Category: Uncategorized

The MISD Minute: Friday, Feb. 12, 2021

~ Montgomery ISD

Building a Budget that Prioritizes Employee Compensation

Thank you to all who attended our first Budget Town Hall meeting this week at the District ESC. It was well-attended with highly engaged staff and stakeholders. Our budget development process for 2021-22 is in its early stages, and as I stated during the discussion, increasing employee compensation is our top priority.

Identifying the funds necessary to provide meaningful pay increases wont come without some challenges. The threat of a recapture – aka “Robin Hood” – payment to the state, inequitable per-student funding we receive when compared to our neighboring districts, and other factors like a limited fund balance are all challenges we need to overcome. Despite these challenges, District senior leadership and campus principals are working diligently together to identify areas of possible savings that could be allocated directly towards increasing employee compensation.

My commitment to you through the entire budget process is transparency and proactive, collaborative communication. In the coming weeks, we’ll share with you information on how the budget is being developed as well as specific budget-related items being discussed. We’re a long way from making any recommendations to the Board of Trustees, and even further away from a final decision and budget adoption in June.

I look forward to a transparent and collaborative budget development process.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heath Morrison

All Classes to be Remote on Tuesday, Feb. 16

Due to likely unsafe road conditions resulting from the forecasted inclement weather impacting our region, all Montgomery ISD schools will shift to remote instruction on Tuesday, Feb. 16. No in-person classes will be held on Tuesday.

Students will be contacted by their school regarding remote learning activities for Tuesday, Feb. 16. In-person classes are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

A remote learning day on Tuesday, Feb. 16 rather than a closure, will ensure that we will not need to add additional instructional days to the 2020-2021 school year calendar.

Please know that weather-related decisions are not taken lightly. When making a decision to close or shift to remote learning due to weather, the district works closely and consults with county officials as well as neighboring superintendents. All decisions are made with the safety of students and staff as the top priority.

In making weather-related decisions, we attempt to provide as much advance notice as possible to our families. This decision was made early due to weather reports showing unusually cold and inclement conditions in our region early next week.

Please be safe and, if possible, adhere to the advice of local authorities regarding road travel in the area.

MISD Board of Trustees Meeting – Feb. 16

The MISD Board of Trustees is still scheduled to meet for its monthly regular meeting on Tuesday. Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the District ESC.

During this meeting, trustees will give a special recognition to our school counselors in honor of National School Counseling week, which was Feb 1-5. Thanks to all who joined us in celebrating our amazing school counselors last week.

During this unprecedented year, the work of our school counselors has been especially heroic. In fact, over the years, the duties of school counselors has expanded well beyond the traditional “guidance counselor” role. School counselors now fill the critically important role of providing a comprehensive developmental school counseling program that focuses on student social and emotional well-being, in addition to academic success.

During the board meeting, Trustees will also consider adoption of a Board Resolution urging Governor Greg Abbott to prioritize school district employees in the next round of COVID-19 vaccinations. While we respect every individual’s right to make their own healthcare-related decisions, we believe that public school employees should be an eligible recipient of the vaccines, given the magnitude and importance of their roles.

Second Strategic Plan Town Hall Meeting

Mark your calendars for the next Strategic Plan Town Hall meeting at Lake Creek HS on Thursday, Feb. 25 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

We’re thrilled with the level of excitement and participation in the work to develop the district’s strategic plan. At the next Town Hall, we’ll discuss possible district initiatives and strategies to be included in the final plan. The initiatives and strategies developed during this process will be designed to empower the district to meet the goals and performance objectives adopted by the Board of Trustees.

As a reminder, the five district goals adopted by the Board of Trustees are:

  • Goal 1: Academic Achievement
  • Goal 2: Safety
  • Goal 3: Operations and Finance
  • Goal 4: Human Capital
  • Goal 5: Communications & Customer Service

Thank you for your participation in the strategic planning process!

Superintendent Shout-Out: LCHS Principal Phil Eaton

This week, our own Lake Creek High School Principal Mr. Phil Eaton was recognized as one the 100 greatest high school basketball coaches in the history of the Texas University Interscholastic League!

Mr. Eaton coached for 17 years, amassing over 400 wins at stops in Humble ISD and Pasadena ISD. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Eaton for this remarkable, well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations, Coach Eaton!

