By David Stelmazewski

In my recent State of the District report to the Boerne ISD Board of Trustees, I made note of the student enrollment surge that is taking place in our schools.

In 2012, district enrollment stood at 6,700 students. That year, planning was initiated that led to a May 2013 bond election which voters passed by a margin of 73 percent to 27 percent.

That bond afforded the district the opportunity to expand classroom capacity at our middle schools so that we could move sixth grade away from overcrowded elementary campuses and better align those students with a curriculum designed for the traditional middle school grades. Mission successfully accomplished.

The district also was able to expand educational spaces at Curington Elementary – one of our older campuses – and Boerne High School. Also, a new Fabra Elementary campus was approved, with increased capacity that will be available in August. Again, mission successfully accomplished.

Today – just four short years after planning for that bond began – enrollment stands right at 7,900 students. The foresight of the community committee that helped plan the 2013 bond package, the backing of the board of trustees and the overwhelming support of the voters positioned the district to be able to maintain our high educational standards and meet the needs of a growing student population.

The recent work of our current Long Range Facilitates Planning Committee is well documented. That citizen-led group has recommended to the Board of Trustees that a bond package be considered that will support construction of three new schools – two elementary schools and one middle school – as well as significant expansion at our high schools, all to address the continued growth that experts forecast in the district for the next 10 years. The board is in the process of reviewing those recommendations.

By the time this year's second graders are high school seniors, Boerne ISD is projected to have in excess of 12,300 students in the district. The accompanying graphic has become familiar for some: it illustrates that the conservative estimate of enrollment growth over the next 10 years – some 4,400 students – is equal to the current population in six of our existing schools. We have a responsibility to plan to accommodate that growth.

I have actually been quoted as saying I embrace the rapid enrollment growth being experienced in the district – because I do. Yes, it is challenging. But it is also gratifying to know that the population growth in our area is due in large part to the success of our school district, the quality of the teachers who commit their hearts and souls to our classrooms, and the broad array of course work and extracurricular activities available to our students.

So despite the challenges that come with being a Fast Growth school district (fastgrowthtexas.org), despite the ramifications of "Robin Hood" and other elements of public school funding that are often confounding, and because of the amazing contributions from parents, teachers and community partners, I am pleased to report that the state of your school district is strong.

Take a moment to review the presentation online. There is a link to the report at www.boerne-isd.net/superintendent.

Boerne ISD superintendent David Stelmazewski is an education leader who has served for more than 40

years as teacher, coach and administrator in Illinois and Texas public schools.

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Three new schools to help address steady growth in student enrollment would open in the next five years if voters approve a $175 million bond in an election called by the Boerne ISD Board of Trustees on Monday.

The board's call for the election was unanimous. The election, to be held Saturday, May 7, coincides with election for three seats on the Boerne ISD board.

The bond package, developed by a community-led committee that conducted a four-month study of enrollment growth and other issues facing the district, features two new elementary schools and a new middle school to help alleviate current overcrowding in classrooms and address continued accelerated growth that is forecast for the district.

Official Boerne ISD enrollment for 2015-16 was recorded at 7,879 on the state's snapshot date in October (since that date, enrollment has actually climbed beyond 7,900). The demographic study commissioned by the district for planning purposes has forecast that by 2025-16 – when this year's second graders are high school seniors – district enrollment will surpass 12,300.

Two of the district's elementary schools, Fair Oaks Ranch and Cibolo Creek, currently are at capacity. Within the next two school years, Middle School South is expected to reach capacity, as well.

Should voters approve the bond package, the first new school to be built will be an elementary on a 20-acre tract on Dietz-Elkhorn Street adjacent to the Front Gate subdivision in Fair Oaks Ranch. The school will be designed to accommodate 850 students.

The district's long range facilities plan calls for the new middle school to be built next; a specific site for that campus is in the process of being identified. The second new elementary school would be built in the Esperanza residential development off Highway 46 East.

The proposed bond also would fund significant classroom expansions at Champion High School and Boerne High School to accommodate enrollment growth. Additional instructional spaces for the performing arts are also planned at the district's two existing middle schools. The proposal also budgets funds for the purchase of real estate for future schools.

