John F. Kennedy oncesaid, “Change is the law oflife. And those who lookonly to the past or present arecertain to miss the future.”

As we head into anoth-er school year, I would likefor us to think about thefuture of our school district.What do we need to do todramatically improve stu-dent performance through-out the coming school year?Each of us has an importantrole in helping to find theanswers to this question.

Everyone from our food service workersto our executive administrators has a rolein helping to improve student test scores.What can you do in your current positionto help us reach our goal?

Public education is a unique chal-lenge because our students come fromdiverse backgrounds. As the need of our

students change, we toomust change to meetthose needs.

I commend eachof you for the hard

work you do. Continueto have a great summer.

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July 2005

Although less than three percent of registered voters livingwithin the Laredo Independent School District cast a ballot duringthe district’s special election on June 25, it was enough to secure$60 million in bonds for facilities construction.

According to the Webb County Elections Office, out of45,410 registered voters, about 2.81 percent—or 1,274 voters—cast a ballot during the two weeks of early voting and on ElectionDay. Voting in favor were 856 voters, or 67.18 percent, while 418voters or 32.81 percent voted against.

“We will take it (voter turnout) as a reaffirmation that whatwe’re planning is the right thing to do,” said superintendent ofschools Sylvia Bruni. “On the one hand, we had anincredibly low turnout, and victory came from a minutepercentage of the overall registered voters.However, looking at the bigger picture, I ampleased at the outcome because it givesus a chance to go full circle with ourconstruction program. Additionally,

(continued pg.3)

Voters approve $60M bond

As part or her plan to improve district-wide academic performance, superintendent ofschools Sylvia Bruni recently announced changes to the district’s organizational structure.

“The Laredo ISD Board of Trustees and I have a job to do,” declared Bruni, “and that jobrequires us to develop a shared vision to ensure that all students are successful. After conductinga thorough systemic evaluation during my past 10 months as superintendent, I firmly believe nowis the time to take bold and deliberate steps to more closely align our efforts with our vision.”

The following individuals will assume new posts as indicated below, effective July 1.

Elsa Arce Discipline Management Officer Vanessa Cortez Language Arts DeanClara Cindy Cruz AYP Coordinator (Content Specialist)Gerardo Cruz Program EvaluatorVirginia Flores Executive PrincipalVeronica Guerra Executive Director for Instructional SupportDiana Juarez Director for Staff DevelopmentBlas Martinez Executive PrincipalJulio Mendez Interim Director for Students ServicesRosaura Rodriguez Executive Director for Planning and DevelopmentDr. Romeo Romero Hearings OfficerElsa Ruiz Testing and Assessment CoordinatorSeverita Sanchez Director for Quality and ComplianceDr. Don Schulte Executive Director for Curriculum and InstructionBelinda Silva-Zuniga Director of Gifted and Talented

Other vacancies have yet to be filled. A+ News will keep you updated.

The results are in, and it looks like the HOSTS (HelpingOne Student to Succeed) program has shown some significantgains in student reading skills for the 2004-2005 school year.

Data representing post-year assessment results were col-lected from over 1,000 students who participated in theHOSTS program. The post-year data presented the following:

• Approximately 80 percent of the students increased their reading skills by one or more grade levels, with over 45 percent achieving at least a two-year reading gain

• Students who participated in the HOSTS programexperienced an average reading gain of 1.7 years

• 82 percent of the HOSTS students passed their regular reading class with an average grade of 77

• Approximately 1,980 mentors volunteered roughly 43,300 hours in the HOSTS programs

• Volunteer hours represent an estimated dollar value of $761,040

HOSTS Coordinator Rosita Martinez said the programwould not have been successful without the help of dedicatedHOSTS teachers and volunteers.

“We could not have experienced such positive resultswithout the full support and commitment of our district to ourHOSTS mentoring program. Together, we are helping ensure abrighter future for our students.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer as a HOSTS mentor can callthe HOSTS Office at 795-3445.

HOSTS program delivers positive resultspage 2

LISD principals ham it up during a summer goal-settingworkshop hosted by the International Bank ofCommerce. Various school principals participated in funskits promoting the district's instructional goals.

From left are Cordy Cantu, Yolanda Montemayor,Lucy Flores, Jacobita Laurel and Sandra Muñoz.

