STINGAREe-News from Texas City ISD

Texas City ISD offers free and reduced meals for those who are eligible. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. Free and Reduced Price Meals are available to families who believe they may qualify.

Breakfast
Free for all students

Lunch
$2 (Kindergarten - 6th grade)
$2.50 for 7th-12th grades
40 cents for students eligible for reduced meals

Kohfeldt Orientation

Kohfeldt Elementary School will hold a Parent Orientation on Thursday, August 27 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the school.

Blocker bricks on sale

The TCISD Foundation for the Future is holding a Brick Sale for community and alumni who may want to own a piece of TCISD history. The school that was built originally as Texas City High School in 1948 and then transitioned to Blocker Junior High in 1958 was razed this spring once Blocker Middle School moved to its new location. Beginning July 6, anyone who would like to purchase bricks can visit the TCISD Maintenance Office, located at #19 9th Street N., from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed for lunch 12-1 p.m.) Bricks are $10 each or 3 for $25, cash only. All proceeds support teacher grants that provide innovative learning materials for TCISD students.

Cheer Clinic is Sept. 19

The Texas City High School Cheerleaders will host their Annual Cheer Clinic for boys and girls ages 5-12 on Saturday, September 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the TCHS gym. Early registration is Friday, September 18 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the TCHS cafeteria (back entrace). Registration will also be available on the morning of the clinic beginning at 8;30 a.m.

Cost is $30 at early registration or $35 on the day of. This includes a clinic T-shirt, picture with cheer coaches and lunch (pizza and a drink). Additional spirit items will be for sale in the lobby.

Clinic participants will show off the cheers, jumps and dance they learned at 2 p.m. for family and friends. In addition, Houston Texans Cheerleaders Libby and Megan will be at the event from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for a meet and greet. Pictures are allowed.

Download the Registration Form.

Cheerleader Alumni event

Texas City High School Cheerleader Alumni are encouraged to cheer on the sidelines during the second quarter of the Homecoming game on October 23. All cheer alumni must register and make payment by 5 p.m. October 9. Registration is $25 and includes a T-shirt for free general admission to the game.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Stingaree Stadium against the Willowridge Eagles. The Cheer Alumni Show Off begins in the 2nd Quarter.

Email the Cheer Boosters with any questions. Once registration has been received, additional information, cheers and chants will be emailed.

Keep up to date with what's going on in TCISD. Please like Texas City ISD on Facebook and please like the TCISD Foundation for the Future on Facebook.

The 2015-2016 school year begins on Monday for students. Teachers and staff have been back all week preparing for their return.

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If you are not registered for class......

Anyone who has not completed their registration as of 3 p.m. today will need to register at the TCISD building located at 1408 6th Street North (the old Blocker Library) on Monday, August 24 or Tuesday, August 25. Students will not be allowed in class until registration is completed. Registration will not take place at the school on Monday or Tuesday. Two proofs of residency are required for every student.

Superintendent addresses budget

By TCISD Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Lusignolo

Tuesday evening, August 25, 2015, the Texas City ISD Board of Trustees will consider a tax rate increase to balance the 2015-2016 school district budget. During the past five years, TCISD revenue has declined from approximately $56 million to slightly less than $52 million while student enrollment has increased from 5,922 to 6,347.

During the past several years, TCISD has been able to set aside funds designated for capital improvements. Land purchase and construction costs for our new Industrial Trades Center (ITC) will total approximately $10 million. Through sound fiscal practices, the District has been able to move forward with the construction plans for this new facility without asking voters for a tax increase for funding. The planning process for this facility began more than 6 years ago. Changes in the State high school graduation plan have now made it possible for our high school students to take advantage of these trades courses. We are charged with the responsibility for meeting the academic needs of all of our students, and this new facility is one more key component of what we offer as a very well-rounded education for students in TCISD.

After construction of the ITC, the District fund balance will be approximately $22 million. This will allow for three month's operating expenses plus funds for catastrophic events. For this reason, dipping into fund balance to pay operations expenses would not be in accordance with established best practices.

This leaves the school district two choices for addressing the budget deficit. One choice is to cut staff and services to our students. Our most recent progress indicates that our staffing levels and educational programs are highly successful in meeting the needs of our students. Through the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, administrators and support staff, all of our campuses met or exceeded the State Standard on all four indexes of the State Accountability System this past spring. Given the recent advancements of our students, we must consider the negative impact that reductions in staff and student services could have on academic performance. If Trustees determine that these cuts would be unwise at the present time, then the second choice is to increase the tax rate to balance the budget.