In addition to enrollment growth, the bond package also addresses a number of safety and security measures as well as a list of district-wide improvements in technology and infrastructure. The bond calls for purchase of 12 new buses, both to accommodate enrollment growth and replace aging vehicles. A comprehensive repurposing of the old Fabra Elementary facility to be the new home of the district's alternative school, its teacher professional development center, data center and administrative offices is also planned. A full list of the proposed bond components is available at www.BoerneISDBond.com.

Ten years ago, the district's I&S tax rate, providing the dollars earmarked for debt obligation, was set at 29 cents. Exercising prudent fiscal management in a favorable economic climate, the district lowered that rate twice since 2009; the current rate I&S rate is 25.4 cents. The proposed bond package would raise the I&S rate to an estimated 31.8 cents over the two-year period in which bonds would be sold.

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Boerne High School senior Emilia Willenburg has qualified for the UIL Young Filmmakers State Film Festival, marking the third consecutive year that a BHS student has qualified for the state competition.

Willenburg's short digital animation, "Little Red Wolf," tells the story of the Big Bad Wolf's son and his encounters with other storybook favorites. The film was among 750 student-produced pieces that were judged in three categories, animation, narrative and documentary. Willenburg's work will be screened during the UIL competition at Austin's Paramount Theatre, March 2.

Boerne ISD has named its 2016 Support Staff of the Year recipients, employees who work in a variety of roles across the district and who help assure that the mission of educating the community's children is achieved on a daily basis.

"Our deep thanks and congratulations to those who have been named Support Staff of the Year," said superintendent David Stelmazewski. "Our teachers, administrators and students depend on them each day of the school year. Their passion for their work is evident and I am proud to call myself of colleague of theirs."

Recipients include Silvia Arellano, CES; DeAnn Bernhard, FES; Loretta Carpenter, Central Office; Ernest Corona, transportation; Lori Davis, CHS; Michele Hillman, CCES; Priscilla Moore, FORES; Gilbert Salinas, BHS; Melva Schrunk, KES; Sharon Talbert, BMSN; and Holly Taylor, BMSS.

2016 Support Staff of the Year Photo Montage

A Boerne ISD school bus carrying four individuals was involved in a single-vehicle accident this morning on rain-slicked streets in Bexar County. The two students on board were examined by first responders and released to their families; the bus driver and a bus monitor are being examined with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident occurred at approximately 7:46 a.m. this morning on Ralph Fair Road (FM 3351), near the intersection with Interstate 10. According to law enforcement on the scene, the driver lost control of the vehicle on a rain-slicked stretch of roadway, went off the road and into a small embankment, causing the bus to roll over on its side. Those on board were evacuated through the rear door with the help of passers-by.

At the time of the accident, the bus was on its normal morning route. One student on board at the time attends Boerne Champion High School, the other attends Boerne Middle School South.

"Our first priority each day is the safety of our students and staff," said superintendent David Stelmazewski. "I want to thank the first responders who helped assure the safe evacuation of our students and staff. Of course, we will review the details of this accident and make any adjustments to our safety practices as might be necessary."

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Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary principal Sandi Killo (left) congratulates Patty Ashley.

Patty Ashley, special education assistant at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary, has been recognized by a statewide organization for her outstanding work with visually impaired students. The announcement was made today by principal Sandi Killo.

The Texas Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (TAER) has named Ashley its 2016 Jim Durkel Award recipient, recognizing outstanding work by a paraprofessional with visually impaired students. Formal presentation of the award will take place at the TAER Conference in Katy, Texas, April 1.

"This is a well-deserved award for Patty Ashley," said Killo. "She goes above and beyond to make sure that her students have equal opportunities to be successful both at school and in the community. Patty is a true advocate for her students and a life-long learner, as she continuously seeks out professional development opportunities to utilize in the classroom."

Ashley is in her 18th year of service with Boerne ISD, moving from campus to campus as students she is assisting progress in their education. In a letter of recommendation included in the TAER nomination process, one of her students gave an indication of why Ashley is deserving of this recognition.

