The Belton ISD bond election held Saturday, May 12, to build three new schools for $60M passed in a vote of 1,844 (54.1%)to 1,564 (45.9%).

Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon said, "Thank you to the entire Belton ISD community. Three new schools will address the growth of our school district and serve our children well for many years to come."

Randy Pittenger, BISD Board of Trustees president said, "It takes a supportive community to have great schools, and we are fortunate in Belton to have a community that values children and supports public education."

Today is election day for the BISD bond election, 7 a.m. to 7. p.m.
Areas 1 & 4 (north of the Leon River) vote at Pirtle Elementary.
Areas 2, 3, & 5 (south of the Leon River) vote at Harris Community
Center. Call the Administration for any questions at 215.2000.
Information is also on the web site: www.bisd.net/bond.

Early voting for the Belton ISD Bond Election is until 7 p.m. this evening, Thursday, May 3. Early voting continues through Tuesday, May 8, from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Voters may vote at any of three locations, Pirtle Elementary, Belton High School, or the Belton ISD Administration Building.

Election Day is Saturday, May 12, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at either Pirtle Elementary for Areas 1 and 4; or Harris Community Center for Areas 2, 3, and 5.

Information about the bond is available on the Belton ISD web site: www.bisd.net/bond or by calling the Administration Building, 254.215.2000.

COPPERAS COVE, TX. (April 23, 2012) - In a unanimous 7-0 vote, the Copperas Cove Independent School District (CCISD) Board of Trustees named Joe Burns, Ed.D. as sole finalist in its search for a superintendent. The action was taken at a special called Board meeting held Monday, April 23 at the CCISD Administration Building.

Dr. Burns presently serves as superintendent of the Vidor Independent School District (VISD). The District is comprised of Orange County and Jasper County near Beaumont, Texas. Dr. Burns also served as superintendent of schools in Hubbard ISD, and Kirbyville CISD where he was named the 2007 Superintendent of the year for the State of Texas.

Dr. Burns has been superintendent of Vidor ISD since March 2009, leading a district with 7 campuses, 772 employees, and approximately 4,956 students.

A former teacher and principal in the Jasper, Lufkin, and Zavalla school districts, Dr. Burns earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology as well as a Master's in Educational Administration, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently serves as a member of the Equity Center, the Texas Association of School Business Officials, and is a membership chairman for the Texas Association of Mid-Sized Schools, among others. Dr. Burns and his wife Cheryl have four sons, Ethan, Caleb, Joshua and Daniel.

Texas law requires the Board to allow at least 21 days between the time a finalist is announced and an employment contract is offered and accepted. A special called CCISD Board Meeting is currently scheduled for May 15 at 6:30 p.m.

The firm of Education Solutions & Services Inc. was hired by the Copperas Cove ISD Board to assist with the search for a superintendent following the retirement announcement of current CCISD Superintendent Dr. Rose Cameron in January.

For more information, contact the Copperas Cove ISD Public Information Office at (254) 547-1227.


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Attached Media Files: News Release PDF

Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 has been offering a teacher preparation program for certification for nearly 20 years. Now, the program is helping its students not only advance their careers, but their education as well. Students can earn their Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Louisiana College while attending the ESC Region 12 program in Waco or Nolanville.

"I plan on eventually getting a principal's certification and a master's is required," Amy Haga, a student currently enrolled in the program, said. "The master's program offered through Louisiana College expedited the time it would take for me to earn my master's, and it was a no-brainer. There's no reason not to get your master's with the program they have."

Thirty-six students are enrolled in the program and working on their MAT while simultaneously preparing for their teaching certificate. This degree can allow individuals to improve skills to work with students more effectively and potentially earn a higher salary.

"I chose ESC Region 12 over other places for their reputation of being the best around, and I wanted to have a top academic experience," Haga said.

ESC Region 12 strives to assist school districts in many areas, one of which is recruiting and retaining staff.

"Helping prospective teachers earn a master's degree is a win-win situation. It's a win for the prospective teachers, but it's also a win for the schools that will hire highly educated individuals to teach their students," Jerry Maze, ESC Region 12 executive director, said.

