FORT BEND ISD -- The Hightower High School VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools) will host a campus beautification project, “Canes Campus Beautification Day,” on Saturday, March 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Hightower High School is located at 3333 Hurricane Lane, in Missouri City.

FORT BEND ISD -- To help celebrate its 50th anniversary and promote student involvement, Fort Bend ISD will host its 2010 "Celebrating Our Legacy" Quiz Bowl competition to give FBISD high school students the opportunity to test their knowledge of the school district’s colorful history.

FORT BEND ISD -- Fort Bend ISD has named its Employees of the Month for March 2010. Mylana Jackson, DATE Grant Coordinator in the Accountability Department, is the Professional Employee of the Month for March 2010; and Margo Duswalt, Community Relations Department switchboard receptionist, is the Auxiliary Employee of the Month for March 2010.

FORT BEND ISD -- The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution declaring financial exigency at the March 8 regular board meeting. As a matter of sound financial management, the district is in a position in which it must reduce costs significantly in upcoming school years. Expenses in other areas, including campus and department budgets, have already been reduced annually over the past several years. Since the major portion of the district’s operating budget (approximately 90%) consists of employee salaries and benefits, the district must now seriously consider eliminating positions to adopt a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 school year.

FORT BEND ISD -- The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) presented eight awards to the Fort Bend ISD Community Relations and Partnerships Department for outstanding print media and electronic media during its recent annual conference. TSPRA recognizes communicators in school districts, education foundations, education associations and organizations for outstanding work. This year, 1,032 entries were received. Of those entries, four Best of Category Awards were given to Fort Bend ISD for:

FORT BEND ISD -- Fort Bend ISD is celebrating Texas Public Schools Week (TPSW) during March 8-12, and the theme: “Building Leaders: Today They Learn. Tomorrow They Lead.” While many school districts will celebrate Texas Public Schools Week during the first week of March, FBISD decided to celebrate TPSW during the second week of March due to TAKS testing. Throughout TPSW, FBISD schools will host Open Houses to invite parents and other community members into the schools to see first-hand how they are preparing students for future successes.

Hightower High School's Poseidon's Playhouse is performing the well-known musical, Beauty and the Beast. Directed by Angela Andrews and Kim Ross, Hightower Fine Arts promises an evening of beautiful scenery, melodious songs, crafted acting and a spectacular show.

FORT BEND ISD -- Fort Bend ISD has announced its two December Employees of the Month. Anne Fosher, counselor at Lakeview Elementary School, was named the Professional Employee of the Month for December; and Sherry Morgan, cafeteria manager at Walker Station Elementary School, was named the Auxiliary Employee of the Month for December 2009.

FORT BEND ISD -- Travis High School junior, Nikita Kansra, earned a perfect score of 2400 on her SAT Reasoning Test, scoring 800 points in all three sections of the test (including math, critical reading, and writing). This was her first attempt at taking the test.

Seeks applicants; Deadline to apply is April 10!

FORT BEND ISD -- Sixth-grade students throughout the District and their parents are invited to learn more about the highly regarded International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme at a special Parent Night to be held on Wednesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Missouri City Middle School, 202 Martin Lane, Missouri City. Missouri City MS will serve as the site for the Fort Bend ISD IB Middle Years Candidate Programme for the 2010-2011school year. Incoming seventh-grade (or current sixth-grade) students from the entire district interested in attending the IB Middle Years Programme are eligible to apply.

FORT BEND ISD -- The district continues to analyze data from every service area to determine all available options to eliminate a proposed $18 to $20 million deficit and produce a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 school year. At the Monday, March 8, 5:00 pm Board Budget Workshop, Ben Copeland, Chief Auxiliary Services Officer, presented Trustees with several strategies that collectively would reduce bus transportation costs by approximately $2.2 million next year. Cost-saving strategies presented include:

FORT BEND ISD --  Like many school districts in the area and across the state, Fort Bend ISD continues to work on a plan to develop cost-cutting measures to eliminate a projected $18 to $20 million deficit and produce a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 school year. The district is analyzing data from every service area in the district, including evaluating cost-cutting suggestions submitted from employees via an online survey, so that the district can determine all available options.

Three students from Hightower High School's Medical Academy and HOSA Chapters have been elected to serve as officers for the HOSA Area II, which includes Coastal south east Texas. HOSA, or Health Occupations Students of America, is a vocational health science organization that empowers students to learn, lead, and serve their community. HOSA Texas Association is the largest of the state subsidiaries. Hightower High School contains numerous local HOSA chapters in which students interested in pursuing a health care career are able to get a headstart into the field. They participate in service projects such as the recent blood drive, spread awareness such as the Autism Speaks campaign, and compete in events at the Spring Conference to test their knowledge and skills.

New Year’s Release Party at the House of Dereon Media Center

FORT BEND ISD -- Janice Little Placide, the 2002 Texas School Social Worker of the Year, will pinch herself on Saturday, January 2, 2010 when she steps into the House of Dereon Media Center, located at 2204 Crawford, Houston, TX to officially release her new book, G.O.O.D. Diva’s Journal: Getting Out of Debt, a simple guide and interactive financial awareness tool.

FORT BEND ISD -- Family members of Lawrence E. Elkins recently joined Elkins High School administrators, Fort Bend ISD Board members and community members for a dedication ceremony to unveil a Life and Legacy Memorial Wall honoring the former FBISD educator. The memorial wall includes a formal portrait and three panels that feature school, military and career highlights of Lawrence E. Elkins. The Elkins family hopes that students and staff will find inspiration in viewing the memorial wall.

Barbara Whitaker, principal at Elkins High School, welcomed guests to the ceremony. Among the honored guests were Lee LeGrand and Larry Elkins, the daughter and son of Lawrence E. Elkins, and their families; James Patterson, Fort Bend County Commissioner and the first principal of Elkins High School; and FBISD Board members Laurie Caldwell and David Reitz.

LeGrand shared a brief history of her father’s background, often referring to him as a “true school man.” Elkins served in FBISD for 35 years, beginning his career in 1949 as a classroom teacher and coach at Missouri City High School. He later worked as principal at E. A. Jones Elementary, Director of Instruction and as Assistant Superintendent of Schools before being named superintendent in June 1974. He retired in February 1984, acting as superintendent emeritus from February 16 to June 30, 1984.

Shown (from left to right) are: David Reitz, FBISD Board Member; Barbara Whitaker, principal at Elkins; Larry Elkins, son of Lawrence E. Elkins; with his wife, Becky and son, Danny; Diane Tutt, cousin to Lawrence E. Elkins; Lee LeGrand, daughter of Lawrence E. Elkins; with daughter, Erin Stauffer, son-in-law Todd, grandson Grayson and husband Jon; Laurie Caldwell, FBISD Board Vice President; and *James Patterson, County Commissioner and first principal of Elkins High School.

FORT BEND ISD -- On November 11, Fort Bend ISD students and staff joined individuals across the country in paying tribute to all the brave men and women who are among our military veterans, as well as those who serve as active duty members of the armed forces and reservists.