"She encouraged me to learn both academics and socialization as part of my school life," wrote John McDonald, a former student who currently attends Northwest Vista College. "She had a consistent way of enabling me to work toward new goals. Her desire to learn herself about teaching a blind student always created new opportunities for me. Both in and out of school she offered me the reassurance I needed to meet the challenges of each new activity."

TAER presents this award in honor of Jim Durkel, a dedicated outreach professional who worked tirelessly to support teachers and to improve the lives of students with visual impairments across the state and nation.

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By the end of this month, voters in Boerne ISD will go to the polls to consider the $175 million school bond package that has been called by your elected representatives, the BISD Board of Trustees.

Early voting in the May 7 bond election begins Monday, April 25.

The whole process makes for a fascinating lesson in civics and our democratic process of identifying and addressing challenges put before us.

In this case, the "challenge" is the sharp enrollment growth BISD continues to experience as part of one of the fastest growing areas in the country. The district has utilized a respected demographer for a number of years to help in the planning process. Templeton Demographics forecasts that the district will experience steady enrollment increases between 4 and 5 percent annually for the next 10 years.

Currently in one of the fastest growing areas of the district – Fair Oaks Ranch – we are seeing increased in student enrollment as high as 9 percent annually.

Boerne ISD's current official enrollment is 7,879. (That official number is taken across the state on October 31; our enrollment actually has moved up since then to 7,932 on April 1.) Looking at a combination of historic trends, housing starts in the area, and general economic health of the region, Templeton conservatively forecasts that in 2026 – by the time this year's second graders are seniors – total district enrollment will top 12,400.

Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary already is at capacity; several of our campuses – Cibolo Creek Elementary, Kendall Elementary, Middle School South – will be in the same situation shortly as enrollment continues to climb. Planning to accommodate this growth is ongoing.

That is where the next step in the civics lesson begins. Last October, the board convened a citizen-led Long Range Facilities Planning Committee that met, conducted exhaustive study, and developed a set of recommendations that guided the board's decision to call the bond. Central to the proposal is funding to construct three new schools – two elementary and one middle – to accommodate growth.

Additional funding is requested to expand the capacity of our existing secondary schools. In so doing, we believe we delay the need for consideration of a third high school for at least 10 years.

Since the February meeting where the board called the election, we have been doing our best to assure that every voter in the district is informed about the bond and how projected enrollment growth influenced the decisions that went into its development.

An informed electorate, of course, is another component of a vital democracy. I encourage you to become knowledgeable about the bond. Read the information on the website we developed especially for that purpose: www.boerneisdbond.com. Attend one of the presentations taking place throughout the district, where we talk about the bond and answer your questions.

Of course, one of the critical steps in this democratic process is exercising your right and responsibility to vote. Please be informed and vote. Parents, make sure that you tell your children you are voting in the school bond election; make the process a piece of their education.

If you are not currently registered to vote, that deadline is April 7. Several of our campuses will be set up for early voting starting April 25. Polling locations and times are available at www.boerneisdbond.com/voting. Again, please learn about the bond and vote.

Boerne ISD superintendent David Stelmazewski is an education leader who has served for more than 40 years as teacher, coach and administrator in Illinois and Texas public schools.

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April is School Library Month across the country and Boerne ISD is proud to recognize the superheros who keep our libraries functioning as places of inquiry and learning.

With access to so many books on a daily basis, did you ever wonder what a librarian's favorite book might be? Let's ask:

Shannon Padgett, Cibolo Creek Elementary: Charlotte's Web

Julie Montez, Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary: The Velveteen Rabbit

Jerline Aldis, Curington Elementary: Harry Potter

Jennifer Bitzkie, Kendall Elementary: The Velveteen Rabbit

Sue Hall, Fabra Elementary: Hope Was There

Lori Barfknecht, Middle Schools North and South: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Jackie McDaniel, Boerne and Champion High Schools: Uninvited

Now you know! Next time you see one of our librarians, thank them for the work they do.

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By a margin that approached 3-1, voters approved a $175 million bond package for Boerne ISD in Saturday's election. In the same election, Joe Tidwell was elected to a two-year term on the BISD School Board.

