Fifteen art students win Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo honors

Artwork by 15 Spring Branch ISD elementary, middle and high school students will hang soon in the public Hayloft Gallery at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.


In January, SBISD hosted its annual K-12 Rodeo Art Exhibit at the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum, which drew hundreds of students and parents during a two-day viewing and later judging session. Students who were awarded Best of Show, Gold Medal or Special Merit by Rodeo officials will have their original art displayed in the Hayloft Gallery at Reliant Park. The Houston Rodeo this year will be held from Feb. 25 through March 17.

Photo reproductions of Best of Show, Gold Medal and Special Merit winners in SBISD, as well as original Runner Up student entries can be viewed in the lobby of the Wayne F. Schaper, Sr. Leadership Center (SBISD Administration Building), located at 955 Campbell Road.

During the Rodeo, several dozen student artworks from across the region will be chosen during Grand Prix judging for an art auction, which can result in thousands of scholarship dollars for a fortunate young artist or artists.

District winners headed to the Houston Rodeo for display include:

Best of Show 

• Elementary – Ally Reichel, 5th grade, Wilchester Elementary, Paste and Metallic Glue 
• Middle School – Ashley Park, 8th grade, Memorial Middle, Prisma Color Pencil 
• High School – Anna Cho, 10th grade, Memorial High, Acrylic Painting

Gold Medal 

• Elementary – Yerang Lee, 2nd grade, Wilchester Elementary, Crayon and Watercolor 
• Middle School – Jun Yong Kim, 7th grade, Memorial Middle, Prisma Color Pencil 
• High School – Woohyun Amy Cho, 11th grade, Stratford High, Media Color Pencil 
• High School – Eunjoo Oh, 12th grade, Memorial High, Prisma Color Pencil

Special Merit All Special Merits are High School entries: 

• David Salas, 10th grade, Memorial High, Graphite 
• Ryan Cowell, 11th Grade, Memorial High, Oil Paint 
• Flora Theroux, 10th Grade, Memorial High, Prisma Color Pencil 
• Jun Young Baik, 12th Grade, Memorial High, Prisma Color Pencil 
• Hyeyun Jeong, 11th Grade, Memorial High, Acrylic Paint 
• Seoyoung Kim, 10th Grade, Memorial High, Prisma Color Pencil 
• Erica Kim, 9th Grade, Memorial High, Prisma Color Pencil 
• Itsel Casarin, Stratford High, Bleach & Graphite 

Students named Rodeo Art Black Ribbon Runner-Ups, by medium: 

Colored Drawing

• Michael Boyd, 5th Grade, Frostwood Elementary 
• Adriana Kelly, 7th Grade, Memorial Middle 
• Sergio Castagnoli, 4th Grade, Frostwood Elementary 
• Natalie Goff, 12th Grade, Memorial High 
• Aidan Burke, 1st Grade, Wilchester Elementary 
• Roberto-Eduard Lipianu, 6th Grade, Spring Branch Middle 
• Yichien Lee, 11th Grade, Stratford High 
• Ernesto Abbud Polin, Kindergarten, Wilchester Elementary 
• Amanda Hinojosa, 10th Grade, Stratford High 
• Caden Wang, 3rd Grade, Wilchester Elementary 
• Sophia Venegas, 3rd Grade, Wilchester Elementary

Mixed Medium

• Rachel Whipple, 5th Grade, Rummel Creek Elementary 
• Joseph Meza, 5th Grade, Treasure Forest Elementary 
• Lesile Tirado, 5th Grade, Treasure Forest Elementary
• Alyssa Plant, 9th Grade, Stratford High 
• Anne Albright, 7th Grade Cornerstone Academy 
• Morgan Howell, 7th Grade, Cornerstone Academy

Monochromatic Drawing

• Annie Lui, 10th Grade, Spring Woods High 
• Jon Chambers, 12th Grade, Northbrook High
•  Jacqueline Mask, 12th grade, Stratford High

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Being Prepared, Staying Secure

Spring Branch ISD Police Chief Chuck Brawner was part of an expert panel that discussed safety and security issues related to the recent shooting that occurred on the Lone Star College campus, located in Aldine, on a recent local television show.

The program, called “City View,” focuses on timely issues impacting the region taken “straight from the headlines.” Emmy Award winning reporter and anchor Art Rascon hosts the show that airs once a month. Police Chief Brawner provided views from a public school perspective. View program segments here

In Spring Branch ISD, the safety and security of our students is our highest priority. 

The following safety preparedness measures have been taken in SBISD:

• Our campuses have reviewed their Emergency Operations Plans with building staff and re-emphasized safety procedures for students and staff during lockdowns in the event of criminal or crisis-related situations.
• Safety protocols are in place across SBISD. All district schools have a School Emergency Response Team, and every school regularly practices safety procedures with students and staff through discussions and practice exercises. Remind your children that practice drills are important.
• SBISD Police are reviewing results of 2011 security audits with schools and departments so that potential weaknesses are highlighted, identified and solutions found to mitigate an identified weakness.
• SBISD Police Department officers are on duty 24-7, and Police Chief Brawner continues to work closely with school leaders to assure that they are equipped to lead should a time of crisis occur. In addition, security entrances, enhanced camera surveillance, fences and other safety-enhancing features are in place here as a result of the 2007 Bond Program.
• Additional security technology equipment will be installed in our campuses to assist our school administrators with approved Safe School Plans.

