February Board Report

Aldine ISD Trustees approved the 2020-21 academic calendar during the Feb. 11 Board meeting.

The first day of instruction will be Monday, Aug. 17.

Other key dates are:

• Thanksgiving Break – Nov. 23-27
• End of first semester – Dec. 17
• Mid-winter break – Dec. 18-Jan. 5 (students), Dec. 18-Jan. 2 (teachers)
• Spring break – March 15-19
• Last day of school for students – May 27
• Last day of school for teachers – May 28

Inclement weather days will be Feb. 15, 2021 and April 5, 2021.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Todd Davis celebrated Aldine ISD’s Magnet Schools during the Feb. 11 Board of Trustees meeting.

Dr. Davis introduced Director of Magnet Schools Oliva Boatner and Aldine’s six Magnet School principals. Those principals are:

• Lee Wold of Carter Academy
• Earnest Washington of Drew Academy
• Denise Winchester of Shotwell Middle School
• Sharla Rogers of Reece Academy
• Andrea Davis of Kujawa Primary School
• Kim Corrick-Jenkins of Kujawa Elementary School

Dr. Davis shared with the Board that Carter Academy, Drew Academy and Shotwell Middle School were recently named National Magnet Schools of Distinction by Magnet Schools of America. Only five schools in Texas were awarded this designation and Aldine claimed three of the five awards.

Additionally, Reece Academy and Kujawa Education Center, which includes Kujawa Primary and Kujawa Elementary, were named Magnet Schools of Excellence. This marked the third consecutive year Kujawa Education Center received this designation from Magnet Schools of America.

• Aldine Ninth Grade School was named the Building of the Month by Executive Director of Buildings and Properties Milo Ortiz. Judith Clotter is the head custodian and Kanisha Wiley is the school’s principal.
• Tammy Wilson was named the Transportation Department’s Employee of the Month. The announcement was made by Dr. Jill Metcalfe, Executive Director of Transportation. Wilson is a supervisor driver for the department.
• The Child Nutrition Team of the Month was the cafeteria staff of Mead Middle School. Susan D’Amico, Director of Child Nutrition Services, introduced the team, which consists of manager Akosua Antwi and specialists Martha Jimenez, Sylvia Villareal, Stacy Jones, Alondra Vasquez, Alma Quintero, Karen Wyche, Rosa Torres Rivera and Priscilla Hayes.

Stacey Smith, director of special programs, announced five grants at the Feb. 11 Board meeting.

Those grants were:

• Marcella Elementary School teacher Doua Kong received an $807 grant from Donors Choose.
• Nimitz High School teacher Andy Nguyen received a $185 grant from Donors Choose.
• Black Elementary teacher Hillary Volkman received a $4,351 grant from the Houston CPA Society.
• MacArthur High School teacher Albert Davila received an $8,000 grant from the East Aldine Management District.
• Dunn Elementary Principal Cheryl Davis received a $15,000 grant from the Lennar Foundation.

The grants announced at the Feb. 11 Board meeting totaled $28,343.

• Shanaya Anderson was named Director of Online Learning after serving as Aldine’s Virtual School Coordinator. Anderson is a 1996 graduate of Nimitz High School.

During the Feb. 11 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved the following action items.

Board President Paul Shanklin appointed Trustees to the following committees:

• Board Member Committee – Rose Avalos, chair; members Connie Esparza and Dr. Kimberley Booker
• Policy Revisions Committee and School Names Committee – Connie Esparza and Dr. Viola M. Garcia, co-chairs; Randy Bates, Rose Avalos, Dr. Kimberley Booker and Steve Mead, members
• Nominations Committee – Randy Bates, chair; Steve Mead and Dr. Viola M. Garcia, members
• Trustees approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Lone Star College System/Lone Star College-North Harris and Aldine ISD for the operation of Victory Early College High School through July 31, 2021.

Prior to the start of the Feb. 11 Board meeting, Trustees and attendees were entertained in the DAB foyer by the Plummer Theatre Troup under the direction of Jessica Jenkins and the Drew Academy Badger Dance Co. under the direction of Krystal Willis.

The Davis High School JROTC presented the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance and Pledge to the Texas Flag were led by deSantiago Primary students Ruby Garcia, Donovan Prosper and Paige Jackson.