Election returns, which are unofficial at this point, show 3,485 votes in favor of the bond (73 percent), 1,262 against (26 percent). In 2013, voters approved a $99.5 million school bond by a similar margin, 2,895 for, 1,079 against.

"We are gratified by these results and pledge to be excellent stewards of the resources and the trust placed in us by the voters of the district," said superintendent David Stelmazewski. "In my conversations with folks leading up to this election, I consistently encouraged them to become informed and to vote. I thank them for doing both.

"So many people in our community banded together to help make this bond election a success, including the citizens committee that developed the bond, our Board of Trustees, members of the faculty and staff, and concerned citizens who formed an independent organization that helped generate awareness for the bond. I thank them for their collective efforts on behalf of the students of the district."

Stelmazewski said projects supported by the bond will commence almost immediately, as site work for a new elementary school on Dietz Elkhorn just outside Fair Oaks Ranch gets underway. A preliminary timeline calls for the school to open August 2018.

The bond also will fund the district's third middle school, on a site and schedule to be determined, and an additional elementary school on acreage in the new Esperanza subdivision immediately east of Boerne on Highway 46. The new schools, along with expansions to the district's existing secondary schools, comes in response to enrollment growth projections that forecast more than 4,400 new students in the district by 2026. Current enrollment is just over 7,900.

Stelmazewski said he will appoint an oversight committee that will hold the district accountable for effective and efficient use of bond finances.

In the school board election, Tidwell will fulfill the remaining two years of the term initially held by Harry Lees, who resigned in December to move out of state. In unofficial totals, Tidwell received 1,603 votes, while Doug Hodo Sr. received 1,546 and Pete Ramos received 537. Tidwell will be sworn in at the board's May 16 meeting.

"Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch and our surrounding neighborhoods place great value on public education," Stelmazewski said. "That is the reason Boerne ISD is known as a 'destination district' for so many families. This day marks the beginning of the next chapter in our collective efforts to serve those families by providing excellence in education for our students."

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I am gratified by the results of the May 7 Boerne ISD bond election. From my perspective, the results illustrate once again how deeply our community values public education. The overwhelming approval of this initiative sends a very clear message, understood and appreciated.

As I was heard to say many times in the weeks leading up to the election, Boerne ISD embraces the enrollment growth our district faces these days. We love the children you entrust to us and we are proud that so many families choose to live in our community because of our schools. Passage of the bond equips us to meet the challenges of continued enrollment growth.

So what happens next?

Work will begin almost immediately on some of the measures funded by the bond. Site work on the new elementary school No. 6 on Dietz Elkhorn is already underway. This is a priority, given the overcrowding at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary and the rapid growth in the southern part of the district. I am grateful that foresighted board members years ago approved purchase of this 20-acre school site, giving us a tremendous head start. Also, utilizing existing design work from the new Fabra Elementary will provide both cost and time savings. The school will open August 2018.

As the school year wraps up and the team at Fabra moves into its new campus, work will begin to convert the old site to the district's administrative center. I am especially excited about what this means for our alternative school, which will find a new, expanded home in the refurbished facility. Repurposing the old campus is a tremendously efficient and effective way to create a central services center that will serve the district for decades.

In the weeks to come, the search for a site to become the home of our third middle school will intensify. This, of course, is an important consideration as we look at the district as a whole and start to examine attendance zone realignments.

Soon after the start of the 2016-17 school year, we will convene a committee to make recommendations on rezoning. The same demographer who provided the analysis on enrollment growth that informed our long range facilities planning committee will be used as a resource in this important process.

We want to establish new attendance zones that will serve our families for many years into the future. This means that the conversations will factor in all three new schools – two elementary campuses and one middle school – even before some of those projects are under construction.

I anticipate that the committee will also take this opportunity to examine the current school choice policy that was established a decade ago to help the community transition to two high schools. My recommendation will be that the policy has served its purpose and should now phase out. We are blessed with two exceptional high schools and two great and growing feeder systems that serve our district well.

