EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Friendswood ISD, Pearland ISD & Alvin ISD
QUOTE OF NOTE
Preliminary budget shows decreased 2023-24 tax rate
HIGHLIGHTS FRIENDSWOOD ISD On May 8, Friendswood ISD officials welcomed Jeremy Walker as the new executive director of technology for the 2023-24 school year. Walker previously served as an assistant principal at Dunbar Middle School in Dickinson ISD. ALVIN ISD In recognition of 40 years of service, Alvin ISD honored Peggy Worrell with the Transportation Employee of the Year award at the Alvin ISD Employee Recognition Ceremony on May 11. Worrell began her career as a bus driver for AISD in 1981 and drives a special education bus. PEARLAND ISD Chief Academic Officer Nyla Watson, who has served the district for 41 years, was recognized at a school board meeting held May 16 after announcing her retirement. In her role as chief academic officer, Watson led developing the district’s curriculum framework and helping campuses excel in student performance, classroom coaching and teacher training. In Watson’s 41- year career, she served as assistant principal, associate principal and eventually was named the principal of the district’s first ninth-grade center, now known as Turner College and Career High School. Most recently Watson was named chief academic officer in 2021. “WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE SO MANY TALENTED STUDENTS SECURING THEIR FIRST JOB OFFERS THROUGH THE BCPC SIGNING DAY EVENT.” CAROL NELSON, ALVIN ISD SUPERINTENDENT NUMBER TO KNOW decrease is recommended for Friendswood ISD’s fiscal year 2023-24 tax rate. 4.8% Pearland ISD will meet at 5 p.m. Aug. 8 at 1928 N. Main St., Pearland. Meetings are streamed at www.youtube.com/user/ thepearlandisd. Friendswood ISD will meet at 5:45 p.m. July 17 at 402 Laurel Drive, Friendswood. Alvin ISD staff confirmed that, as of yet, no meetings have been scheduled for the summer. MEETINGS WE COVER
BY RENEE FARMER
• The board also compared two salary scenarios for 2023-24. Both involve a 2% increase for salaries districtwide, with the exception of a $0.50/hour raise for custodial staff instead with the second option. • A comparison against eight area districts shows that FISD currently ranks eighth for beginning teacher salaries in the current fiscal year, only ahead of Galveston ISD and below the market mean by $2,679. The 2% salary increase would leave the district’s ranking unchanged for fiscal year 2023-24, with the beginning teacher salary still $2,732 below the market mean. What’s next: District staff will present the proposed budget and tax rate to the board and hold a public hearing before the final iterations are adopted in August.
RAISING PAY Friendswood ISD’s first-year teachers will be paid less than other districts, even with a 2% raise. Salaries for first-year teachers Friendswood ISD
FRIENDSWOOD ISD The 2023-24 school year in Friendswood ISD will see at least 190 more students enrolled and the potential for a 4.8% lower tax rate for residents, district staff shared at a May 8 board of trustees meeting. The details: The district projects a total enrollment of 6,050, including 190 new students as of May 4, agenda documents show. Enroll- ment at Friendswood High School, which has seen a 4% decrease since September 2020, is projected at 1,938 students. • Preliminary budget estimates for fiscal year 2023-24 include a tax rate of $1.1518 per $100 valuation, a 4.8% decrease from FY 2022-23. • The district projects expendi- tures of $61.8 million and a $3.61 million deficit.
$56,807 Alvin ISD $61,100 Clear Creek ISD $60,000 Pearland ISD $59,600 Dickinson ISD $61,000
SOURCE: FRIENDSWOOD ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Alvin ISD swaps land for plot usable for school district infrastructure
12 students secure jobs in CTE careers
BY RENEE FARMER
BY RENEE FARMER
LAND SWAP Alvin ISD traded 18 acres of land for a tract more suitable for school facilities.
ALVIN ISD An exchange of excess property for land “suitable for school-related facilities” was approved by Alvin ISD during its May 9 board of trustees meeting. What’s happening?: After deliber- ating in closed session, the board unanimously adopted a resolution accepting sealed offers to exchange 18 acres of district land for 15 acres of vacant land. The exchange will benefit the district because the new property will be suitable for school-related facilities, the resolution reads. The details: An unidentified party offered to exchange approximately 15 acres of land located within an area south of County Road 58, north of Hwy. 6, east of Hwy. 288 and west of FM 1128 for the AISD property. • The property exchanged by AISD is an 18-acre tract located south of Dogwood Avenue near Charlotte Street. It’s no longer needed for district purposes.
ALVIN ISD Twelve students from Alvin ISD, along with other Brazoria County high school seniors, marked the start of their career journeys with a Career Signing Day. What happened?: The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council held its fifth annual Career Signing Day on May 1, where 12 Alvin ISD Career and Technical Education students, along with other high school seniors from across Brazoria County, accepted entry-level job offers. The details: The BCPC Signing Day event, in partnership with Brazosport College and several local employers, provides high school seniors with an opportunity to obtain entry-level job offers in the petrochemical industry. The 12 Alvin ISD students secured job offers in various career pathways, including welding, construction, manufacturing and automotive. These students were selected after interviewing with over 180 Brazoria County high school students.
Land traded
WATER GLEN LN.
N
Land received
N
SOURCE: ALVIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • JUNE 2023
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