A letter from the Carroll ISD Superintendent was mailed to all parents of current sixth and seventh graders this week. The letter offers a special transfer policy for current seventh graders who wish to attend a campus outside of their regular attendance zone next year. School Trustees approved FM1709 as the boundary for middle school students beginning in August 2002. Students who reside north of 1709 will be zoned to Carroll Middle School. Students who reside south of 1709 will be zoned to Dawson Middle School. There will be no middle school students at Carroll Junior High School next year, resulting in changes for quite a few CISD families and employees. Parents of this year's seventh graders have until January 31st to decide whether or not they want to request an in-district transfer. Transportation is not provided for transfer students. Those who make a request prior to January 31st will automatically receive the transfer. All others, including transfer requests by parents of current sixth graders, will be considered by June 1st. School officials have also set a January 31st deadline for all school employees to request a transfer from their current assignment. The deadlines will help school officials staff CISD schools for the 2002-2003 school year. Copies of the superintendent's letter, along with the transfer application and middle school zoning map are available on the district's web site at http://www.southlakecarroll.edu.

Split Configuration To Begin Next Year

Carroll School Trustees voted unanimously Monday to implement a 9/10 and 11/12 split high school configuration beginning in August 2002. The decision means that 9th and 10th graders will attend classes at the current Carroll Junior High School; however, the school will be renamed Carroll High School. All 11th and 12th graders will attend classes at the current Carroll High School building, which will become known as Carroll Senior High School (CSHS). After months of public debate, Trustees voted Nov. 12 to implement *Option B* - the split configuration. They authorized the Administration to make a recommendation in December regarding transition plans. Superintendent Dr. Ted Gillum said the district's growth management plan called for the split configuration to be implemented in August 2002 all along. After meetings with principals and directors of various programs, the Administration agreed to move forward with the plan this next year. Trustees concurred, asking the Administration to continue to work out all the transportation, scheduling and staffing details. Principals Dr. Daniel Presley and Robin Ryan were on hand Monday to discuss details of the decision. Options being considered include identical schedules with one-way bus transportation provided between the two schools. To help prevent scheduling problems, the idea of 12-minute passing periods is being discussed. Preliminary plans are for the schools to operate together as one high school, but also with separate activities and organizations to help each school establish its own identity and traditions. The two principals said they are excited about the challenges that are ahead and believe that the Board's decision will be a good one for CISD high school students. They encouraged parents to exercise patience and trust as the district experiences growing pains during the change to the split configuration. More details about course offerings, scheduling and program operations will be forthcoming as decisions are made.

District Considers September Election

Discussion about projects to include in the 2002 bond package led school officials to consider the possibility of holding the election in September 2002 rather than in May as first discussed. Financial advisors will review project costs and make a recommendation to the district regarding a debt repayment schedule. Superintendent Dr. Ted Gillum said the decision to delay the bond election until September would not affect the district's ability to operate a split configuration at the high school campuses. The School Board held an extensive discussion about various projects, ruling out the need for an indoor activity building at Carroll Junior High School. They agreed to keep the possibility of a gymnastics facility as an option for voters, but also asked the Administration to cost out the option of using an existing gym at CJHS to begin a gymnastics program. Other projects earmarked for that campus are additional classrooms, a competition gymnasium and a fine arts auditorium. At Carroll High School, projects that may be included consist of a larger band hall, more office space for coaches and possibly even additional classrooms. Trustees agreed to reduce the student capacity of the two buildings to 1,600 based on updated demographic reports. Trustees spent a lot of time discussing options for Carroll Intermediate School. Dr. Gillum said changes in the major thoroughfare plans for Highway 114 may prompt the district to consider using the older CIS building for administrative offices and building a new school on East Highland between Carroll and Kimball. School architects and construction managers will study the cost of renovating CIS for classrooms and building a new administration building in comparison to a plan to build a new school and make CIS an administration building. Increased traffic near the campus may make it more appropriate to have it as an office building rather than a school. This issue is likely to be a separate proposition on the next bond ballot. School officials say the next step in developing the bond package is to consider whether district officials will form a bond steering committee or if they will collect community input through other methods such as town hall meetings and an interactive web site. The 2002 bond package is expected to total more than $100 million.