Over the summer, I will work with the Board of Trustees to appoint a committee that will have oversight on the 2016 bond expenditures and activities. Just as in the 2013 bond, this citizens' committee will serve as the eyes and ears of the public as the district executes the approved bond projects in an atmosphere of transparency and accountability.

The next several years will be very busy for Boerne ISD. Through it all, I pledge that we will keep our focus squarely on our central mission: the education of our children in ways that prepare them for the world in which they will live.

Thank you for your trust and thank you for your support.

Boerne ISD superintendent David Stelmazewski is an education leader who has served for more than 40 years as teacher, coach and administrator in Illinois and Texas public schools.

Boerne Samuel V. Champion High School has been included on the recently released U.S. News & World Report annual list of the best high schools in the nation. The high school, which opened in 2008, has made the list each year since 2012.

Champion High School was ranked 92nd in Texas and 807th nationally, earning silver medal status in the publication's annual evaluation of the nation's public high schools. The ranking places Champion High School among the top 11 percent of more than 1,700 eligible schools in the state. CHS was among the top 40 "traditional" schools – exclusive of magnet, charter and STEM schools that also are included in the magazine's overall listing.

"There are many factors – tangible and sometimes intangible – that define the quality of our schools," said Boerne ISD superintendent David Stelmazewski. "We take great pride in all the schools in our district, knowing they are among the best in the state because parents and fellow educators tell us so. This specific honor is an affirmation of the hard work by our students, the dedication of our faculty and the priority placed on education by our entire community. Way to go, Champion Chargers!"

To create the 2016 Best High Schools rankings, U.S. News looked at more than 28,000 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine which schools excelled in each state and nationally.

High schools were evaluated in four stages. First, U.S. News looked at overall student performance on state-required tests. Schools had to perform better than average to pass. Then, U.S. News factored in how effectively schools educated their least-advantaged students – those of minority and low-income backgrounds. The review also examined if a school graduates its students at a rate that meets or surpasses a basic national standard. Finally, schools were assessed on how well they prepared students for college based on participation in and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.

For the fifth consecutive year, the School for the Talented and Gifted, a Dallas magnet school, was ranked as the No. 1 public high school in the country. In the San Antonio area, schools making the list included Alamo Heights (#89 in Texas) and Lady Bird Johnson High School (#107 in Texas).

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Donna Sharp, elected to the Boerne ISD Board of Trustees in 2014, has been elected president of the board for the 2016-17 academic year.

Sharp was elected to the position during the board's May 16 meeting, which also saw Rich Sena elected vice president and Carlin Friar elected secretary. Sharp and Sena's terms on the board expire in 2017; Friar's term concludes in 2018.

At the same meeting, the board welcomed newly elected member Joe Tidwell, who is filling a two-year term that expires in 2018. Board members Dale Adams and Maritza Gonzalez-Cooper, who were unopposed for re-election, were sworn in for their new terms, too.

The Boerne ISD Board of Trustees consists of seven members elected by the public to serve overlapping three-year terms. Following the annual May election, the Board conducts an internal poll to elect officers (president, vice-president and secretary) to serve one-year terms.

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Jamie Robinson, a professional educator in Texas public schools for more than 15 years, has been named principal of Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School.

Robinson's appointment was approved Monday night by the Boerne ISD Board of Trustees. He will take the helm at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary at the close of this academic year, following the retirement of Sandi Killo.

"My educational philosophy includes bringing learning to life," Robinson said during interviews for the position. "This applies to the lessons learned both inside and outside the wall of the school. My goal is to create ample opportunities for high levels of engagement and rigor. I want to encourage students to be lifelong learners who will become the leaders of tomorrow's world."

Robinson moves to the top leadership role at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary after serving a year as assistant principal for the school. Prior to that, he serve as an assistant principal in San Antonio's North East ISD. The San Angelo native taught at the elementary level for 10 years in his hometown before accepting his first job in educational administration in San Angelo ISD.

Robinson holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Angelo State University.

"The district – and the Fair Oaks Ranch community specifically – has been so blessed by Sandi Killo's many years of service," said superintendent David Stelmazewski, noting that the current principal started with Boerne ISD in 2005. "I am so grateful for her leadership and I am equally pleased to have an individual the caliber of Mr. Robinson ready to take on the role. He will provide seamless leadership, a high level of expertise and a great sense of community for the Fair Oaks campus."

