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ALAMO HEIGHTS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT • 7101 BROADWAY • SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78209 Regular Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees
September 19, 2013

DELEGATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Spotlight on Excellence Award - Lee Bibb, Howard ECC
First Time Author of "Artemis Rising" - Emma Hodgson, Alamo Heights High School
National Hispanic Institute Texas Ambassador Great Debate Program City-wide
Debating Team State Title - Alamo Heights High School - Allegra Cantu, Ryan Castro, Adam
Luna, Melanie McDaniel, Julian Perales, Genesis Rivera, Lilliana Sosa, Ricky Tamez, Taylor Torres, Isabella Zertuche, and Sol Zona. The following students also received individual recognitions: Allegra Cantu – Best Debater in the Senate, Adam Luna – Speaker of the House, and Isabella Zertuche – Nominee for Best Author of a Resolution in the House.
AHHS Aerospace Students Launch of Rocket at White Sands, New Mexico - John Bordini,
Zach Deeds, Nathan DeFreest, Calvin Giddens, Gabe Gomez, Austin Henderson, Ray Kaples, Megan Lane, David Limon, Kian Lopez, Blake Mackay, Hunter Martin, Taylor Monroe, Chris Ortegon, Alex Rodriguez, Alex Rubin, Elizabeth Stich, Carson Tussey, Colin Lang (teacher).
University Council for Education Administration Outstanding Leader Award - Dr. Kevin
Kirsten Jacobson, President, Alamo Heights High School Student Council, reported that
they helped distribute textbooks during registration, held a “New Student Lunch” with 50-60 new students attending, and they also held a Club Fair with approximately 45 clubs
ITEMS FOR PRESENTATION OR POSSIBLE ACTION

Trustees approved the following student trips:
• 2014 Spring Break Trip to France, March 8-15, 2014 for French students at AHHS • 2014 Spurs Trip to Disneyland – Anaheim, CA, March 21-23, 2014 Presentation of End of Course Surveys
Dr. Frank Alfaro presented the End of Course Survey for all campuses for the Spring 2012 and Spring 2013 from students and parents. The data compiled has been very meaningful for
Strategic Plan Update: Teaming and Looping
Trustees heard an update on the Strategic Plan - Teaming and Looping. Ms. Hyacinth Burt, teacher, Alamo Heights Junior School, described the Teaming and Looping Cohort (TALC) program at the Junior School. There are four teachers, Lora Lane, Rachel Sadosky, Kirstin Davis, and Mrs. Burt. Last year they started with two teachers and this year there are four teaching reading/social studies and a math/science block. The students enrolled in TALC have the same teacher for each block in 6th and 7th grades over a two-year period and provides opportunities for in-depth exploration and integration of subject material. Ben Keenan, teacher, Alamo Heights High School, described the Foundations in Interdisciplinary Learning (FIL) at the High School. Teachers include Brent Ostos, Lucille Duncan, Tracey Anderson and Mr. Kennan. Students in FIL will have the same team of core teachers for two years so that they can make connections between subject areas to apply what they learn in their core courses to real world problems and real world solutions.
Strategic Plan Update: Differentiated Instruction
Mrs. Jimmie Walker, Elementary Academic Dean, gave an update on the Strategic Plan: Differentiated Instruction. To date a committee with representatives from each campus was formed to look for evidence of DI on the campus. They have redesigned differentiated instruction initiatives, and created a list of recommendations. This year they will recruit campus DI facilitators, work with DDT to create design process template that incorporates DI, articulate expectations of differentiation through curriculum staff development, and begin DI cohorts in the spring semester across all campuses.
Presentation of AHHS 2013 TAKS and STAAR End of Course (EOC) Results
Dr. Frank Alfaro and Dr. Dana Bashara presented the 2013 TAKS, STARR, and End of Course results. They reviewed graphs that highlighted student achievement at all levels in all subject
Trustees approved Class Size Waiver for six sections in second grade. Four of those
sections are Spanish Immersion classrooms in grades first and third (two each) at Cambridge Elementary and two sections are regular classrooms in third grade at Woodridge Elementary. Trustees approved the following donations:
• $9,727.60 from the 2012-2013 Howard PTO Board for curriculum enrichment and $950 from the 2013-2014 Howard PTO Board for "Beginning of Year" teacher supplies. • $20,500 to Alamo Heights Junior School from the PTO to support the teachers and staff. • A Viola valued at $950 to the High School from Eli and Bonnie Negron. • $9,836 to Alamo Heights High School from the PTSO. Trustees approved the payment of bills.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Alamo
Heights Central Office Board Room.
“Board Briefs” may be found on the Alamo Heights ISD Webpage

Source: http://www.ahisd.net/board/bbriefs/09september/Board_Briefs_9-19-13.pdf