DECEMBER 2014
VOL. 11, | ISSUE 3
COMMUNICATOR
THE
Bastrop Independent School District
BISD
RECEIVES
$100,000 TECH GRANT
On
October 3, 2014, the Bastrop Independent School District received a notice of grant award from the Texas Education Agency for the 2015-2016 Technology Lending Program Grant. As a result of this award, the school district will receive $100,000 to expand technology lending programs at Bastrop High School, Cedar Creek High School, Bastrop Middle School, Cedar Creek Middle School, Bastrop Intermediate School, and Cedar Creek Intermediate School. Each school included in the grant will receive 10 chromebooks with activated mobile internet service. The Technology Lending Program was created by the 82nd Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 6, Section 32.201. The goal of the program was to provide internet access and devices to support instruction in and out of school. Economically disadvantaged students and students in rural areas without access to internet services were specifically targeted by the program. Bastrop ISD’s geographic and demographic configuration made it an ideal candidate for the grant. Grant funds awarded by the program will allow for the purchase of 60 Chromebooks and up to 2 years of mobile internet service. Participating students will access filtered web content, district mail, and online storage and creation tools using a web-based operating system. This is the second time Bastrop ISD has received this award; the first was in 2012. The devices from the initial grant are currently being utilized on each of the campuses. Bastrop ISD is excited about the opportunity to offer these additional devices for checkout through our district libraries. This is a big step in ensuring that all district students have access to the technology needed to support their education. If you would like to learn more about the Technology Lending Program Grant visit bit.ly/bisdtechgrant. If you have questions or comments, please contact the Bastrop ISD Technology Department at 512.772.7100.
BASTROP ISD SAVES $1.5 MILLION WITH BOND REFUNDING AUDIT
B
astrop ISD continues to demonstrate its sound fiscal responsibility with its $1.5 million in bond refunding. The District was notified that Standard and Poor’s (S&P) bond rating was increased from “A+” to “AA-” while affirming the stable outlook. This upgrade is based on the District’s ongoing economic growth and maintenance of its strong financial profile despite growth-related pressures. “We are very pleased that our recently improved bond rating of AAfrom the previous A+ has resulted in even more savings through better interest rates. Today’s sale of our refunded bonds, as approved for sale recently by our Board of Trustees, means that our actual interest rate was set and bonds were sold at 2.50% rather than the previously estimated 2.92%. This improvement in rates, through improved bond rating for the district, means that we will save 1.5 million dollars in debt payments, rather than the previously estimated 1.2 million dollar figure. This newest bond refunding, along with refunding over the last three years, totals in excess of 8 million dollars of debt payment savings for BISD and its taxpayers. We will continue to find savings for our patrons whenever possible, as evidenced by the Board’s recent two-cent reduction in I&S (debt) taxes and last year’s two-cent reduction in the I&S tax rate,” said Steve Murray, Bastrop ISD Superintendent.
BASTROP ISD SAVES $1.5 MILLION...
continued on pg 15
WHAT’S INSIDE! BISD AUDIT ‘OUTSTANDING’. . . . . . SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION. . BISD HONORS VETERANS DAY. . . ONLINE TEXTBOOK ACCESS. . . . .