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The senior classes of Champion High School and Boerne High School will hold commencement at BISD Stadium this June, re-instituting a local tradition of outdoor ceremonies.

Champion High School's celebration of the milestone is set for Friday, June 3, 8 p.m. Stadium gates will open 7 p.m. More than 330 graduate candidates are expected to receive diplomas during the ceremony.

Boerne High School will recognize the Class of '16 on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. Stadium gates will open at 9 a.m. More than 240 graduate candidates will take part in the celebration of achievement.

The decision to return to an outdoor venue was made by the schools after UT-San Antonio announced following last year's ceremonies that its convocation center would not be available in 2016 due to construction. UTSA had been the site for BISD graduations for a number of years; prior to that time, commencement exercises were held at the stadium.

Boerne ISD has contingencies in place in the event of foul weather. In the event of a postponement on Friday night, the Champion High School ceremony would be rescheduled for Saturday night at 8 p.m. Should Boerne High School's ceremony be postponed on Saturday morning, an attempt would be made to conduct the event at 2 p.m. Saturday. In the event of extreme circumstances, the district would review options for one or both ceremonies to be held on Sunday.

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Despite one of the worst records in the country for funding public education, the state of Texas is right at the top when examining four-year graduation rates among the 50 states.

According to figures released by the National Center for Education Statistics, Texas sits at or near the top of the list for four-year graduation rates of Hispanic, black and white students. Overall, its graduation rate of 88.3 percent for 2013-14 (the most recent figures available) places Texas fifth in the country, behind Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey and Wisconsin.

Of course, statistics like this come readily to mind this time of year as we celebrate coast-to-coast with graduates of the Class of 2016. Locally, more than 580 students will graduate from Boerne Academy, Champion High School and Boerne High School this week. These are outstanding kids, many of whom have spent their entire educational years in Boerne schools, some of whom joined us along the way, all of whom bring us a measure of pride that we share with their families and friends.

Our graduation rate in Boerne ISD going back to 2010 has hovered in the 98.5-99.0 percent range, well above the state average. Leading up to the recent bond election, I made presentations to more than 50 groups throughout the district. Those of you who attended those meetings know I shared a great deal of information about our schools. The one statistic I quoted that received applause each time, without fail, was this notation about how successful our students are at staying in school and graduating on time.

There are many factors that go into achieving – and sustaining – a high graduation rate. First and foremost, our students and their families clearly place a premium on earning a high school diploma. Whatever their path following graduation – college, vocational school, military, the job market – our students understand that a high school diploma is the cornerstone of their futures.

Another major factor in our high graduation rate is our teachers. Throughout their time in Boerne ISD schools, our students have been taught by the best teachers in the state. These women and men are dedicated to children and to seeing them advance successfully through the public education system.

If it were possible to shadow a teacher for just one day, you would have to get up early in the morning, be prepared to be on your feet for hours on end, and work into the evening grading papers, holding online tutoring sessions, sponsoring organizations and the myriad other activities that make up an educator's day. Our dedicated teachers play a big role in our students' successful march to their diplomas.

We also have programs like Boerne Academy that help struggling students stay in school while addressing unique personal circumstances they may be facing. This growing program will get a tremendous boost when it is able to expand into the repurposed Fabra campus in a couple of years. That is one of the elements of the recently approved 2016 bond about which I am most excited.

I believe it is also true that the Boerne and Fair Oaks communities are successful, can-do communities. Students are influenced by that success in ways big and small. I am convinced that our success rate in on-time graduation is directly related to the atmosphere of opportunity and optimism that permeates our communities.

Congratulations to the Class of 2016. We celebrate your achievement and look forward to your ongoing success in future endeavors.

Boerne ISD superintendent David Stelmazewski is an education leader who has served for more than 40 years as teacher, coach and administrator in Illinois and Texas public schools.

Fourteen BISD students received diplomas from Boerne Academy in commencement ceremonies Wednesday, June 1.

