as we move to next year, you know that we will be opening five schools.  The high school will be the Brandeis Broncos and the middle school the Vale Stingrays.  This past week I received the mascot and colors for the three elementary schools.  They will be:

• Scarborough Huskies - school colors black, red, and silver
• Forester Dragons - school colors forest green and golden yellow
• Carnahan Cardinals - school colors red and black.

We are very excited about opening these schools next year and we will welcome them to our Northside family.

In closing, I want to thank each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication to Northside.  This is the last Monday Message for this 2007-08 school year.  As I said, it has been a great school year and we have proven time and again that "We Are Northside."  I am looking forward to next school year with a theme of "We Believe" and as we begin next school year at our convocations we will establish this theme.  I hope you have a wonderful summer as you get some rest, enjoy a vacation, participate in staff development, recharge, and enjoy some time off.  We are the wonderful school district we are because of all our employees and the hard work that occurs to help our students be successful.

Have a great summer and see you at convocations!