From left are Julio Mendez, Adriana Padilla, Dr. Martha Villarreal,

Sylvia Rios, Sam Sanchez and Jerry Cruz. From left are Roberto Gonzalez, Blas Martinez and Mario Guzmanportraying the Pink ladies from the movie Grease.

1

Principals turn strategic planninginto a good time for all

July 2005

Your source for AdministrativeNews... Plus a whole lot more!Produced monthly for district employees by the Office ofCommunications and the Printing/Creative ServicesDepartment. Information may be submitted by calling theOffice of Communications at 795-3295.

Board of TrusteesDr. Dennis D. CantúPresidentJohn Peter MontalvoVice PresidentGeorge M. BeckelhymerSecretaryJesús J. GuerraParliamentarianGuillermina MontesMemberJorge L. RodríguezMemberJosé A. ValdezMember

Sylvia BruniSuperintendent of Schools

Office of CommunicationsMarco A. AlvaradoDirector of Communicationsmalvarado@laredoisd.orgVeronica Castillón, APRPublic Information Officervcastillon@laredoisd.orgVeronica “Roni” CantúCommunity Relations Specialistvcantu@laredoisd.orgJeannette G. MartinezITV Coordinatorjgmartinez@laredoisd.orgRosita MartinezHOSTS Coordinatorrrmartinez@laredoisd.orgMario PerezInterim Printing Supervisormarioperez@laredoisd.orgPaola ArcosPublications Designerparcos@laredoisd.orgMelissa GarzaSecretary/Translatormelgarza@laredoisd.orgIt is the policy of the Laredo Independent School Districtnot to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national ori-gin, gender, religion, limited English proficiency, or hand-icapping condition in its programs.

NEWS

Early Voters Exercising their right to vote in the LISD Bond Election are, from left, MartinHigh School teacher Jeannie Lopez, Transportation Dispatchers Alonzo Garcia and AmadoRamirez, HOSTS Coordinator Rosita Martinez, LISD Board President Dr. Dennis D. Cantu,and Transportation Operations Supervisor Rick Gonzalez.

LISD receives refund of nearly$700K from insurance provider

Fewer medical claims have resulted in agenerous refund to the district.

Health care insurance providerPacifiCare has reimbursed the LaredoIndependent School District $698,173 forhaving sustained a loss ratio of 75 percent orless for the 2003-04 school year. A loss ratiois determined as the loss incurred and lossexpenses incurred to net premiums earnedwith regards to medical claims. LISD endedthe year with a 70 percent ratio.

“We attribute this refund to the proac-tive approach exercised by the school districtin keeping employees aware and informed oftheir health,” said Risk Manager AlvaroPerez, referring to the various health fairs,lab screenings, and dissemination of healthinformation that is offered to employees. The

district has implemented other techniques tokeep employees informed about their healthand current trends in the medical field. Thedistrict plans to reinvest the money in well-ness programs for employees.

“Our employees have been using theirmedical plans efficiently and effectively,”said LISD Chief Financial Officer JesusAmezcua. “If we continue to do this we canprovide additional health programs to ourworkforce.”

PacifiCare is a health organizationoffering individuals medical health insur-ance. The mission of the organization is tocreate long-term shareholder value as a con-sumer health organization committed to mak-ing people's lives healthier and more secure.

Voters approve $60M bond(continued from pg.1)

we are going to be vigilant about the waythese monies will be spent.”

The $60 million will fund a variety ofprojects throughout the school district,including the renovation of Shirley Field, aswell as the construction of field houses atNixon and Martin High Schools, and soccerand softball fields. The monies will also goto build a new fine arts complex, renovationsto the Vidal M. Treviño School ofCommunications and Fine Arts, and newfacilities for transportation, the child nutri-tion program, and instructional support.

Once the bonds are sold at market, thedistrict will then present to the Laredo ISDBoard of Trustees a general construction planand budget for approval. Request ForProposals will then be sought from architectsmeetings project specifications before beingawarded for construction. Preliminary esti-mates indicate construction in part shouldcommence in 2006.

The bond election is expected toincrease district property taxes by five centsin the fourth year, and remain constantthroughout the life of the 20-year bond, bar-ring any major changes in student populationgrowth, property appraisal values, and taxcollection rates.