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ABOUT THE BISD COMMUNICATOR
This newsletter is published to provide the latest news and strengthen communication within our community. The publication is supported by the Bastrop ISD Office of Community Services/Communications. Suggestions for articles and other comments should be addressed to: Donald Williams Executive Director of Community Services/Communications
[email protected]
BISD I
“Counts Its Blessings”
t is that time of the year when we are reminded to, as the saying goes, “Count Our Blessings”. In Bastrop ISD, we are truly blessed in so many ways. As we enjoy time with family and friends during this holiday season, we also take time to look at some of the many wonderful things we have going on in our district and for the community:
Sincerely and Proudly, Steve Murray Bastrop ISD Superintendent of Schools
Cedar Creek High School is in the top 18% among schools in Texas academically according to TEA’s accountability and “Academic Distinction” system. Bastrop High School is in the top 15% among high schools for College Readiness (Index 4) according to the Texas Education Agency. Cedar Creek MS (5), Cedar Creek Intermediate (4) and Bastrop MS (1) all received designation by TEA for “Academic Distinctions in one or more rated areas. Bastrop Middle School Principal, Sami Kinsey was named the Region 13 “Middle School Principal of the Year” BISD’s TEA designated Early College High School program, Colorado River Collegiate Academy, opened its doors this fall to an inaugural freshman class of 60 students. Their goal will be to focus on college readiness and college credit attainment over the next four years and graduate from CRCA with a high school diploma and Associate’s Degree from ACC. The BHS & CCHS Quad-C programs are preparing many first-generation college-goers and other students to take up to 36 college credit hours prior to their graduation from our two high schools. Their TSI test score (entrance exam for ACC and other colleges) success has been phenomenal, with all Quad-C students passing the TSI on or before schedule. The district has been able to save in excess of 8 million dollars in debt payments through refinancing of existing bond issues over the last three years and has decreased the I&S tax rate by 4 cents for BISD taxpayers over the last two years. Our Standard and Poor’s bond rating was recently improved or elevated this year to AA- (from the previous A+). BISD was awarded with a “Superior” rating by TEA for financial stewardship for the 13th consecutive year and was awarded with a “Platinum Circle Award” from the Texas State Comptroller’s office for its financial transparency efforts. This is the fourth consecutive year to receive either a Gold or Platinum Circle Award designation from the Comptroller’s office. Bastrop ISD and the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce’s subcommittee and school district appreciation campaign, “We Believe in Bastrop ISD” has been recognized as a “Texas Bragging Rights” recipient and will be featured in an upcoming edition of Texas School Business magazine highlighting some of the best school district programs or initiatives from across Texas. The Cedar Creek and Bastrop Rotary Club’s “Early Act First Knight” programs at all six elementary campuses and our two intermediate campuses are making a difference with discipline, self-esteem, parent involvement and overall school culture. Bastrop ISD’s “Early Act First Knight” program is seen as a model for other districts in Texas. Bastrop ISD’s student enrollment is just shy of 10,000 and we are truly blessed to be able to serve all of our students, parents and patrons included in our 450-square-mile District. As you can see, I have listed just some of the many wonderful things we have to count as blessings in Bastrop ISD and for the communities we serve. As we return from the holiday break, our wish for each of you is that you are healthy, safe and happy. We will continue to reach out to communicate with and listen to our students, parents and patrons from across the district in an effort to best serve each and everyone of our students. We wish you Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! 2
Bastrop Independent School District
www.bisdtx.org
COMMUNICATOR DECEMBER 2014
THE
JANUARY IS SCHOOL
BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH
E
ach January, we pause to express our appreciation for a very special group of volunteers: our Bastrop ISD Board of Trustees. Usually, we don’t think of school board members as school volunteers, but they do in fact volunteer to serve. School board members give their time, energy, and counsel to the school district—without pay. They take on the job of governing the district—making the best decisions they can for our children—with the full understanding that they will receive only the satisfaction of their contribution. That contribution, however, should not be understated. The volunteer efforts of the school board members have the potential for tremendous benefit to the community as a whole and to the lives of the students individually. By serving the district in this important governance role, school board members lay the foundation for the future. The men and women who make the time to generously provide this important public service do so because they care. They care about their own children’s education. They care about the schools being the best they can be. They care about the next generation and the future of the community and the state. These people roll up their sleeves and get involved to improve things. It is a selfless accepting of responsibility for the educational process that helps our children grow into successful, joyful adults. Board service is truly “a work of heart.” Join us in celebrating School Board Recognition Month in January, and take a moment to express your appreciation for the volunteer efforts of our BISD Board of Trustees. Our district benefits greatly from their service. Bastrop ISD board members include: James Allen, President; David Long, Vice President;
