Good morning!  I hope you had a great three-day weekend and enjoyed the time.  Memorial Day weekend is always a special weekend for a lot of reasons.  But primarily it is a time that we commemorate the men and women who died while in the military service.  We are so thankful for the freedom we have in this country and certainly the freedoms we have were bought at a great price.  Although Wyvonna's dad and my dad did not die during World War II, they served this country at that time, and what first was called Decoration Day was a very important day to them.  We all have known those who have died serving their country in the military and let us not forget the importance of this day.  Although it is a time that marks the ending of a school year, a time for picnics, barbeques, and family gatherings, and a time for rest, let us always remember all of those who have served so bravely in service to our country, those who died in that service, and those who are currently serving to protect this great country and ensure the continuation of our freedom.

Last week we received the results of this year's TAKS testing and I am thrilled with the results.  In reading, our passing percentages stayed the same at three grade levels, improved at four grade levels, and dipped at two grade levels.  I am not concerned about the drop because it was a drop from 96% to 95% at fifth grade and 99% to 98% at eighth grade.  In reading at all grade levels we are above the 90% pass rate.  This is fantastic!

In writing we had a 94% pass rate at fourth grade and improved from 94% to 96% at seventh grade.  In social studies we improved at each grade level tested going from 94% to 96% at grade 8, 93% to 94% at grade 10, and 98% to 99% at grade 11.  So in reading, writing, and social studies, our students pass rate was above 90% at each grade level tested.

Our science scores continue to improve and we made gains at three of the four grade levels tested.  Grade 5 improved in science from 87% to 89%, grade 8 from 73% to 78%, and grade 11 from 89% to 91%.  Grade 10 was the only grade where our pass rate fell in science and it went from 75% to 72%.  Yet I am still pleased with the gains we have made in science in the last few years especially at fifth grade and eighth grade, and I know this will continue.

This year we put a special emphasis and focus on improving our mathematics pass rates.  Math is the big challenge, not only for Northside but for the state of Texas.  No doubt this emphasis and focus paid off, because we improved at every grade level tested in mathematics with the exception of grade 11 and it only dropped 1% point from 88% to 87%.  All of our pass rates were in the 80% and 90% range in grades 3-8, and scores improved.  Grade 9 math pass rates were one of our biggest challenges and we improved with a 64% to 72% pass rate.  An eight percentage point gain is very significant and I am thrilled with this improvement.

There is no doubt our challenge continues to be in the areas of mathematics and science, especially at the secondary level.  I have not yet seen a breakdown of our scores by groups, but I am anxious to see those results and see if we are narrowing the achievement gap, and also to see how our economically disadvantaged students improved.  Through the summer months there will be a lot of work and analysis of our scores and we will come forward with our plans to continue to improve the achievement of our students.  But I want to say how much I appreciate all your work and effort this year in helping our students be successful on the TAKS.  Overall, these scores are great and for a district as large and diverse as Northside, it is very impressive how well our students do.  I know your campuses are analyzing the scores at the present to determine accountability ratings and we are doing the same.  With all the new rules applying such as the "meeting required improvement," the "Texas Projection Measure," and exceptions, it is very likely that we will increase the number of Exemplary and Recognized campuses.  Great work and a job well done!

Friday night I attended the 70^th Anniversary celebration of Helotes Elementary School.  Helotes is the oldest continually operating school in Northside and it began its story in 1939.  Helotes began as a three-room schoolhouse with only two teachers.  In 1949, Helotes and several other rural schools joined together and formed Northside ISD, and so we celebrated our 60^th Anniversary as a district this year.  I want to congratulate and thank all the former principals, faculty, and staff who served at this school.  Thanks to Principal Rhonda Johnson, Vice Principal Meredith Comparon, and all the current faculty and staff for the great job they are doing and for a wonderful 70^th Anniversary celebration program.  The musical program by the students was excellent and a great congratulations to Stephanie Champion, music teacher, on a great program.  Also, to teachers Joann Welkener, Sharon Rigby, and Deborah Stewart, I want to say a great job on giving a history of Helotes Elementary through narration and picture.  I thought it very special that Joann Welkener, teacher at Helotes, was a student at Helotes Elementary, her children attended Helotes Elementary, and now her grandchild is attending Helotes.  It was certainly an honor to be there and enjoy this celebration and thanks for a great program and a wonderful evening.