Notes from Human ResourcesBuilding BlocksThe summer has been a busy time for the Construction

Department and for the Division of Operations. That’s becauseseveral schools are being rebuilt and therefore must be moved todifferent locations for the upcoming school year.

Ryan Elementary School will be relocated to the formerLamar Middle School campus on Galveston, while HeightsElementary will be relocated to the temporary portables located atMilton Elementary School. Daiches Elementary School will alsobe relocated to the old Ochoa Elementary School. Each of theseschools will be new replacement schools for the 2006-07 schoolyear.

Other construction is taking place at Cigarroa Middle andHigh Schools. Construction at the middle school includes a newlibrary and the renovation of existing facilities. According to theConstruction Department, no students will have to be displacedsince construction will be done in phases.

Construction at the high school is underway. The new, largercafeteria will be ready for the 2005-2006 schoolyear. The cafeteria will continue to be shared byboth middle and high school students. The newlibrary will be ready in August and a literacycenter, which will be located at the entrance ofthe school, is currently under construction.

The Cigarroa High School football field will alsoundergo renovations and upgrades. Additionally,Cigarroa High School will receive other renovationsto existing facilities which will be done in phases.

Finally, the new Memorial Middle School anda renovated Tarver Elementary School will be readyfor the new school year, which begins August 15.

For more information related to these ot otherconstructions projects, please call Edmundo Lopezat 795-3619

page 4

CCaalleennddaarr ooff EEvveennttssJuly

1 Payroll Deadline4 Independence Day5 Special Call

Board Meeting4-8 District Closed18 Special Call

Board Meeting20 Pay Day21 Board Meeting

August5 Payroll Deadline 8 Teachers Begin

10 General Sessionat LEC

11 Board Meeting15 First Day of Classes19 Pay Day

Governor Rick Perry was recently in Laredo to sign Senate Bill 23which promotes early childhood education in school districts acrossTexas. Looking on are several community members and LISDSuperintendent Sylvia Bruni.

Human Resources Coordinator Margie Chavez con-

gratulates Ricardo G. Perez, Unit Manager at the Child

Nutrition Program. Perez earned his GED certificate

on June 6 after going through the district’s GED pro-

gram for employees. He will receive a one-time

stipend of $500 for passing all GED tests and for

obtaining his GED certificate.

This month A+ News features the PEP(Pregnancy Education and ParentingProgram). Patricia “Patty” Raymond isthe director of the program whose focus is toreduce the dropout rate of students who arepregnant or have a child, and provide themwith services to not only help them becomesuccessful students, parents, and citizens, butmost importantly to graduate.

A graduate of Nixon High School,Raymond has a bachelor’s degree inSociology and Political Science from thenLaredo State University. Her previous workexperience includes working for the HarrisCounty Department of Social Services inHouston before undertaking a career changeto education. She participated in theAlternative Certification Program with theHouston Independent School District andtaught Bilingual/ESL and Regular Self-Contained PreK-6th. She later received hermaster’s degree in Curriculum andInstruction with an emphasis in EarlyChildhood Education from the University ofHouston. Raymond also has a certificate inprincipalship.

The PEP program is available to stu-dents who are pregnant or are parenting achild at each of the high schools. Althoughdaycare facilities are provided for studentswho have children, other services are provid-ed to PEP participants.

Tell us about the PEP staff.

“The PEP staff is comprised of 20 peo-ple which include daycare directors, nurses,community liaisons, and counselors.”

What are kind of services does PEPoffer to students?

“There are several services that we pro-vide to students of the PEP program. Theyinclude academic career counseling, jobreadiness, crisis prevention, parent educationclasses, district transportation, and muchmore. We do provide daycare for PEP par-

ticipants who have children, but its only oneof many components that we offer.”

What do you teach PEP participants?

“We have a curriculum in discipline,prenatal curriculum, pregnancy and newborn,nurturing your newborn, teen dads, and chal-lenge of toddlers. Our counselors and com-munity liaisons work with students on theseobjectives.”

What are your success stories?

“We had a tremendous number of grad-uates; a success level of over 90 per-

cent and a high percent going on to collegeand graduating at the top of their class.”

What can employees do to help stu-dents?