Ashley Mutschink, Secretary; Billy Moore, Trustee; Glenn Peterson Sr., Trustee; Matthew Mix, Trustee; and Molly McClure, Trustee. JAMES ALLEN PRESIDENT DAVID LONG VICE PRESIDENT ASHLEY MUTSCHINK SECRETARY MOLLY McCLURE TRUSTEE MATTHEW MIX TRUSTEE
BILLY MOORE TRUSTEE
GLENN PETERSON TRUSTEE
BISD RECEIVES D
OUTSTANDING AUDIT
uring the November 18 board meeting, Bastrop ISD received a clean audit report from Belt, Harris Pechacek, LLLP as presented by Nathan Krupke, CPA. Krupke presented the 2013-2014 Audit report with “no findings”. Krupke stated that the District has a healthy fund balance, including two-and-a-half months of operating expenses, which is right in the recommended range. The Bastrop ISD Board of Trustees accepted and approved the annual financial audit report at the November Regular Board Meeting. They had many positive things to say about how the district is acting as responsible and proactive stewards of the district’s precious resources. The auditor also made positive comments on the 1.5 million dollars in debt payment savings during the recent bond refinancing. BISD RECEIVES OUTSTANDING AUDIT www.bisdtx.org
...continued on pg 5
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AWARENESS:
A GUIDE FOR BISD PARENTS
I
n effort to supply students with appropriate educational resources, Bastrop ISD utilizes a district web filter to block or restrict access to inappropriate web resources and social media on district devices. However, students can still access inappropriate web content utilizing privately owned cellular networks or in-home internet access. Because of these multiple access points for digital information, parents and schools need to work together to teach children appropriate digital citizenship. Both at school and at home, children need to learn how to: access digital resources safely, communicate appropriately and effectively, and follow the relevant laws associated with digital access. The following information will assist parents in initiating conversations about their child’s web presence. Starting the Conversation It’s a great idea to review the apps on your child’s phone and review their web history to gain a better understanding of the web resources they frequent. Parents can also review the “Purchased” section in Apple App Store or the “My Orders” section on the Google Play Store. This will give you a good idea about your child’s digital activity and will provide a good place to start the conversation. If your child is frequently accessing social media applications or websites, a conversation about protecting their identity and appropriate online communication should take place. Children should be aware that: Sharing information such as a birth date, full name, and locations could leave you vulnerable to identity thieves and predators. Children should restrict online communication to people approved by an adult. Where Can I Go to Learn More? Often its hard for parents to keep up with the numerous new technologies and applications available to your child. Helpful websites like commonsensemedia.org can provide resources to support parents as they talk with their children about digital citizenship. The “Parent Concerns” of the Common Sense Media website provides helpful information on topics including Cyberbullying, Privacy and Internet Safety, and Social Media.
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Bastrop Independent School District
Your Digital Citizenship Partner Here at Bastrop ISD, the district is integrating the State mandated Technology Applications TEKS in all curriculums, ensuring students understand how to be responsible digital citizens. Teachers receive an annual Digital Citizenship training to support them in this effort and Campus Media Specialists and District technology staff provide further support at campus level planning meetings. Additionally, each campus plans Digital Citizenship Day activities to reinforce appropriate and responsible online behavior. The mission of the Bastrop Independent School District is to provide relevant educational opportunities so that students can compete globally utilizing 21st century resources and skills. A key element in reaching this goal is a collaborative approach with parents. By joining together we can ensure our students are prepared to function and thrive in today’s digital environments. If you have questions or concerns about any of the topics in this article or the online activities of your child, please reach out to your campus administrator or counselor. By working together, we can ensure your child is better prepared for success in their post-secondary endeavors.
