Good morning!  I know last week was a very interesting week for everyone with TAKS testing and all the things going on related to swine flu.  First of all, I want to compliment all of you on the excellent job of administering the TAKS tests to our students.  I am aware of a few testing incidents that occurred, but when you look at the amount of testing that occurs in Northside during TAKS testing week I am amazed that it goes so well.  Certainly, we take all testing incidents very seriously and they will be investigated and reported to TEA.  Yet I thank all of you for the great job you do.

Last week we received the results of the fifth grade and eighth grade math testing.  As I mentioned last week Northside had already received its scores and our fifth graders had a 90% passing rate, and our eighth graders an 83% passing rate.  At the state level the passing rate for fifth graders was 84% and for eighth graders was 79%.  Therefore, our fifth graders exceeded the state passing rate by 6% and our eighth graders exceeded the state passing rate by 4%.  I am very proud of our fifth and eighth graders, and those who did not pass the first time will have two additional opportunities to retest, so we know our passing percentages will increase.  I am certainly looking forward to receiving our results of the TAKS testing that took place last week.

I know that everyone is concerned about how the outbreak of swine flu is going to affect Northside.  As of Friday there were no confirmed cases of swine flu in Northside.  As I have met with staff and we have devised our plans and responses, I have told them it is probably not a question of "if," but "when."  Shirley Schreiber, Director of Health Services, and all our school nurses are monitoring the situation very closely.  I want everyone to know that I will take directions and recommendations from Dr. Fernando Guerra, Director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, as far as actions to be taken relative to the closing of a school, schools, or the district.  I am very much aware of the school closings statewide and that some school districts have completely closed and others only have closed an affected campus.  The decision that I make will be based on the consultations I have with Dr. Guerra, his staff, and our administrative department staff.

On Thursday afternoon I was involved in a meeting with Governor Rick Perry, County Judge Nelson Wolff, Mayor Phil Hardberger, Dr. Fernando Guerra, Dr. Sandra Guerra, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, and other superintendents to discuss the current situation.  Concerns, procedures, and actions were discussed and I appreciate so much these officials taking their time to meet with four superintendents to discuss this.  It was an excellent meeting and I feel very comfortable about how to proceed in dealing with the flu situation.  Please know that there are many factors involved in the decision-making, but of utmost importance will be the health and safety of our students and staff.  Northside will deal with this issue as we do with all challenging situations in a very logical and methodical way.  It makes me feel good and confident knowing that we all will support our district and do what we need to do to serve both the safety and educational needs of our students.

On another topic I want to thank our Technology Services staff for all they do to keep Northside a leader in educational technology.  In accordance with federal and state requirements, Northside has updated its 2008-2011 Technology Plan.  In updating this plan we were able to move the status of ten actions or strategies from "planned" or "in progress" to "complete."  The status of eight strategies was changed from "planned" to "in progress."  I will not go into what each of these was, but suffice it to say that a lot of progress is continually being made in making technology a more prominent tool both administratively and educationally.  Kelly Smith, Assistant Superintendent for Technology Services, and all of her staff do a great job along with all the CITs and others at the campus to make technology a tool that is accessible and easy to use.  I believe many of us take for granted the many things available to us in the technology arena, but it just does not happen.  It is thorough planning and the expertise of our technology people that make Northside a leader.  I do push hard for us to continue to be on the edge of what is happening in schools with technology, but it is our technology staff that makes it happen.

I also want to mention that the Associated General Contractors of America has completed its "Second Annual AGC Report Card."  For the second consecutive year Northside has finished first among the governmental entities as rated by the contractors.  Northside finished the 2009 survey with a combined total percentage score higher than that earned in its 2008 ranking.  Northside outranked its nearest competition by 13.63%, but also outscored all other entities in every category.  This kind of rating doesn't just happen.  It is because of the hard work, dedication, and expertise of our facilities staff.  Thanks to Vernon Dunagin, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities and Operations, and all his staff for the great job they do.  In building and opening three to five schools each year, there is no doubt we are the best, and the AGC has confirmed that.

I want to commend Gina Dylla, girls soccer coach at O'Connor High School, on being named the "Girls Soccer Coach of the Year" by the San Antonio Express News.  She led O'Connor to the district championship, and into the playoffs, and had a 17-3-4 record.  Also, congratulations to Mike Floyd, girls basketball coach at Jay High School, for being named the "Girls Basketball Coach of the Year" by the San Antonio Express News.  Jay had a record of 35-5, won the district championship, and went to the Region IV-5A Finals.  Great job by both of these coaches, and I express my appreciation for all they do!

In closing, thanks for all you do!  As we enter this last few weeks of school, let us continue to focus on teaching and learning, and focus on helping our students continue to achieve academically.  Have a great week!