This past week I also attended and gave out awards in the Elementary and Secondary "Digi Awards" programs.  Students from all over the district in kindergarten through twelfth grade were honored for their exceptional work in technology.  The program is sponsored by our Academic Technology Services Department and they do a great job.  Thanks to Joyce Stevens, Director of Academic Technology Services, her staff, Mary McBeth, Digital Media Fair Coordinator, and all the Computer Instructional Technologists for their work.  We have many creative students who are doing some amazing things with technology, but this would not happen if we didn't have great CITs and teachers working with these students.  Literally, hundreds of students were honored, and I was so proud of them, as were their teachers and parents.  Northside is definitely a leader in academic and instructional technology and with many exciting initiatives we will only get better.

I do want to inform you of a very important change that will take place this summer.  In September 2008, Northside began a 24-month implementation of Tyler Technologies' MUNIS financial, purchasing, human resources, and other related business integrated application software solutions known as the Business Enterprise Human Resources Technology (BEHRT) project.  On Monday, July 6, 2009, the first phase of the BEHRT project will "Go Live" on schedule and within budget.  Beginning July 6, there are a few features that authorized users will begin using: 

• Create and submit purchase orders online
• Track a particular purchase order online to see its status
• View up-to-the-minute account balances and encumbrances
• Transfer funds online
• View digital copies of invoices online

Northside will not use Region 20's financial modules after July 6.  On Monday, June 29, 2009, there will be a freeze to the access of the Region 20 financial system to allow time for finalizing the transition into the new system.

In May and June, training will continue for department and campus users to include principals, vice principals, campus bookkeepers, principal secretaries, cabinet members, directors, assistant directors, and department secretaries/bookkeepers.  Access to the new system will be provided only after users have attended training which will take place in the month of June 2009.

Support will be provided to users, especially during the transition period, in a variety of ways including a "Go Live" Call Center to provide assistance and answer questions. 

Thanks to Rick Gardner, Belinda Plata, and all those who have worked so hard to bring this transition to reality.

Also, Northside has received the School Health Advisory Council Award for Excellence.  The Texas Education Agency announced the winners of the first-ever School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Award for Excellence.  Schools were selected from an application process that outlined demonstrated and outstanding commitment to implementing the SHAC requirements outlined in TEC 28.004.  TEA commended the five winners for their innovation, commitment, and compassion and set us as models for the rest of Texas.  The other four winning districts were El Paso ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Fort Worth ISD, and La Porte ISD.  Northside will receive a $2000 award and recognition by state leaders for our efforts.  I want to commend Linda Seewald, Director of Health and Physical Education, and her staff for the leadership provided for the Northside SHAC.

I also want to congratulate Stevenson Middle School teacher Ana Sandoval on being selected to receive the Challenger Learning Center Teacher of the Year Award.  Northside has been an advocate and participant of the Challenger Learning Center since it opened in September of 2000 and over 24,000 NISD students have participated in its unique laboratory based programs.  Ms. Sandoval is a teacher of special needs students and with her inspiration and support the Challenger Learning Center adapted its program to serve these students, and now all Northside students have an opportunity to participate and "reach for the stars" in this program.  Ana Sandoval is the second NISD teacher to be selected as Teacher of the Year.  Donna d'Angelo, Scobee Elementary School, was selected in 2007.  Congratulations Ana and thanks for all you do to help all of our students be successful!

As I close this Monday Message I want you to know that we continue to work and follow legislation that will affect us, particularly the school finance legislation and the accountability legislation.  The work of the staff and the Board continues as we move to complete our budget for 2009-10 school year.  There is a lot going on and many celebrations, recognitions, and graduations will occur in the next two weeks.  You are the ones that make Northside so successful, and I thank you!  As I have said all year, We Believe in our students; We Believe in what we do each day; We Believe in public education; and We Believe in Northside!

Have a great week!