www.bisdtx.org
COMMUNICATOR DECEMBER 2014
THE
at BASTROP
ISD
BISD RECEIVES OUTSTANDING AUDIT
...continued from pg 3
In addition, the auditor spoke positively about the optimum amount in our reserve funds and how it equals approximately 3 months of operating expense for BISD. He stated that TEA suggests that a district should maintain from 2 to 3 months of operating expense in their reserve funds or fund balance to be at an optimum level of financial performance. “We are fortunate to have talented and fiscally responsible leaders and Trustees in Bastrop ISD and to have Sandra Callahan, our Chief Financial Officer and her dedicated staff leading the way for financial stewardship, responsibility and transparency,” stated Steve Murray, BISD Superintendent. “We are very pleased with the audit report presented by Nathan Krupke of Belt, Harris Pechacek, LLLP. This is the District’s third year with this audit firm and it was a great experience again,” said Sandra Callahan. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my entire staff for a job well done.” Bastrop ISD financial information is available at www.bisdtx.org.
BISD ROUNDUP
HIGHLIGHTS WEEKLY NEWS
T
he district will publish weekly news and photos of BISD accomplishments and events in a new feature called “BISD Roundup”. “BISD Roundup” will be updated every Friday with submitted information from Bastrop ISD employees. The cut off to submit information to
[email protected] will be every Thursday at 3 p.m. Any submissions received after 3 p.m. on Thursday will run the following week. BISD Roundup can be found at bit.ly/ bisdroundup or by visiting www.bisdtx.org and visiting the Communications Department homepage. For more information, contact Executive Director of Communications, Donald Williams, at 512.772.7106.
www.bisdtx.org
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QUICK TIPS
B
astrop ISD is launching School Messenger Quick Tip, an anonymous way for students, parents, staff and community members to submit a tip to school and district officials. Quick Tip empowers people to voice issues that impact Bastrop ISD students and employees. Anyone with access to the web or a smartphone can submit a School Messenger Quick Tip anonymously or submit their name and contact information. When sending a Quick Tip message, users will be able to identify which BISD campus needs to receive the tip and then select a topic, which includes: Abuse, Bullying, Drugs, Homework, Student/Teacher Relationship, Suicide, Weapons, or Other. Users also have the option to attach an image relating to their concern. The Quick Tip link is now available on the BISD mobile app and at www.bisdtx. org by clicking on the blue BISD Quick Tip button. Quick Tip is not an emergency response service. If you believe your call requires immediate police, fire, or paramedic response, call “911”.
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BISD NUTRITION FACTS NOW AVAILABLE
P
arents can now view Nutrition information for Bastrop ISD school breakfast and lunch menus. BISD meals are served through the Chartwells School Dining Service, which has posted Nutrition information at http://bisdtx.nutrislice.com. Parents can view the Serving Size, Calories and Fat content, as well as Sodium, Total Carbs, Fiber, Sugar and Protein content. “We are excited about this new feature for our parents and students. This will allow them to make healthy and nutritionally balanced choices after accessing this information at the touch of a finger. Nutrislice can also be translated into over 40 different languages to meet the needs of our diverse community now and in the future. Chartwells is on the leading edge of assisting students and parents in health-related matters and Nutrislice is a great step in that direction. A Nutrislice mobile app will also be launching in the near future,” says Clifton Ames, Director of Child Nutrition at BISD. Parents can also access the BISD Nutrition Facts website by visiting www.bisdtx.org and clicking on Nutrition Services under Quicklinks. For more information, contact BISD Nutrition Services at 512.772.7000.