The MAT degree requires 33 hours of credit. Louisiana College and ESC Region 12 have articulated their respective curricula in such a way that the graduate student's work in the ESC Region 12 program is recognized and credited by Louisiana College. It also allows for considerable grant funding for tuition that does not have to be paid back. This process allows students to complete their MAT concurrently with their teacher preparation program, which is highly cost- and time-effective.

To apply to the program, ESC Region 12 must first accept individuals into TPCP. They can then apply for the master's program through Louisiana College. The GRE is not required for admission, but it must be taken before students enroll in their 22nd hour of credit.

For more information about the program, visit www.esc12.net/teacherprep or call 254.297.1191.

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About ESC Region 12
One of 20 regional education service centers statewide, Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is dedicated to serving school districts, charter schools and area private/parochial schools in improving student performance. ESC Region 12 partners with school districts to deliver services and solutions to educators so they may help all children be successful.

Based in Waco, with satellite offices in Corsicana, Hamilton, Nolanville and Teague, ESC Region 12's service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Mills and Navarro Counties.

Every year, students graduate from high school and ask, "now what?" This can especially be the case for students with disabilities, as their first steps as an independent adult can be the most challenging. Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 and partner organizations help make those steps easier through a unique event called the Transition Fair. High school special education students can explore post-secondary options in an age-appropriate environment as they transition from high school to college or a career.

More than 25 post-secondary schools and training agencies will display their programs, and discuss career and college options. Students will also take a tour of the MCC campus and gain practical skills for college life and independent quality living.

"Students get to see what life is like on a college campus," Sharron Stephenson, ESC Region 12 specialist said. "They can experience everything from getting around campus to where to find academic guidance and information on financial aid."

MCC staff will present on financial aid options, vocational training at MCC and TSTC, and local career opportunities for students with special needs. Other presenters include Kelly Yarbrough from the Waco Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities, Peggy Cosner with Heart of Central Texas Independent Living and Anita Karney with the Heart of Texas Autism Network.

This student fair will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday at MCC and is free to all attendees. Lunch will also be provided free of charge so pre-registration was requested.

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, the fair is open to parents and the community. Keynote speakers are Salley Schmid, with Enrichment Training and Coaching Solutions, and Sharron Stephenson, with ESC Region 12. They will present on working with your child's strengths and preparing him or her for an independent life after high school.

Event organizers anticipate more than 200 students in attendance. Schools/charter schools participating include Bruceville-Eddy, Dawson, Itasca, Marlin, Midway, Orenda Charter Schools, Temple, Waco and West.
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The Eleventh Annual State School Bus Safety Speech Contest will be held
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., today, April 30 at Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 in Waco. Bullying, one of today's most discussed school safety issues, has inspired the topic for this year's speech contest: "How to stop bullying . . . On the bus, at school and on the street."

Forty high school students from across the state, including three from Central Texas, will compete for scholarship money.

The speech contest will include three award levels for grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. First place winners in eleventh and twelfth grade will receive a $1,000 scholarship check while those in ninth and tenth grade will receive a $1,000 savings bond. Second place winners will receive a $500 savings bond, and third place winners will receive a $250 savings bond. Also, each contest participant will be awarded a $100 savings bond for winning in his or her region to reach the state level.

Two students from Temple ISD and one student from Killeen ISD will represent
Region 12. All students competing at the state level won first place in their grade level at district and regional contests and will represent 12 of the 20 regions in Texas.

The overall top finisher will present his or her speech at the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation (TAPT) conference in June. For the past two years, the winner from Texas has been invited to present his or her speech at the National Conference as a motivational item for transportation personnel from across the country.

Students who are economically disadvantaged and their families are receiving help after the school bell rings in eight rural districts across the region thanks to the Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) Grant. The ACE Grant, a Texas 21st Century Community Learning Center, Cycle 7 grant, will provide $1.67 million per year over the next five years to establish community learning centers at ten schools with at least 50 percent economically disadvantaged student populations.

The program assists student participants in meeting academic standards in core subject areas (reading, math, science and social studies) by providing after school time services to both them and their families at the school sites. To be eligible for the program, schools must meet at least one eligibility requirement, as outlined in federal education guidelines, or identification of 40 or more percent of students as economically disadvantaged. Schools must also have been in operation for at least the prior school year.

