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Posts published in “Channels – School News”

Coronavirus Task Force Implemented by Aldine ISD

March 24, 2020

The Aldine Independent School District Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney is taking proactive measures against the coronavirus/COVID-19 to minimize risk to students, employees, and families relating to the spread of the coronavirus.

There are increasing cases of coronavirus confirmed in Harris and surrounding counties. The school district confirmed that these cases do not include students or employees of the school system.

“However, considering the virus is now confirmed in our county, we are taking additional steps to minimize risk to our students and staff,” Goffney said. “Our school district is following the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidance for schools. This includes making sure that our emergency operation plans are reviewed and up-to-date and that there is routine environmental cleaning. AISD uses cleaning products that have been verified by the manufacturer to kill viruses. Out of an abundance of caution, we are developing a plan to limit ‘non-essential’ school activities and travel to lessen the risk of exposure. We have set a date to reopen schools after the Easter/spring holiday in April, but we are evaluating the situation daily.

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Aldine Education Foundation to host Sports Spectacular on Jan. 22

January 7, 2020

Aldine Education Foundation will host its first Sports Spectacular for Scholars featuring the Harlem Wizards vs. Aldine All-Stars. The Wizards, known for their amazing basketball talent combined with hilarious comedy, will tip off against Aldine ISD teachers, coaches, and community leaders to provide a fun-filled evening of basketball hi-jinx. The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at M.O. Campbell Educational Center, 1865 Aldine Bender Rd, 77032. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

The Harlem Wizards have a mission to create awe-inspiring events throughout the country to help communities raise funds for important causes. Wizards games provide two hours of family time where grandparents, parents, and kids can all laugh together. Even in the stands, you are more than a spectator. The audience becomes a part of the show and there is a guarantee of loads of laughter and audience participation. Throughout the game, fans will experience a magical display of tricks, coordinated ball-handling, fancy passes, and aerodynamic athleticism combined with high-energy comedy and guest interaction.

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Aldine ISD honors building Namesakes at luncheon

December 17, 2019
Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney visits with former Trustee Marine Jones at the 2019 Namesake Luncheon on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center. Jones Middle School is named in Mrs. Jones’ honor.

Many of the schools and buildings in Aldine Independent School District are named after individuals that left an indelible mark in the community. Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney reached out to the district’s many namesakes to honor them and let them know their spirit for giving students the best educational experience continues.

Nearly 20 honorees or their family members attended the inaugural Namesake Luncheon held Tuesday, December 10, at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center. Dr. Goffney, Board Trustee President Steve Mead, and fellow trustees greeted and spoke with honorees.

Dr. Goffney also took a moment to share the new choices and opportunities AISD offers students, the five-year strategic plan, current work, and how it all impacts the future of Aldine.

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Aldine ISD earns state’s highest fiscal accountability rating for 16th straight year

November 26, 2019

For the 16th consecutive year, Aldine ISD received a rating of “Superior” under Texas’ School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) accountability rating system. The “Superior” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Aldine ISD’s financial management and reporting system.

The primary goal of the School FIRST system is to ensure that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices. The School FIRST system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.

The School FIRST system has 15 indicators that are evaluated. The first five indicators are critical indicators and must be met to avoid failure. The other 10 indicators evaluate financial solvency and financial competency.

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Sam Houston MSTC dedicates new building

November 12, 2019
Students, teachers, staff and local officials including Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, and HISD Superintendent Grenita Lathan, and Principal Alan Summers at ribbon cutting of Sam Houston MSTC High School.

HOUSTON, TX – Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center (Houston ISD) hosted a grand opening ceremony to celebrate its new school, which officially opened to students in January.

Built as part of the 2012 Bond Program, the $101.4 million project was designed to have a collegiate feel with plenty of classroom space, informal meeting areas to facilitate project-based learning, a large outdoor courtyard, and a fine arts wing with an 800-seat auditorium and black box theater. The 360,000-square-foot facility also features an updated JROTC area, as well as a grand learning stairway, which will function as both a gathering spot for students, as well as a flexible space for class lectures and presentations.

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Three incumbents returned to AISD Board; Randy Bates elected to Position 1 seat

November 12, 2019

Voters in Aldine ISD went to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and returned incumbents Dr. Kimberley Booker, Dr. Viola M. Garcia and Paul Shanklin to their respective seats on the Aldine ISD Board of Education and elected Randy Bates to the Position 1 seat.

Bates, an attorney, defeated Jamail Johnson by 28 votes (3,168 votes to 3,140 votes) to claim the Position 1 seat that was previously held by Patricia Ann Bourgeois. Bourgeois did not seek re-election. Candidate Steve Moore garnered 2,213 votes and Jimmy Morales received 1,875 votes in the Position 1 race. Aldine’s school board election follows plurality rules and candidates with the most votes wins the election. There were 10,396 votes cast in the Position 1 race.

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A New Way Forward for Aldine ISD: It’s time to focus on choice and opportunities

August 27, 2019

By Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney

This week, 124 freshmen are walking through the doors of a new high school.

Rose Avalos P-TECH School is a state-of-the-art high school designed to create pathways for students from high school to college. The Pathways in Technology program ensures that students graduate high school with workforce certificates and an associate degree from Lone Star College. Students will also have internships and career development opportunities. Principal Diana del Pilar, an Aldine ISD graduate, is charged with ensuring her students’ learning ties to the real-world needs of tomorrow. This is the future of Aldine ISD.