STARS
CHILDCARE AVAILABLE
DURING WINTER BREAK
T
he STARS Winter Camp will be open at Cedar Creek Elementary and Mina Elementary from 6:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. on December 22, 23, 29, 30 and January 5. Both sites will be closed December 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 and January 1st and 2nd. The regular STARS schedule will resume January 6, 2015. The cost for the STARS program is $15 per day, if the student is currently enrolled in STARS and the student has been registered for the Winter break and their fee is paid before the deadline. The cost for non-STARS participants and/or payments received after the deadline is $20 per day. The deadline to register and pay for the holiday break is Wednesday, December 17. Students may sign up now for the STARS Afterschool program at any elementary office or by calling (512) 308-1601. www.bisdtx.org
COMMUNICATOR DECEMBER 2014
THE
BISD HONORS
VETERANS DAY
B
astrop ISD students and employees honored military veterans on Tuesday, November 11 with numerous campus assemblies. Cedar Creek High School welcomed Army Colonel Eric Schroeder as their guest speaker for their Veterans Cedar Creek High School held their Veterans Day assembly by welcoming guest speaker, Day Assembly. Other campuses honored Army Col. Eric Schroeder (pictured fifth from the right). Veterans Day with choir performances and flag retirement ceremonies. “I am so proud to see that all of our BISD campuses had a variety of Veterans Day activities to show respect and honor the men and women having served or serving our country in the Armed Forces. I was asked to be a part of the assembly at Cedar Creek High School and was proud to do so. Honoring our country’s veterans on this special day of remembrance is certainly fitting; however, as I told the students at CCHS, we should think about and honor our veterans, past and present, on a daily basis. I feel this way as a lifetime educator and school leader, and more importantly as a Dad as my two sons, U.S. Army Special Forces Spc. Tyler Murray and U.S. Army Special Forces Spc. Trevor Murray, are proudly serving our country now. Thank you to all who have served and are serving still today,” says BISD Superintendent, Steve Murray.
Red Rock Elementary held a Flag Retirement ceremony to honor Veterans Day.
Bastrop High School NJROTC participated in the Austin Veterans Day parade on November 11.
Emile Elementary honored Veterans Day with a “Taps” performance by students.
www.bisdtx.org
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BISD POINTS Thank you to Lost Pines Toyota and Chick-fil-A for helping Bastrop ISD have an awesome Halftime contest at the October 24th Pink Out game. CCHS student, Christopher Meuth, and BHS Student, Emmy Emmons, won a Toshiba laptop and free Chick-fil-A for a year.
Congratulations to Masta Hicks and Taylor Langle for being crowned the BHS Homecoming King & Queen.
BHS FFA students attended the National FFA Convention in Kentucky in October.
Students at Bluebonnet Elementary dressed up as book characters for Character Day on October 31. CCHS Theatre students performed Legally Blonde Jr. on November 13 at the J.F.W. Performing Arts Center.
Bastrop HEB awarded $500 to BMS Principal, Sami Kinsey, for being selected as the Region 13 TASSP Middle School Principal of the Year.
Brayden Fiscus, a student at Emile, created a character from Monster’s Inc.. Janean Whitten, librarian at Emile Elementary, invited students to use pumpkins to create book characters.
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Bastrop Independent School District
www.bisdtx.org
COMMUNICATOR DECEMBER 2014
THE
OF P R I D E Lost Pines Elementary hosted a “Wax Museum” on November 13. Students dressed as their favorite historical figure and read aloud their character’s biography. Pictured is BISD Superintendent, Steve Murray, with LPE student, Victor Gaona, who is dressed as Ludwig van Beethoven.
Ms. Reasbeck’s class at BMS won their campus’ Pennies for Patient’s Competition! They raised $240 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which finds cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients.
Congratulations to Luis Sanchez and Maria Godinez for being crowned the CCHS Homecoming King & Queen.
Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape visited with and answered questions from Colorado River Collegiate Academy students. Students asked questions about local government and business.
