Good morning!  As I write this final Monday Message for the 2008-09 school year, I just can't believe the year has gone so fast.  It has been a great year for Northside in many ways, but also a year of challenges with things such as the downturn of the economy, the Legislature being in session, the H1N1 virus, TAKS testing, and many other issues particular to our jobs or our campus.  I know that all of you are looking forward to the end of school and I know the students are ready.  I have enjoyed so much many end-of-year activities I have been able to attend.  It continues to amaze me how much talent our students have.  Yet I know they could not do what they do if it were not for the great instruction they receive from the teachers.  I saw great examples of this when I attended the Stevenson Middle School Band Concert and the O'Connor Fine Arts Finale Thursday evening.  The students at Stevenson were wonderful and the talent and ability of those students to perform at the level they do can only be attributed to Band Directors Jim Cain and Pamela Trevino.  At O'Connor I again was amazed by the level of talent in their performances.  I could not believe the performance by Jessica Jin on violin performing a piece by Mozart.  The final performance of Coronation Anthem #1 by Handel by the orchestra and choir was just outstanding.  Yes, we have very talented students in Northside, but certainly the instruction they receive improves their ability and performance to a level that one would certainly think it beyond middle school or high school.  I told Wyvonna that it is just unbelievable what our students can do!

Graduation season began last Friday night with our first graduation which was the Reddix Center.  I always love this graduation ceremony and I want to compliment David Lamoureux, Principal, and all the staff at the Reddix Center for the great job they do with our special needs students.  This Friday night we have the graduation of Health Careers High School at Paul Taylor Field House, and then the following Tuesday we begin two-a-day graduations for four days at the Alamodome for our other high schools.  Graduation season is always an exciting time of the year, and I want to congratulate all of our graduates and their parents!  This year we will have almost 5,000 students graduating from Northside!

Today is the last day of the legislative session.  I want to thank all of those legislators who represent areas of the Northside School District for their support.  For the most part they are supportive of the issues and concerns we have that relate to legislation.  However, I am very disappointed in the results of this legislative session as far as funding for education.  Even though we are getting some additional funding which could be around $13 million, not a single dollar of state money is a part of the total additional appropriation of $1.9 billion to public schools.  As I have mentioned several times, since 2007 it is the state of Texas that benefits from property value increases whether it be re-appraisals or new appraisals.  As these entities pay additional property taxes to Northside, the state deducts an equal amount in order to keep us at a "target revenue" established in 2006-07.  As a result of this the state gained revenue in an amount close to $1.8 billion.  We were hopeful the state would return this money to schools in their appropriation, and then send the State Stabilization stimulus funds to the school districts.  The state chose, however, to fund $1.9 billion to schools with the stimulus funding, and not send the money gained by property value increases to schools, but increase the Rainy Day Fund.  All I know at this time is that Northside will receive the approximate $13 million and probably half of that will go for salary increases for teachers, counselors, librarians, and nurses.  Although I am for the salary increases, it leaves very little operational money ($6.5 million) for a full two-year period.  Certainly it is evident that providing an adequate increase of funding for public schools was not a priority of the Legislature this year, and many high wealth districts actually received more funding per student than average wealth districts.

I am told that there will be another study of school finance conducted over the interim and that the issues related to adequacy and equity will be addressed in the 2011 legislative session.  Just what we need:  another study of school finance!  What really needs to be addressed is the issue of revenue sources to adequately fund education.  We know what needs to be done to bring more equity and fairness to the funding system, but a way must be found to adequately fund the schools of Texas.

Once we get the legislation sorted out we will begin finalizing our budget for 2009-10 and be able to let everyone know about salary increases.  I am so appreciative of our Board and our staff for the work they do in preparing our budget.  I said at the end of last year when we gave a 4% salary increase that this budget would be difficult unless the Legislature addressed the "target revenue" situation and addressed additional school funding.  They haven't to the level needed, so we will be very conservative in our budget figures for this year, and even though there will be a salary increase it will not be to the level we have been able to do the last five years.

As we move to next year, we will be opening four new schools.  The students of these schools have selected their mascots and colors.  They will be:

• Langley ES Lobos - Kelly Green and Royal Blue
• Hoffmann ES Hawks - Navy Blue and Silver
• Kuentz ES Coyotes - Silver and Black
• Garcia MS Gladiators - Silver and Black 

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

As I close this Monday Message for the 2008-09 school year, I want to thank every one of you for your hard work and dedication to Northside.  It has been a great school year and certainly we all have proven that "We Believe" in Northside and the power of public education.  I am looking forward to next year with a theme of "Deep in the Heart of Northside."  Next fall we will have a large group of Northside students performing at the TASA/TASB (Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards) Convention which is the largest educational convention in Texas.  They will portray our theme and as we begin next school year with our convocations you will see some of these students perform.  I hope you have a wonderful summer as you get some rest, enjoy a vacation, participate in staff development, and just enjoy the time off.  We are one of the great school districts in Texas and in the nation because of you and all the hard work that helps our students be successful.  You are the Best!

Have a great summer and see you at convocations!