Board To Vote On Calendar January 14th

Trustees reviewed options for the 2002-2003 school calendar in preparation for a final vote at the January 14, 2002 School Board meeting. Dr. Nancy Rindone, Director of Staff and Program Development, presented Trustees with copies of a calendar proposed by the District Advisory Committee. The calendar was then posted on the district's web site for public review and comments. In addition, members of the DAC took the proposed calendar back to their campuses to obtain input. Dr. Rindone said minor revisions are being suggested for the calendar, based on the input received from employees and parents. The calendar calls for school to begin on August 19, which is in compliance with a new state law. Residents and school employees upset at the possibility of a shortened Thanksgiving break will be pleased to find the revision to include a five-day break in November. The district had first proposed an October fall break, however, this option was not favored by most of the respondents. Another minor revision to the calendar was made to give employees an additional holiday on January 2. Employees will return for a January 3 work day and a January 6 staff development day in 2003. The newly proposed calendar can be found on the district's web site at <http://www.southlakecarroll.edu>. Comments will be accepted prior to the Jan. 14th vote in written form to the Communications Department, 1201 N. Carroll Avenue or by E-mail to jthannum@cisdmail.com <mailto:jthannum@cisdmail.com>.

In other business, the School Board:

• heard a construction update by Brent Kline of J&A Construction Services. Nearly all the punch lists for the 1999 bond projects are completed. Substantial completion on Dawson Middle School is expected this month.

• discussed a recent decision by the Administration to fly the Dragon football team to a playoff game in Odessa. Superintendent Dr. Ted Gillum said he made the decision in the best interest of the players. The flight cost slightly under $5,000 more and avoided an overnight stay and 12-hours of riding the bus before playing two to three hours of a contact sport. Cheerleaders, drill team and band members, he said, went by bus because they were not competing, but rather were serving in a support capacity. Trustees encouraged the Administration to continue to work on a plan to develop a student travel policy and determine a per diem amount.

• accepted an annual audit report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001.

• granted a 10-foot wide permanent water line easement on Carroll Avenue near Carroll Intermediate School to the City of Southlake provided the city construct a sidewalk over the easement.

• tabled discussion on an inter local agreement for joint use of CISD facilities between CISD and the City of Southlake until an addendum for the use of the CIS field can be integrated into the agreement.

• approved equipment bids for the CISD Aquatics Center.

• approved the purchase of six buses and three 10-passenger vehicles for the 2002-2003 school year. In addition, Trustees asked the Transportation Department to move the wheelchair access on one of its smaller buses to the middle of the bus to allow student Matt Swinton the ability to socialize with his friends during the morning and afternoon bus rides.

• approved an agreement for the education of non-resident students between Carroll ISD and Keene ISD. The agreement will be managed by the Educational Service Center XI. The plan allows CISD Robin Hood monies to be kept regionally, allowing Tarrant County Schools, including Carroll, to benefit from Region XI technology services.

CISD Officials Testify Before Finance Committee

Representatives from Carroll ISD waited all day to have their moment before the state's Select Committee on School Finance. Superintendent Dr. Ted Gillum and Board President Rob Glover testified on Carroll's behalf at about 5 p.m., approximately seven hours after the public hearing began. Only three committee members remained at the time, but Dr. Gillum said he appreciates the opportunity to participate in one of only six statewide public school finance sessions held Dec. 13 at the new Fidelity Investments corporate campus in Westlake. CISD officials expressed concern about becoming a Chapter 41 district and facing cuts like those experienced in nearby Coppell, Plano and Grapevine-Colleyville ISDs. All three of those districts, plus a host of others affected by the school finance system, were in attendance. Carroll became a Robin Hood district this year and expects to pay about $3 million to property poor school districts this year. That number grows to $18 million within five years and greatly reduces CISD's ability to meet expenses for a growing student population and current programs.

State Rescinds Threat Warning

The Texas Department of Public Safety alerted law enforcement agencies today that an alleged threat against Texas schools has proven to be unfounded. The FBI issued an alert earlier this week that had not yet been corroborated. DPS Director Thomas A. Davis, Jr. issued the bulletin today saying, *Joint efforts have determined the threat is not credible, and there is no information to suggest any threat to a Texas school exists at this time.* CISD school officials sent the original notice to employees Wednesday afternoon. A second notice that the warning had been rescinded was sent on Friday. CISD considers the safety of its students and staff to be a top priority. School officials say they are glad the warning has been rescinded, but it serves as a good reminder to all of us to stay alert, be cautious and to report anything suspicious to a school administrator. There was never any reason to believe that CISD was at risk; however, local police increased patrols and visibility in and around the local campuses as a result of Wednesday's warning. CISD does maintain a crisis management plan, which includes ongoing training and procedures to handle district emergencies. Parents and visitors to the campus are strongly encouraged to check in at the front office to receive a visitor's badge or sticker.

Honoring Local Heroes

Join the Lady Dragons as they honor the Southlake Fire Department during halftime of the varsity girls' basketball game Tuesday, December 18th. Game time is 8 p.m. at Carroll High School. The Lady Dragons will present our local heroes with a Christmas tree for the fire department. Fans are asked to support this endeavor by attending the game and bringing a Christmas ornament for the firemen's tree.