The Bastrop ISD HopeStrong Campaign presented a check to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on October 24. BISD HopeStrong raised $18,374 in the campaign’s first year! Pictured are BISD HopeStrong Committee members with BISD Superintendent, Steve Murray, and St. Jude representative, Nichole Aldape (center). Thank you to everyone who supported HopeStrong. Emile Elementary fourth grader, James Ramon, won the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition in Austin. Brionna Adams, French Horn Riley Adams, Trombone Brandon Binzha, Trombone Gaby Brown, Bass Clarinet Victoria Chavez, Trombone Samantha Finch, Clarinet Gaby Gonzalez, Clarinet Phoebe Hayes, Oboe Mikey Hannusch, Baritone Sax Erika Linam, Trombone Scott Stalcup, Trombone Nick Wenske, Tenor Sax On November 1st, 42 CCMS Band students traveled to New Braunfels and auditioned for the 2014 Hill Country Honor Band, a select instrumental group comprised of the finest 7th and 8th grade band students in the region. Our students competed with bands from eight other area middle schools, and the following have been selected this year to be a part of this prestigious ensemble:
www.bisdtx.org
Bastrop Middle School had five students participate in the Hill Country Honor Band on November 15 at Smithson Valley High School. The students were Josh Sharp on Tuba, Alyssa Tuck on Trumpet, Lissette Montemayor on Flute, Erik Mercado on Trombone, and Joselyn Enriquez on Clarinet.
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TEXTBOOK
“DIGITAL ACCESS”
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS
P
arents can now have access to their child’s online textbook by visiting bit. ly/bisddigitalaccess or visiting the BISD website at www.bisdtx.org and clicking on “Digital Access” under the Parents & Students tab. On the Digital Access homepage, parents can click on their child’s campus under “Quicklinks” and fill out the online form. Once they are emailed the login information from their child’s campus textbook coordinator, the parent can review instructions on how to navigate their student’s online textbook. Those instructions are available on the Digital Access homepage. For more information, contact the BISD Instructional Materials Coordinator, Les Hudson, at 512.772.7114.
BISD
OFFICES
GENESIS
OVER HOLIDAY BREAK
DATE SET
The Bastrop ISD Service Center and all campuses will be closed for the holiday break from December 22, 2014 through January 2, 2015. January 5 is a staff development day and student holiday. BISD students will enjoy their holiday break from December 22, 2014 through January 5, 2015. Students will return for classes on January 6, 2015 at their regular time.
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Bastrop Independent School District
GRADUATION Genesis High School Winter Graduation will be held on Wednesday, December 17th @ Noon at the JFW Center for the Performing Arts.
www.bisdtx.org
NOW GO AND CONQUER THE WOLRD!
CLOSED
COMMUNICATOR DECEMBER 2014
THE
BEARTECS TO HOST
2ND ANNUAL S.T.E.A.M. FEST
C
ome celebrate with Robotics Team 4610 at the Second Annual S.T.E.A.M. Fest as they raise awareness to different aspects of science, technology, engineering, art design, and math. Members of the community will come and share the ins and outs of their professions and how it relates to the S.T.E.A.M. fields. There will also be food and handson activities for all ages. “Last year’s S.T.E.A.M. fest was a success with dozens of exhibits and businesses being represented. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math are subjects of growing interest among our students and this event is a great way to get them excited about learning. We hope everyone can come enjoy this year’s event,” says BHS Robotics instructor, Marguerite Shaffer. The event will be held on January 29 in the BHS Cafeteria from 6-8:30 p.m.. For more information, contact Marguerite Shaffer at
[email protected].
EARLY RELEASE TIMES SET FOR DEC. 19th
All Bastrop ISD students will have an early release on Friday, December 19. All students will be released three hours early at the following times:
• Morning PreK will attend school from 7:30-9:30 a.m. • Afternoon PreK will attend school from 9:50-11:50 a.m. • K-4th will be released at 11:50 a.m. • 5th-8th will be released at 12:50 p.m. • 9th-12th will be released at 1:10 p.m. Please note that only 9th-12th grade students will be released three hours early on
Thursday, December 18. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact your child’s campus
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The CCHS Lady Eagle Volleyball team made it to the playoffs for the first time in school history.
