Trustees recognize state-level accomplishments in athletic and Academic Decathlon competitions
During the March meeting of the Montgomery ISD Board of Trustees, the Board approved the purchase of the SMART tag bus monitoring system, designed to increase the safety and security of students who use school bus transportation and add efficiencies to MISD transportation operations. ID cards assigned to students will register when and where students get on and off their bus and provide bus arrival notifications for parents and school administrators.
The student ID cards are read via a passive radio-frequency chip containing a unique identification number. The card is read by the SMART tag on-board tablet as students enter and exit their bus. The latest cloud technology, encryption and security protocols ensure student information is secure.
“We are excited to adopt the SMART tag technology in Montgomery ISD,” Trustee Linda Porten said. “This technology will enhance communication between our transportation department and parents. In addition to providing real-time GPS information about where our buses are and the students on those buses, parents may subscribe to text notifications to know when the bus is preparing for pickup and drop off. This feature will be incredibly helpful for busy families, alerting them with a 10-15 minute window for when the bus will arrive at their child’s stop.”
The SMART tag alert system will go into effect next fall when MISD bus routes have been finalized. More information about the system will be communicated to families in advance of the 2023-24 school year.
Trustees also recognized Lake Creek student athletes Lauren Matula and Julie Moons. Matula, a junior, captured a gold medal in the 500 freestyle and silver medal in 200 freestyle event at the UIL Class 5A State Swimming and Diving Championships in February. Matula is the first swimmer from Lake Creek to win a state medal. Moons, a junior, became the second Lake Creek athlete to win a medal at the event, taking silver in the 1-meter diving category.
Also during the meeting, trustees recognized Montgomery ISD’s Academic Decathlon teams for their recent success at the state tournament. Individuals named as state champions from Lake Creek include Brett Harrington and Krystal Moons. From Montgomery High, Addison Hedges, Steven Szladewski and Peyton Lawson earned top honors. Both schools had multiple individual medalists and strong showings in the team competitions.
“We are very proud of the accomplishments of our Academic Decathlon programs,” Board President Matt Fuller said. “These bright students began preparing for the state competition at the beginning of the school year, and we are pleased that their efforts were recognized against other individual participants and teams. We are delighted to have Montgomery ISD represented so well at the state level.”
Academic Decathlon challenges students in a multidisciplinary format, with a new theme each year. This year’s theme, the American Revolution and the New Nation, required students to study the era via Art, Economics, Literature, Music, and Social Science of the time. Curriculum is developed according to national content standards, encouraging participants to become both subject-level experts and stronger all-around students. Montgomery ISD is pleased to offer Academic Decathlon courses at both high schools.
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