The community is reminded that all campus visitors should use only front entrances when visiting our schools; other exits and entrances are to remain locked throughout the day.

We appreciate your ongoing help in abiding by our security protocols, serving as eyes and ears on our campuses, and reporting any safety concerns you may have or observe. Let’s all keep SBISD safe and secure.  

Click on video below to see Chief Brawner's comment.
The video segments are referenced from Channel 13's website.


Segment 1: Click PLAY ARROW to play video segment.


Segment 2: Click PLAY ARROW to play video segment.

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Judge: Texas school finance plan unconstitutional

--Reposted from The Associated Press, By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The system Texas uses to fund public schools violates the state's constitution by not providing enough money to school districts and failing to distribute it fairly, a judge ruled Monday in a landmark decision that could force the Legislature to overhaul the way it pays for education.

Moments after closing arguments in his packed courtroom, state District Judge John Dietz ruled the funding mechanism does not meet the Texas Constitution's requirements for a fair and efficient system that provides a "general diffusion of knowledge." He declared that funding was inadequate and that there were wide discrepancies in state support received by school districts in wealthy parts of Texas versus those in poorer areas. He also said the system is tantamount to an income tax, which is forbidden by the state constitution.

It was the second time in less than a decade the state has been ordered to remake its school finance system. Dietz said he would issue a written ruling elaborating on his announcement in about a month. The state can then appeal the case directly to the Supreme Court, which could order the Legislature to remake the system.

But a ruling from the high court is not likely to come until the end of the legislative session in May, meaning Gov. Rick Perry would need to call a special session in 2014. In the interval, the state's school finance system remains unchanged.

This was the sixth case of its kind since 1984. During a round of litigation eight years ago, Dietz issued a similar ruling, but the all-Republican Supreme Court reversed his findings on funding — while still declaring the system unconstitutional since it violated state guarantees against an income tax.

This time around, more than 600 school districts across Texas responsible for educating three-quarters of the state's 5 million-plus public school students sued. At issue were $5.4 billion in cuts to schools and education grant programs the Legislature imposed in 2011 — but the districts said simply restoring that funding won't be enough to fix a fundamentally flawed system.

Click here to read the full Associated Press article >>

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SBISD Trustees Election

An election for three positions on the Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled for May 11. Candidate applications for a place on the ballot will be accepted through March 1 in Room 145 of the Wayne Schaper, Sr., Leadership Center, 955 Campbell Road.

The Schaper Leadership Center is the new name for the former SBISD Administration Building. The Trustee positions for the upcoming election include Position 5, which is currently held by incumbent Bob Stevenson, and Position 6, which is held by incumbent Pam Goodson.

Both incumbents have applied for new School Board terms. Position 7 was held by Mike Falick, who has announced that he will not seek a new term. As of Feb. 1, local resident and SBISD parent Karen Peck had applied for that position. All positions are for three-year terms. All registered voters who reside in SBISD may vote for these Trustee positions.

The deadline to file an application for a place on the ballot is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 1.

Prospective candidates can pick up an election packet in Room 145 of the Schaper Leader Center. Building offices are open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Candidate applications will be accepted during regular business hours. Additional election-related information is also posted on the district's website, or on the SBISD Board of Trustees website.

For more details, please call SBISD's Diane Dickens at 713-251-2217 or email her at elva.dickens@springbranchisd.com.

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Elección de la Junta Directiva de SBISD 

Una elección para tres posiciones en la Junta Directiva de Spring Branch ISD ha sido fijada para el sábado 11 de mayo. Las solicitudes de los candidatos para un lugar en la boleta serán aceptadas hasta el 1 de marzo en la Sala 145 de Wayne Schaper, Sr., Leadership Center, 955 Campbell Road. El Schaper Leadership Center es el nuevo nombre del antiguo Edificio Administrativo de SBISD.

Las posiciones para Directivo de la Junta para las próximas elecciones incluyen la Posición 5, que actualmente está en manos del titular del cargo, Bob Stevenson y la Posición 6, que está a cargo de la titular de cargo, Pam Goodson. Ambos titulares de los cargos han presentado su solicitud para postularse a los nuevos periodos de la Junta Escolar. La posición 7 fue ocupada por Mike Falick, quien ha anunciado que no buscará un nuevo periodo. A partir del 1 de febrero, la residente local y madre de familia de SBISD, Karen Peck, ha presentado su solicitud para esa posición.

Todas las posiciones son para períodos de tres años. Todos los votantes registrados que residen en el SBISD pueden votar para estas posiciones de los Miembros de la Junta Directiva. 

La fecha límite para presentar una solicitud para un lugar en la boleta es las 5 p.m. del viernes 1 de marzo. Los posibles candidatos pueden recoger un paquete de elección en la Sala 145 del Schaper Leadership Center. Las oficinas del edificio están abiertas desde las 8 a.m. hasta las 4:30 p.m. De lunes a viernes. Las solicitudes para los candidatos serán aceptadas durante las horas hábiles.

Información adicional relacionada con las elecciones también se publica en el sitio web del distrito.

Para obtener más detalles, por favor llame a Diane Dickens, del SBISD al 713-251-2217 ó por correo electrónico a elva.dickens@springbranchisd.com.

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