Superintendent David Stelmazewski praised the students' determination in pursuing their high school degrees, noting that for some there were obstacles that made the journey difficult, but that perseverance won the day. He encouraged the students to use this achievement as a springboard toward their next goals.

The graduates include Jocelyn Amos, Kristina Baumgartner, Madison Childers, Brennan Claflin, Brady Dennis, Ivan Hunter, Abigail Kraber, Colton Lindley, Briana Marta, Kail Moore, Raven Moore, Kayla Senney, Joshua Stewart and Mason White.

The Boerne Academy is a non-traditional school of choice within the Boerne ISD. The Academy offers an opportunity for selected students to choose an alternative education path in a supportive, caring and positive school environment.

Boerne High School's Mackenzie Downard won first place in Individual Marketing Design at the UIL State Theatrical Design Contest, May 26. This was Downard's second consecutive year to compete at the State contest; last year, she placed fourth. The honor is Boerne High School's first ever state championship in Theatrical Design.

Also at the contest, Boerne High School Theatre won third place for the second year in a row. BHS Theatre's Group Design team includes Angel Velez, Jouri Peer, Mackenzie Schmidt and Nathan Hudson. Madalyn Cline won sixth place in Individual Hair & Makeup Design.

BHS Band Soloists Excel

Three Boerne High School band members earned gold medals at recent Solo & Ensemble contest. Heidi Faseler, Horn; Loke Lovett, Euphonium; and Michael Urh, Clarinet, all took top honors with their solo performances.

Abby Wainner, Keyboard; Kory Reischling, Keyboard; Cole Moczygemba, Tympani, earned silver medals at the same competition.

BHS Choir Earns Gold

Boerne High School's Chamber Singers earned a gold medal in the madrigal contest of the Texas State Solo & Ensemble contest, March 28. According to director Nancy West, this is the first time in recent history a BHS choir has earned top honors. The group includes Mary Luevano, Madalyn Cline, Callie Bryant, Maddie Bear, Lee Schulze, Hannah DuBose, Andrew Kelly, Isaac Haworth, Yancy Blalock and Raen Kelly.

In solo competition, Lee Schulze, Callie Bryant and Raen Kelly earned gold medals. Sam Harris, John Hodge, Marty Luevano, Mary Luevano, Hannah Jordan, Isaac Haworth and James Kirtley earned silver medals.

CHS Band Students Earn Gold at State

Six Champion High School musicians earned a gold medal at State UIL Solo & Ensemble contest May 27. Zachary Bell, Marcus Lemoine, David Marantes, Marcos Martinez, Meagan McMann and Aaron Thomas earned top honors with their trombone choir performance. Bell also earned a silver medal on his performance on his tenor trombone solo.

Other Champion students participating in the state contest included Jacob Anglin, Wyatt Evans, Ryan Lindskog, and Elana Osterman - saxophone quartet; Mason Fiedler, Kyle Jackson, Kendalyn Lytle, and Matthew Krupa - saxophone quartet; Aaron Boswell, Ethan Perryman, Azul Lozoya, T.J. Pole, and Andrew Tanet - clarinet choir; Daniel Lawson -French horn solo; David Marantes - bass trombone solo; Jack Chatelle, Wesley Schweers, and Tyler Zinck - trumpet trio; Joshua Bell, Nathan Crosby, David Wilson, and Carter Young - French horn quartet; Caden Fortenberry, Wade Honea, Sam Murley, and Zoe Sueltenfuss - tuba/euphonium quartet; and Cory Beck, Lance Henderson, David Hilleman - percussion ensemble.

Seven Boerne ISD educators spent part of their summer learning more about local business entities and the ways in which they interact in order to create a stronger, more business-savvy community.

The inaugural K-12 Career Literacy Program has Boerne ISD and the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce working in partnership with local businesses to gain insights into business and industry operations so that the educators are better equipped to prepare students for the workforce.

According to one program organizer, educators are looking for meaningful professional development experiences that will enhance their teaching. Those experiences can be found in industries that may differ from educators' subject matter areas but are relevant to career literacy for students in all classes.