"ACE provides services to students and their families they would not normally have access to due to the rural nature of their school districts," ACE Project Director Marcia Anderson said. "The ACE Programs in the eight school districts have served 1,803 students to date."

Academics are not the only focus, however. Students and their families also participate in a variety of enrichment activities that complement the regular school day program through a Center Project Plan, developed to meet their specific needs. Activities include martial arts, culinary arts, art, quilting, robotics and more. The plans focus on attendance, behavior, promotion to the next grade level and graduation rates. They also include college and career readiness initiatives.

"The ACE program provides additional academic and enrichment support for the Hamilton students and community. ESC Region 12 has been very supportive with the program implementation and we greatly appreciate their continued work in helping serve our students. We have also been able to develop tremendous relationships with the Tarleton State University Department of Education and the additional help provided by college student volunteers each day has been a real positive for the program," said Dr. John Craft, superintendent for Hamilton ISD.
Through the grant, ESC Region 12 employs a project director, 10 school site coordinators and a family involvement specialist. Participating districts, learning center sites and grade levels include:

District School Site Grade Levels Served
Blum ISD Blum Schools Pre-K - 12
Chilton ISD Chilton School Pre-K - 12
Cranfills Gap ISD Cranfills Gap School Pre-K - 12
Hamilton ISD Ann Whitney Elementary & Hamilton Junior High Pre-K - 5 & 6 - 12
Itasca ISD Itasca Schools Pre-K - 12
Kerens ISD Kerens School Pre-K - 12
Morgan ISD Morgan School Pre-K - 12
Rosebud-Lott ISD Rosebud Primary School & Lott Elementary Pre-K - 5 & K - 5

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WHAT: More than 18 Central Texas schools have reserved their spot at the 18th Annual Central Texas Education Job Fair, hosted by Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12.

WHEN: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 2, 2012

WHO: The fair is open to administrators, teachers and school personnel. No registration is required, and the fair is free to all job seekers. Applicants should bring copies of their resume and transcripts.

WHERE: ESC Region 12, 2101 W. Loop 340, Waco, Texas 76712

MORE: Job openings can be viewed at www.esc12.net/jobs. Districts/schools attending include: Buckholts, Connally, Harmony Science Academy, Fairfield, Hillsboro, La Vega, Lorena, Mexia, Moody, Penelope, Rapoport Academy, Robinson, Star, Temple, Troy, Valley Mills, West and Whitney.

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What do you want to be when you grow up? Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 will ask this question and showcase career options during Careers on Wheels (C.O.W.) Day from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, April 27 at 5749 Bagby Avenue in Waco.

C.O.W. Day is an informational and interactive career event where students learn about a variety of careers and specialized vehicles.

"Modeling and demonstrating careers provides excellent and memorable examples for young boys and girls, and we want to encourage them that they can be anything they want to be," Christine Holecek, education specialist with ESC Region 12, said.

Vehicle operators will give demos and explain what training and/or education they received for their job. Vehicles will include a fire truck, radio van, police cruiser, helicopter and many more. Students will have the opportunity to explore the inside of many of the vehicles and test their functions.

More than 1,200 Pre-K through third grade students will attend from the following 11 schools and districts: Bosqueville, Bruceville-Eddy, First Baptist Preschool, Hallsburg, La Vega, Midway, Mildred, Parkview Christian, Riesel, Star, and St. Paul's Episcopal Day School.

Exhibits from the following businesses will fill the center's Building 3 on Bagby Avenue:
Angel Paws
Best Buy Geek Squad
CWA Construction
ETMS Ambulance
H-E-B Grocery
Knife River Ready Mix
KWTX Channel 10
Lacy-Lakeview Fire Department
Mazanec Construction
McLennan Co. Sherriff's Office
National Guard
Oak Farms
Big 95 Radio
Robinson Police Animal Control
RSC Equipment Rental
Texas DPS
Texas Farm Bureau
Texas State Technical College
TxDOT
Wales Industrial Service

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