Winter Break Approaches

CISD schools and offices will be closed for winter break December 20 through January 4. Employees will return for two days of staff development January 3 and 4, with regular classes resuming for students on Monday, January 7.

Principals To Participate In Statewide Academy

An elite group of Texas educators is preparing for the challenges of the future by participating in the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association's (TEPSA) Academy VII. As TEPSA enters the second year of the 2001-2002 program, the organization is proud to have Stacy Wagnon of Carroll Elementary and Kimberly Lawson of Durham Elementary participating. *The Academy is comprised of forward-thinking educational professionals who seek solutions to emerging issues,* said TEPSA Executive Director Sandi Borden. *We believe we're making positive contributions to education and ultimately, children.* Applicants for the Academy are selected based on the match between their stated objectives and program goals, with the aim of ensuring a variety of participants from a wide-range of school settings.

Textbook Materials On Display

Textbook adoption materials will be on display at Carroll Intermediate School in Room 7 from January 7-18. Parents interested in reviewing the materials may do so during regular school hours. Please check in at the front office of CIS upon your arrival.

CIS Science Club Takes Virtual Tour of NASA

Members of the Carroll Intermediate School Science Club took part in an interactive Video Teleconference tour of NASA recently. The students took the virtual tour with guides from NASA and learned more about the International Space Station. Sponsors for the CISD Science Club are Chris Underwood and Teri Weber. Pictures of this event are featured on the CISD Photo Gallery at www.southlakecarroll.edu.

Support For U.S. Troops

A web site has been created to help Americans E-mail members of each branch of the U.S. armed services. The public is invited to send notes of encouragement or to wish U.S. troops a happy holidays. The web site is http://anyservicememeber.navy.mil/.

CMS PALS Raise Funds

Members of the Carroll Middle School PALS program have raised in excess of $4,000 in a coin drive for an Angel Tree. The students are buying presents for the Christmas is for Children Foundation.

Wedding Bells Are Ringing

Congratulations to Eubanks Intermediate Counselor Cathy Wilson on her recent marriage to Brent Gillum, son of Carolyn and Ted Gillum.

EIS Student Featured on ABC

Eubanks Intermediate sixth grader Olivia Bennet is making a name for herself in the world of art. Olivia and her art teacher, Gina Gourley, will be featured on the ABC News (Channel 8) Monday evening. Olivia will also be on Good Morning Texas on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. She was interviewed about her love and talent for painting.

Our Newest Little Dragon

Congratulations to Gena Blasingame (CHS) on the birth of a new baby girl, Sara Ann, born on December 11. She weighed six pounds, nine ounces. Both mom and baby are home doing great.

RES Hosts Living Wax Museum

Fourth graders at Rockenbaugh Elementary School will participate in a living wax museum on Tuesday, December 18 from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. The event will be held in the cafeteria.

Beggin' For Bears Update

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Beggin' For Bears program for victims of the September 11th attacks. Carroll ISD collected more than 1,750 bears for children of the victims. Special thanks to Beth Asher for coordinating this event.

Sculpture Students Remember

Three students in Laura Lee Utz's sculpture class at Carroll High School designed, built and painted a large-scale memorial sculpture that was put in front of the high school on the three-month anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The CHS Student Council got involved and sponsored the piece, which they entitled *Remember the Past, Rebuilding the Future.* Members of the student body were encouraged to write comments and thoughts on the artwork before school, during lunch and after school. More than 100 students participated. The artwork measured 32 feet across and 10 feet high. The students were Dustin Tomlin, Michael Minchew and Jeremy Glover. They developed an in-class assignment and did a wonderful job of making an expressive tribute to our community.

CISD Hosts Programming Contest

Carroll High School hosted its first ever high school programming contest recently. More than 15 schools and 33 teams participated. The Oakridge School won first place and Science and Engineering finished second and third. The event was organized by Stacey Armstrong.

Thank you Lowes

The 6th graders at Durham Intermediate School, in partnership with Lowes, built 288 picture frames for military personnel who will not be home for Christmas. Lowe's provided four adults, hammers, aprons, goggles and frame kits during the two days of construction. Students were allowed to keep the aprons and safety goggles as a gift of appreciation from Lowes. After the students completed their frame they wrote a holiday message in a greeting card that was placed with each frame.

Upcoming Meetings:

Finance Committee: The CISD Budget & Finance Committee will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 19 at the Administration Annex, 3051 Dove. The committee will discuss the district's 2002 bond program, along with updates on demographics, school finance and Chapter 41.

School Board: The next meeting of the CISD School Board will be Monday, January 14, 2002. The meeting will begin with a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by an open meeting at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the school administration building, 1201 N. Carroll Ave.