In the 2014-2015 school year, the total TCISD tax rate was $1.2616 while the tax rate in Galveston County schools ranged from $1.16 in Galveston to $1.54 in Hitchcock and Dickinson. Based on the needs of the school district, the school district administration is recommending total tax rate of $1.4298 for the 2015-2016 school year.

Given the new $10,000 homestead exemption that goes into effect in 2015-2016, even at the total rate of $1.4298, many homeowners will actually see a decrease in their TCISD tax bill. Those at age 65 and older, or disabled, would see a $120.98 decrease at the current total tax rate. With the new proposed rate of $1.4298, these citizens would see an even greater decrease of $142.98. At the new proposed tax rate, a homeowner under age 65 with the average home value of $94,192 would see a decrease in their tax bill of $41.47.

While a tax rate increase is never desirable, it is our hope that our negative budget situation is a temporary one. We have reason to believe that the State funding system will be redesigned in the next two years and the anticipated changes should be beneficial for TCISD. Trustees are committed to lowering the tax rate as soon as State funding formulas make this possible. Public comment regarding the tax rate will be heard by Trustees on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Simpson Education Support Center. As Superintendent of Schools, I welcome conversations with citizens about this issue. If interested, you may contact me by email at clusignolo@tcisd.org or call my office at 409-916-0101 to set up an appointment for a personal meeting. I thank everyone in the Texas City ISD community for all they do to help create and maintain a strong school district to meet the educational needs of the students of Texas City ISD.

Know the laws around school buses

More than a million children and teens depend on buses to get them safely to and from the more than 9,000 Texas schools every day. They also depend on motorists to know the law and drive safely around school buses.

Texas School Bus Law

Stop for flashing red lights on a school bus, regardless of which direction you're headed.
Continue your trip once the bus has moved, the flashing lights stop flashing or the bus driver signals it's okay to pass.
Violations can lead to a $1,000 fine.

Safety Tips for Motorists

Obey the posted speed limit.
Fines double in school zones.
Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.
Watch for children who might dart across the street to catch the bus.
Do not use your cell phone in school zones.

Tips for Students

Respect your school bus driver and follow these rules:

Stand far back when you are waiting for the bus.
Sit still so the driver can pay attention to the road.
Look both ways if you have to cross the street after getting off the bus, or wait for the driver to signal it's safe to cross the street.

Need More Information?

Call (512) 416-3175 for more information.

Source: Texas Department of Transportation

Blocker volleyball try-outs announced

Volleyball try-outs for Blocker Middle School begins immediately when school starts. Anyone trying out must have a physical on file with the athletic department prior to trying out.

8th Grade Try-Outs

Try-outs will be held on August 24-25 with final cuts posted on August 25. Try-outs will last from 2:50 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the first day of school and from 2:50-4:45 p.m. on the second day.

The final team roster will be posted at 5 p.m. on August 25.

7th Grade Parent Meeting

There will be a 7th grade informational parent meeting for all parents of interested volleyball players from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the front gym on August 25.

7th Grade Try-Outs

Try-outs will be held on August 26-28 with a first cut on the 27th and a final roster posted on the 28th. August 26 try-outs will be from 2:50-5 p.m. and August 27 try-outs will be from 2:50-4:45 p.m. with the first cut posted at 5 p.m. Students who make it through the first cut will return on August 28 from 2:50-4:45 p.m. with the final team roster posted by 5 p.m.

For more information, email Coach Champagne or call her at 409-916-0758.

City-Wide Pep Rally set for Wednesday

The Annual City-Wide Pep Rally will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26 at Stingaree Stadium. Come out and see the football teams from Blocker and TCHS, the volleyball teams, TCHS Band, Cheerleaders, Stingarettes, Tunnel Crew, Athletic Trainers and more! The event is free and open to the public.

We have an archive section if you have missed any STINGAREe -News edition from the past year! You can access it in the Quick Link section above. If you have trouble viewing photos, they also can be seen clearly in the Archive section.

Sincerely,

Melissa Tortorici

Director of Communications

Texas City ISD