"As an educator learns more about a particular business, connections are made between what teachers are teaching and real world application," says Boerne ISD Career and Technical Education coordinator Sandie Ford. "We cannot prepare our students today for specific professions or jobs in some cases, as many of the jobs they will hold are not even created yet. What we can do is teach them to problem solve so problems they are faced with in their future world of work, many of which are not problems yet, can be solved."

Firsthand experience gained by shadowing participating business partners allows an educator to speak about topics related to career education with ease as they integrate their experience into the regular school day.

Organizers of the learning opportunity praise the strong partnership between the Chamber, the school district and local employers. Business partners taking part in the Career Literacy Program include Albany Composites, ElectroLab Controls, Kendall County Women's Shelter, Kronkosky Place, Kendall County District Attorey, Bandera Electric Cooperative, Morningside Ministries at Menger Springs, Jennings Anderson Ford and the Leon Springs Business Association.

Boerne ISD educators taking part in the program include Diane Arnold, Alanna Blomquist, Amy Hogan, Chris Liberty, Janea Moellendorf, Janie Sellers and Sarah Womble. Presenters during the multi-day program include Ruthie Kneupper, Region 20 Consultant; Jennifer Hudson, Boerne Chamber; Misty Mayo, Kendall County Economic Development Corporation; Zach Beshea, BISD; Donna Oates, BISD; Terry Holmes, BISD; Kerri Sparkman, BISD; and Sandie Ford, BISD.

A five-student team from Boerne Middle School North finished fifth in the nation at the National History Day competiion outside Washington, D.C., June 12-16. Sponsored by history teacher Bryan Degner, the students competed in the junior group performance category, where their depiction of World War II's WASP women's aviation corps caught the eye of the judges. Congratulations to the team of rising freshmen, which included (from left) Cara Wylie, Mac Holmes, Sheldon Quinn, sponsor Bryan Degner, Tyler Roberts and Christa Lueders. More than 3,000 students from across the country and around the world compete in National History Day, which is held at the University of Maryland.

The Boerne ISD Board of Trustees on Monday, June 20, passed a general operating budget of $70.1 million for 2016-17 which includes a 2 percent pay increase for district employees. The budget also includes a $25 monthly supplement to offset the cost of employees' medical insurance.

The newly approved budget provides for 27 new positions across the district in the new school year.

2016 Bond Projects Move Forward

The Board authorized SAMCO Capital Markets to move forward with the issuance of $75 million in bonds, the first phase in what will be a total of $175 million in bonds sold over the next two years. These first funds will support the initial projects scheduled as part of the 2016 bond.

The Board also granted the superintendent the authority to negotiate a fair price for real estate that would serve as a site for middle school #3.

The Board approved a number of measures associated with 2016 bond-related projects, including naming Bartlett-Cocke the general contractor for the various construction projects to be initiated under the bond. The Bartlett-Cocke firm currently serves as construction manager at risk for the 2013 bond projects and was selected from among three contractors who submitted bids for the position.

Site layout for Elementary School #6 was approved by the Board. The architectural design of the new Fabra campus will be used at the Dietz Elkhorn site. LPA architects (formerly OCO) will lead the project. Work already has begun to prepare the site for construction.

Architects, engineers and consultants for other bond-related projects were named. That list is available for review here.

The Board approved a guaranteed maximum price for the first phase of repurposing the old Fabra campus. Bartlett-Cocke presented a GMP of $2,588,103. Under provisions of the 2013 bond, work is already underway on the site, including removal of portable classrooms and other preparatory work.

The Board also approved temporary site improvements to the Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary campus that will assist with parking and loading zone traffic congestion on the campus.

Government Relations Committee Active

Board member Rich Sena reported a significant amount of activity in the area of government relations, specifically generating awareness among state elected officials about the increased pressures placed on this district and others by the current school finance system.

There was a good deal of discussion among board members about the recent Texas Supreme Court ruling that offered little in the way of a remedy for school finance.

Mr. Sena plans to continue a strategic, aggressive program of information not only to those elected officials who directly serve the district, but to a broader reach of officials who are in position to influence state spending on public education.

Next Meeting

The Board's next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, August 15, 2016.

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