BHS Cross Country’s Margaret Bruch placed 53rd out of 148 athletes in the State Cross Country Meet.
The CCHS Girls Cross Country team won District for the first time in CCHS history. Cedar Creek High School’s Michael Vallejo placed first individually.
The BHS Tennis team placed second in District and advanced to area round this season. They were recognized at the November 18 BISD School Board meeting.
On November 12, BHS Senior, LeLe Carter, signed her Letter of Intent to attend Texas A&M on a track scholarship. Carter is the 2014 State 4A 200-meter Dash Champion and the 2013-14 Austin American-Statesman’s Top Female Athlete.
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The BHS Boys Cross Country team won the District 26-5A Championship title.
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COMMUNICATOR DECEMBER 2014
THE
The BHS Varsity Football team advanced to the playoffs this season. The Bears had a regular season record of 7- 3. JV Football finished their season as District Champions. The CCHS Freshmen Volleyball team went undefeated in their District season and won the District championship.
The BHS Lady Bear Volleyball team advanced to the playoffs and finished their season with a District record of 16-2.
The BMS 8th Grade Girls Volleyball B Team won the District Championship on October 25.
BISD WINTER SPORTS ARE UNDERWAY
C
ome out and support our Bastrop and Cedar Creek basketball and soccer teams this winter. The schedules for these BISD winter sports can be found at www.bisdtx.org by clicking on the Athletics Quicklink. You can also keep up with our basketball and soccer teams by following them on Twitter with the following usernames: CCHS Boys Basketball @NoExcuses_BBall, CCHS Girls Basketball @CCHSLadyEagles, BHS Boys Basketball @BHSBearHoops, BHS Girls Basketball @BHSLadyBearBB, BHS Boys Soccer @BastropHSSoccer, BHS Girls Soccer @ladybearsoccer, and CCHS Boys & Girls Soccer @CCEagleSoccer.
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STAY CONNECTED TO BISD
K
eep up with the latest headlines and breaking news from Bastrop ISD by signing up for E-News. E-News delivers important information from the District straight to your email. You can sign up by visiting www.bisdtx.org and clicking on the E-News icon at the bottom of the page or by visiting bit.ly/bisdenews. You can also stay connected with Bastrop ISD through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Smartphone users can download the Bastrop ISD Mobile App through Google Play or the App Store.
BISD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO HOLD REGULAR MEETING
A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Bastrop Independent
School District will be held January 20, 2015, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Bastrop ISD Service Center, 906 Farm Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602. Go to www.bisdtx.org and click on the School Board tab to watch the live video stream of the meeting. For more information, contact Donald Williams, Executive Director of Community Services/ Communications at 512.772.7106.
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Bastrop Independent School District
www.bisdtx.org
COMMUNICATOR DECEMBER 2014
THE
BASTROP ISD SAVES $1.5 MILLION...
continued from cover
Standard and Poor’s rating services cited the following reasons for raising the District’s bond rating: • Access to Austin’s deep and diverse economy resulting in ongoing economic growth. • Strong resident income and wealth levels. • Very strong finances with formal minimum fund balance policies. • Good financial management policies.
“Having Standard & Poor’s upgrade our bond rating authenticates the strength of Bastrop ISD and is very important to taxpayers, bondholders and district administration,” stated Sandra Callahan, Bastrop ISD Chief Financial Officer, “Higher bond ratings lead to increased demand for the District’s bonds. We are very pleased with the final results of the 2014 refunding and the savings associated with the sale of the bonds.” For additional information, contact Sandra Callahan at 512.772.7105.
Tis The Season "BISD Students Give Back"
Lost Pines Elementary PALs students collected canned goods to donate to the Bastrop Food Pantry.
Mina Elementary Kindergarten students collect toys to donate to the Pink Santa drive.
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Bastrop Independent School District
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906 Farm Street Bastrop, Texas 78601-3717
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A publication of the BISD Community Services/Communications Department
