Blogging and some other types of social networking are great ways to give and get information. Of course, during the summer months, there won’t be much student activity, but district action will continue. 

Summer chores include budget planning (not an easy thing with over $1M in cuts), master schedules for campuses and maintenance jobs that can’t be done with kids in the buildings. 

I know that there is a lot of interest in issues related to the budget process: salaries, possible furlough, program changes. As these issues are taken up and resolved, I’ll post information here as well as in other EISD communication venues.

I hope everyone has a great summer and comes back in August ready to roll!

Today I had a nice meeting with the proud father of one of our 2011 graduates.  He was very enthusiastic about his daughter and the educational services she received at EHS.  The gist of the conversation, though, was how very different school and kids are today from what they were when he graduated.  This gentleman is an Ennis HS graduate himself so has a vantage point on change just in Ennis.  He remarked that kids have to know much more information than in his day, that the expectation for high school academic performance is similar to what he faced in college.  His daughter graduated with enough credits to be accepted as a college sophomore in the fall - something that he didn't have available when he was an active Ennis Lion.  The connection across generations is good - father/daughter have their experience as an Ennis HS student in common, but with vastly different details.  EHS prepared the father for his next phase, then 25 years later, prepared his daughter for the same next phase, just with computers, many more courses, standardized tests - a whole new EHS world to reflect the one she just entered.

Lots of attention and concern about the 2011-12 school year for employment security and other components of the budget have been expressed -- please check EISD homepage news for more indepth discussion. 

The proposed budget for 2011-12 will not contain teacher furlough days or reduction in force. The passage of Senate Bill 8 allows schools to close for up to six non-instructional days in order to save funds. While curtailing spending is a worthwhile consideration, EISD has determined that all six of the non-instructional days are necessary in order for teachers and staff to prepare adequately. Ennis ISD will not utilize the option of furlough for 2011-12.

There seems to be an abundance of critics for public schools - usually those who point to what they consider waste of money or focus on subjects or activities they don't like.  The reality is that educators aren't the problem - they are the solution!  The money spent on education is an investment, not a burden.  Each of the teachers, bus drivers, cooks, custodians, counselors, principals and coaches who help our kids become the citizens of tomorrow are building that future.  Almost anybody can tap mean-spirited criticism into an anonymous blog.  It takes a teacher to craft the future.

School year 2011-12 is underway!  There are a (very) few minor difficulties to work out with schedules/assignments, but the beginning of the year was easy and excellent!  Thank you to all the EISD staff who made that happen.

Enrollment numbers are up a little.  We usually stabilize after Labor Day.  Volleyball is already well into the new season and we're ready to kick off football this week. 

It is a joy to see so many EISD staff finding new ways to Cross the Line!

Ennis ISD is dealing with a series of serious events that require sensitivity in management and also that cause a range of emotions, including sadness and anger, for our kids.  Among these events is the sudden stroke and subsequent death of JH teacher Stephanie Brittingham.  As our kids and faculty work through this difficult time, I hope that the Ennis community that has been so supportive will continue to do so.

An earlier blog contained a reference to Cross the Line - for those who may not recognize the reference, that is a motto that we will utilize in school year 2011-12.  It means to Cross the Line of mediocrity, to be resilient and bounce back. 

It seems as if the number of events that have happened since the beginning of the school year could have filled at least 5 or 6 months!  I hope that with the conclusion of the tuberculosis testing that we can proceed with a vibrant but not quite as exciting school year.

Thank you - again - to all the teachers and other staff members who have really 'stepped up to the plate' in trying to maintain a good instructional program while EISD has dealt with a series of unusual events. 

All the EISD faculty and staff wish a very bright and memorable Christmas holiday to parents and patrons of our great school system.  Thank you for the support and good wishes through this most challenging fall semester.  We are all planning for 2012 to be a stellar year!