“We need to concentrate in the elemen-tary level. We need to have a focus on earlychildhood education and get our students tolearn self esteem, character education, prob-lem solving, goal setting, and coping mecha-nism techniques. We also need for them tounderstand the importance of setting shortand long term goals, and taking care of them-selves.”

PEP (Pregnancy Education and Parenting Program)

July 2005

Patty Raymond, Director of PEP, is flanked by the daycare providers who work ateach of the PEP daycare facilities. From left to right are Patricia Villarreal, SaraDe Leon, Raymond, Jovita Luna, and Ana Patricia Muniz. Raymond says the PEPis more than just providing daycare services for students who have children; it isalso about making sure they graduate and become successful individuals

Skin Cancer:How to Protect YourselfEach year an estimated 1.2 million cases ofskin cancer are reported. But most of thesecases are curable with early detection andproper treatment.

* Try to stay out of the sun between 10a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays arestrongest.

* Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen thatprotects against UVA and UVB rays andhas a SPF of 15 or greater.

* Wear protective, tightly woven clothing.

* Perform Self-examination of the entirebody using a full-length mirror in a bright-ly lit room; it is the best way to discoverany signs of skin cancer that may require aphysician’s attention.

* See your doctor if you notice any suspi-cious marks or changes in your skin.

LISD TAX OFFICEANNOUNCEMENT

ARE YOUR 2004 LISDPROPERTY TAXES PAID?

Did you know the LISD Tax Office offersemployees a variety of ways to pay their

property taxes including payroll deduction?

Call 795-3300to find out more

Finance Office garners awardFor the seventh year in a row, the Laredo Independent

School District Finance Office recently received theAssociation of School Business Officials (ASBO) InternationalCertificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Program forexcellence in the preparation and issuance of the fiscal year and2004 school system. The award recognized the district’s effortin providing a high-quality Comprehensive Annual FinancialReport (CAFR) for the fiscal year and 2004.

“Attaining this award brings a feeling of confidence andhas increased our financial reporting credibility not only to thedistrict but to the whole community,” said LISD ChiefFinancial Officer Jesus J. Amezcua.

The Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Programwas designed by ASBO International to enable schools business offi-cials to achieve a high standard of financial reporting. The award, thehighest recognition for school district financial operations offered byASBO, is only conferred to school systems that have met or exceededthe standards of the program.

“The fact that our Finance Office has consistently obtainedthis award demonstrates our responsibility in handling public funds,”said LISD Superintendent Sylvia Bruni.

By preparing and presenting a CAFR, the Laredo IndependentSchool District validated the credibility of their school system’s oper-ations, measured the integrity and technical competence of the busi-ness staff, and assisted in strengthening their presentations for bondissuance statements, and provided professional recognition.

To view the district’s Comprehensive Annual Report and otherfinancial information, visit our web-site at www.laredoisd.org.

Dol

lars

& S

ense

page 6When’s pay day?The LISD Finance Office recently announced the payday schedule and deadlines for submitting pay adjust-ments for the 2005-2006 school year. Adjustmentsinclude items such as extra duty pay for tutoring, cur-riculum development, special projects, and otheractivities through the end of the month. All documen-tation needs to be submitted to the FinanceDepartment by 5:00 p.m. on the dates shown below tobe included for that month’s payroll. Documentationreceived after the deadlines will de added to the sub-sequent payroll check. For more information call theFinance Department at 795-3254.

Payroll Deadline Pay DayAugust 5, 2005 August 19, 2005September 6 200 September 20, 2005October 6, 2005 October 20, 2005November 7, 2005 November 21, 2005December 1, 2005 December 15, 2005January 3, 2006 January 13, 2006February 2, 2006 February 16, 2006March 1, 2006 March 9, 2006April 3, 2006 April 17, 2006May 5, 2006 May 19, 2006June 6, 2006 June 20, 2006July 10, 2006 July 20, 2006

LISD employees Martha Villanueva (L) and Gloria Sandoval (R)look on as Cesar Vasquez of the Human Resources Departmentshares information on business. Both Villanueva and Sandoval aretwo of the many employees taking the Introduction to BusinessCourse. The course is being offered Monday through Thursday atthe LISD Board Room after work hours. The employees/studentswill earn their credit from Laredo Community College.