LTHS changes 2016-17 instructional times
In order to comply with a state law that calls for an instructional school year to be measured by minutes instead of days, Lake Travis ISD board of Trustees changed the daily start and end times for Lake Travis High School’s 2016-17 school year during its April 19 meeting.
LTHS students will begin school at 8:40 a.m. and end at 3:50 p.m. at the start of the new school year, a change from the current schedule of 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
House Bill 2610, which was passed Feb. 9, changes the language requiring 180 days of instruction per school year in the Texas Education Code to requiring 75,600 minutes per school year.
The time change also cuts CAVtime—which is used for study hall, teacher office hours and club meetups—from five days a week to two days a week. This schedule change builds an extra 10 minutes into instructional time.
Additionally, time between classes will be reduced from eight minutes to seven minutes, and lunch will be reduced from 35 minutes to 30 minutes.
“This was hard to do, and I applaud the high school administration,” LTISD Superintendent Brad Lancaster said.
From left: Andrea Angelo, Lucy Bergin and Graham Yates.[/caption]Armstrong names team
Armstrong Community Music School, 404 Camp Craft Road, Austin, has a new development team that will focus on engaging the community, according to a news release.
Andrea Angelo was named director of development, Graham Yates was named development associate and Lucy Bergin was named development assistant, the release said.
Eanes ISD to receive $2.02 million grant
The Eanes Education Foundation announced April 26 a projected $2.02 million grant intended to hire 40 more Eanes ISD teachers for the 2016-17 school year.
The nonprofit organization raises money annually to fund teachers and staff at EISD.
Annie Zucker, the foundation’s treasurer, said at the April 26 board of trustees meeting this was a “record-setting” and “unprecedented” year for the foundation.
LTISD program grows
Lake Travis ISD has seen an increase in dual-credit program enrollment by 100 students during the last three school years, according to school staffers who gave a presentation to the LTISD board of trustees April 19.
The total number of courses taken has also increased from 298 to 680 over the past three school years, according to the presentation.
Tuition and fees for the 12 courses currently offered are waived, resulting in a savings of $1,314 per three-hour course and more than $2.5 million since 2012, presenters said.
LISD superintendent to leave for Klein ISD
Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion announced April 28 he is leaving the district for Klein ISD.
Champion has served as LISD’s superintendent since 2008. He is a former teacher, assistant principal and principal, as well as assistant superintendent of administrative services within the district. Champion is in his 22nd year with LISD, according to the district.
KISD is located in northwest Harris County with 50,000 students. Champion will start as KISD’s superintendent in July.
“The decision to leave Leander ISD was the most difficult professional decision I’ve ever had to make,” Champion said in a news release. “This is [my wife] and my home, the place our boys were educated and a spot where we have made deep friendships. With both boys in college now, when the unique opportunity to lead Klein ISD opened up, we decided to start a new adventure.”
An Ethiopian child receives his finished portrait.[/caption]Students connect with orphans through art
More than 20 St. Michael’s Catholic Academy art students participated in The Memory Project, a program that aims to connect American children with Ethiopian orphans through art.
Students at the academy, 3000 Barton Creek Blvd., Austin, were given photographs of Ethiopian children, tasked with drawing their portraits and mailed the completed portraits to the children in April, according to a news release.
