05.16.06
Posted in News at 6:56 pm by Paloma Cruz
Katy ISD won’t give up on bonds
Despite rejection by district voters, officials say more campuses needed to handle growth
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
After Katy ISD voters’ rejection of a $261.5 million bond proposal to build new schools and renovate aging facilities, officials say they will regroup this week to determine the next step toward passing a future bond issue.
The district’s referendum was among the elections held throughout the Houston area on Saturday to fund everything from new school construction to jail expansions and libraries.
By law, the Katy school district cannot put another bond issue before voters until November.
[snip]
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Posted in News at 6:55 pm by Paloma Cruz
Legislature wraps up school finance work
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
Legislators today wrapped up their special session work on school finance and adjourned a day early after passing the last two pieces of Gov. Rick Perry’s property tax cut trade-off.
The bills were sent to the governor who can sign, veto or let them become law without his signature. The 30-day session had a midnight Tuesday deadline for adopting a school funding bill that would pass constitutional muster.
The last two bills will raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack as well as dedicate the revenue from the higher cigarette taxes and a new, expanded business tax toward cutting about one-third in school operating taxes by the fall of 2007.
The new business tax and the property tax reduction bill, which also includes a one-time, $2,000 teacher pay raise and other educational changes, already have been sent to the governor.
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05.13.06
Posted in News at 7:04 pm by Paloma Cruz
New tax plan worries some Texas business owners
– reported by KHOU CBS Channel 11
Another major piece of school finance legislation is on its way to the governor’s desk, four days before the end of the special session.
The House bill, approved Friday afternoon, calls for an 11 percent property tax cut this year and gives teachers a $2,000 raise.
Another bill that awaits the governor’s signature is a new business tax largely designed to offset the proposed property tax cuts.
[snip]
The biggest losers under the plan are service oriented businesses from medical professionals to builders organized as limited partnerships instead of corporations. Currently they don’t have to pay the state’s existing franchise tax at all, but they wouldn’t be exempt under the new plan.
It is estimated that only one in 16 businesses was paying the franchise tax.
The big winners, experts said, are big businesses with a lot of property, provided property taxes go down as proposed.
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05.10.06
Posted in News at 4:11 pm by Paloma Cruz
National Teacher Day spotlights key issues facing profession
The teaching profession has changed dramatically over the past 40 years. The majority of the nation’s 3 million teachers have at least a master’s degree and an average of 15 years of experience. (1) In addition, more than 75 percent of all teachers participate in professional development related to their grade or subject area. (1) As part of its annual National Teacher Day celebration, taking place this year on Tuesday, May 9, the National Education Association is releasing a list of the top five trends in the teaching profession and outlining the main characteristics of a 21st century schoolteacher.
“Today, teachers are more educated and experienced than ever before,” said NEA President Reg Weaver. “It’s extremely reassuring to know that public school students are being taught by the best and brightest educators this nation has seen in more than 40 years. On National Teacher Day, NEA and its 2.8 million members are saluting teachers, America’s heroes, for making public schools great for every child.”
[snip]
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05.08.06
Posted in News at 4:49 pm by Paloma Cruz
Most colleges lack online privacy statements
– reported by SC Magazine
A national survey of privacy practices found that only 65 of the top 236 doctoral universities and liberal arts colleges in the U.S. have privacy notices linked to their home page, in spite of the fact that almost all of these schools engage in practices that put individuals’ privacy at risk.
[snip]
As colleges and universities continue to suffer data breaches due to lax security or other problems, an increasing amount of personal information is compromised. In addition to student and applicant information housed by school databases, many institutions use the internet to process e-commerce transactions for items ranging from athletic tickets to online alumni donations.
[snip]
Perspective: Universities need a privacy refresher course
– reported by CNet.com
Unbelievable but true: While most higher educational institutions engage in e-commerce, most also engage in practices that present potential privacy risks–and less than 30 percent bother posting privacy notices on their home pages.
[snip]
Unfortunately, the results of this survey suggest that online privacy still is not a true part of the mission of higher educational institutions. Obviously, universities and colleges need to learn how to protect privacy interest on the Internet. Not only is this the right thing to do from a current data protection standpoint. It also sets the right example for students who someday will graduate to become leaders of this country.
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05.07.06
Posted in News at 5:17 am by Paloma Cruz
Amidst the scandal about their president’s spending habits, Texas State University is increasing tuition by 21.5%.
TSU board raises tuition, fees 21.5%
The increase is expected to bring in $5 million for new faculty hires and other needs
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
Texas Southern University students will pay 21.5 percent more in tuition and fees this fall, the school’s governing board decided Friday amid concerns over a multimillion-dollar budget gap.
The board’s decision will bring the cost for attending TSU to $2,714 a semester for Texas residents taking a full-time load of 15 units, up $480 from this semester.
The tuition hike is the first in two years for the historically black institution, which has tried to hold off increases because of the potential hardship for students, many of whom are working adults or recent high school graduates from low-income families.
[snip]
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05.06.06
Posted in News at 10:57 pm by Paloma Cruz
Where’s Louisiana? Don’t ask a young American
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
[snip]
Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 fared even worse with foreign locations: six in 10 couldn’t find Iraq, according to a Roper poll conducted for National Geographic.
“Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world,” National Geographic president John Fahey said in announcing a program to help remedy the problem. It’s hoping to enlist businesses, nonprofit groups and educators in a bid to improve geographic literacy.
Planned is a five-year, multimedia campaign called My Wonderful World that will target children 8 to 17. The goal is to motivate parents and educators to expand geographic offerings in school, at home and in their communities.
[snip]
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05.05.06
Posted in News at 12:11 pm by Paloma Cruz
HISD To Serve Free Summer Meals To Children
– reported by Click2Houston.com
Houston-area children can enjoy free, healthy meals this summer.
More than 200 HISD schools will participate in the HISD summer feeding program, which serves meals for those from 1 to 18 years old from June 1 to June 28.
Children are not required to be enrolled in HISD summer school classes nor do they need to show proof of income or age to participate.
Breakfasts will be served from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and lunches will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
HISD meals are nutritionally analyzed to ensure that children receive the vitamins, minerals, and calories required to maintain a balanced diet, according to HISD officials.
To find out which schools are participating, call the HISD Food Services Department at (713) 924-2455.
[snip]
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Posted in News at 5:30 am by Paloma Cruz
The University of Houston has come up with an idea on giving an incentive to students to finish their college degrees in four years. See story below.
UH rebate plan would offer instant rewards
New students who earn degree in 4 years stand to receive $3,000
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
The University of Houston will reward new students with up to $3,000 in tuition breaks if they push toward earning a bachelor’s degree in four years, under a plan endorsed by regents Tuesday.
The proposal would provide discounts to incoming freshmen this fall who complete 30 credit hours per year, maintain continuous enrollment and talk regularly with academic advisers.
Those who meet the requirements would receive a $500 rebate toward tuition for their sophomore year, $1,000 for their junior year and $1,500 for their senior year, officials said.
[snip]
“Each year, if the student succeeds, … they will see a credit that is in effect a scholarship on their tuition bill,” Foss said. “The benefit is clear.”
[snip]
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05.04.06
Posted in News at 11:14 pm by Paloma Cruz
ALDINE ISD ELECTION
Aldine school district has posts 2, 3, 4, 5 open in the May 13 board election
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
The Aldine school district will hold a school board election, May 13 for Positions 3, 4 and 5 and a special election for Position 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
[snip]
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