Nearly 70,000 Aldine ISD students started the 2019-2020 school year this week. During my listening tour last year, I heard from many of our students and their families. I agree with what they said should be our priority: Aldine ISD must do more to ensure that students receive a dynamic and unparalleled education that guarantees choices and opportunities today and in the future.

We must ensure that Aldine ISD students are receiving the highest-quality education. Providing innovative programming like Avalos P-TECH does just that.

Last year that included creating a pre-kindergarten pilot for three-year-olds at several early childhood schools, which resulted in 111 of our youngest scholars getting a head start. It also meant opening the Dr. Archie L. Blanson Career & Technical Education High School. The campus offers a unique learning setting that allows students to receive a diploma while working on a workforce certificate that can lead to an immediate job or be built upon at a college or university after high school graduation.

This school year, Aldine ISD families will have access to several new programs that offer additional opportunities and choices.

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Stephens Elementary and Aldine ISD get high ratings, says TEA

August 20, 2019
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath presents the new A to F evaluation system, while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick listens.

ALDINE – Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, visited Aldine ISD’s Stephens Elementary School on Thursday, Aug. 15 as part of their trip across Texas to feature schools that made tremendous gains in the state’s AF accountability rating system during the 2018-19 school year.

Stephens Elementary moved from a ‘D’ to an ‘A’ campus in the state’s A-F accountability ratings in one year.

Joining Commissioner Morath and Lt. Gov. Patrick at the event were Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, AISD Board President Steve Mead, Board Vice President Connie Esparza, Board Secretary Dr. Kimberley Booker, Board Asst. Secretary Paul Shanklin and Board Members Patricia Ann Bourgeois and Rose Avalos.

Morath applauded the work Stephens principal Shauna Showers and her staff performed turning the school around in just a year’s time, and lauded Aldine for moving to a ‘B’ district.

“Aldine has about 65,000 students (there are 20 districts of this size in Texas, called ‘very large districts’) and of these very large districts Aldine gained the most in student achievement, second most in school progress, and second most overall,” Morath said. “Perhaps even more interesting, 87% of Aldine ISD kids receive free and reduced lunch – meaning Aldine is the highest poverty, very large district in Texas, and yet you’re outpacing them all in terms of improvement.”

Close to 90% of Stephens’ students are classified as economically disadvantaged and half of their students are English language learners.

Lt. Gov. Patrick singled out Showers and her staff for the outstanding gains they made in one year.

“This is an incredible day,” the Lt. Gov. said. “You (speaking to Showers) did it in one of the toughest environments possible. We are here to celebrate individuals schools and school districts that have excelled.”

Dr. Goffney thanked Commissioner Morath and Lt. Gov. Patrick for showcasing Stephens Elementary and Aldine ISD and added the work is just beginning in Aldine.

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New facilities to be built at Squatty Lyons Park

August 20, 2019
Mayor Turner with Armando Walle, and other officials at the dedication ceremony Wednesday.

$3.1 Million Squatty Lyons Park Renovation to Provide Sports Improvements for Northside residents

Mayor Sylvester Turner; State Representative Armando Walle, District 140; Council Member Karla Cisneros, District H; Matthew Fougerat, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Local Park Grants Coordinator; Alex Aguilar, Vice-President, North Houston American Little League, and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) will break ground on a $3.1 million sports field and park amenities improvement project at Squatty Lyons Park, 1701 Chamberlain Street, 77093, on August 15th at 12:30 pm.

The Phase II renovations to this new sports experience complex will complete the Squatty Lyons Park Master Plan and re-design all outdoor recreation amenities to increase participation and engage neighborhood residents in outdoor activities. Ball field renovations will include new fences, backstops, dugouts, leveling, grading, repairing and sodding all fields, repairing/ replacing lighting, and installing new irrigation systems. Other improvements include a new playground with units for 0 to 5 and 5 to 12 years with swings, a new concession building with restrooms, a loop walking trail and exercise station, refurbishing the two parking areas to add over 100 additional parking spaces, and landscaping with native plantings. The project’s $3.1 million cost includes the total construction budget (including contingency, engineering and materials testing, and civic art) and design cost. Renovations are expected to be completed in the Spring of 2020.

“The second phase of improvements to this park are a vivid example of how my staff and I are providing upgrades to neighborhood parks, not just the showcase parks in our city,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “I am already looking forward to the great experiences young people, adults and families will enjoy as a result of this work.”

SITE PLAN from Houston Parks Department and Clark-Condon Landscape Architects shows a new baseball field, new softball field, new T-Ball Field, refurbishing of the three existing fields, and in addition new parking, playgrounds, picnic areas, and walking trails. The park is at the corner of Cromwell and Hardy Toll Road in the East Aldine District.

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Aldine ISD to hold second annual Jamboree Aug. 13

August 6, 2019

Aldine ISD will hold its second annual Jamboree to showcase the district’s athletic and performing arts programs on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

The Jamboree will be held at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center (1865 Aldine Bender Road) and will run from 6-8 p.m.

Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney will address the crowd, as will other guest speakers. Last year, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner delivered remarks.

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