(I hope you enjoy the photos in the slideshow of Mr. Eaton during his coaching “prime”)

BONUS Superintendent Shout-Out: Teresa Tipton

Earlier this month, I made a difficult announcement that Teresa Tipton would be leaving the district for a new professional opportunity.

Today, I’m excited to inform you that Teresa has decided to remain with us as our Benefits, Leave and Worker’s Compensation Specialist! Montgomery ISD is blessed to have a dedicated employee like Teresa.

Please join me in thanking Teresa for her commitment to Team MISD!

Schools and Offices Closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day

All schools and district offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 15 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

In the history of our great nation, we’ve had many courageous and bold leaders occupy the White House. The president I admire most is Abraham Lincoln. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from him:

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Montgomery ISD Weather Alert – Feb. 12, 2021

~ Montgomery ISD

Due to likely unsafe road conditions resulting from the forecasted inclement weather impacting our region, all Montgomery ISD schools will shift to remote instruction on Tuesday, Feb. 16. No in-person classes will be held on Tuesday.

Students will be contacted by their school regarding remote learning activities for Tuesday, Feb. 16. In-person classes are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

A remote learning day on Tuesday, Feb. 16, rather than a closure, will ensure that we will not need to add additional instructional days to the 2020-2021 school year calendar.

Please know that weather-related decisions are not taken lightly. When making a decision to close or shift to remote learning due to weather, the district works closely and consults with county officials as well as neighboring superintendents. All decisions are made with the safety of students and staff as the top priority.

In making weather-related decisions, we attempt to provide as much advance notice as possible to our families. This decision was made early due to weather reports showing unusually cold and inclement conditions in our region early next week.

Please be safe and, if possible, adhere to the advice of local authorities regarding road travel in the area.

Here are a few other items of note:

  • Girls’ Varsity soccer game start times scheduled tonight (Friday) have been changed to 4 p.m. at Lake Creek HS, and 5 p.m. at Montgomery HS. JV girls’ soccer games have been cancelled.
  • Extracurricular activities on Saturday, Feb. 13 will be held as scheduled.
  • Extracurricular activities scheduled Sunday, Feb. 14 through Tuesday, Feb. 16 are cancelled.
  • The MISD Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. is scheduled to be held as normal.

As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 15.

Montgomery ISD Weather Alert – Feb. 11, 2021

~ Montgomery ISD

We are closely monitoring weather reports of potential freezing rain, ice, and possibly snow late this weekend into early next week. Should weather conditions become too hazardous for travel in the area, the district will make a decision to shift to all remote learning on Tuesday, Feb. 16. We will make a final decision as soon as possible to provide families with time to make arrangements.

As the weekend progresses, please visit the MISD Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as our website (www.misd.org) for updates. If a decision is made to shift to remote learning, notifications will be sent out via email, text message and recorded phone call.

Please know that weather-related decisions are not taken lightly. When making a decision to close or shift to remote learning due to weather, the district works closely and consults with county officials as well as neighboring superintendents. All decisions are made with the safety of students and staff as the top priority.

All extracurricular events on campuses this Saturday will be held as scheduled.

As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 15.

Oak Hills Lions Begin The Year With Positivity And Purpose

~ OHJH LIONS ~ Leave a comment
OAK HILLS LIONS #ONEWORD CHALLENGE

Oak Hills 7th and 8th graders are participating in the #OneWord365 campaign to start off the new year with positivity and a purpose! The #OneWord365 campaign challenges individuals to scrap New Year’s resolutions and a long list of goals, and instead, choose just #OneWord to focus on every day, all year long. The one word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live – always focusing on the positive and productive. “It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also YOU! It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.”

Our English teachers, lead by Mrs. Hoffmann, had our Lions choose their #OneWord and then illustrate their word. Using their illustrated words, the students then created a beautiful mural that spans the ELA hallway. 
 

#ONEWORD meaning from some of our students:

Kaelyn W. “Reassurance” – Everything will be okay

Ella B. “Inspire” – role model positivity

Kate A. “Amiable” -to be friendly

Nick T. “Consistent” -with making the best choices

Dallas K. “Determined” -physically and mentally

Presley W. “Content” -grateful for what you have

Briana G. “Fearless” -to be bold and take chances

Lone Star ES ~ A Week of Celebrations!

~ Andrea Terna

It was an exciting week at Lone Star Elementary as we celebrated the 100th Day of School with a parade featuring our 1st graders. Kindergarten got in on the action the following day as they enjoyed festivities for the 101st Day of School. To conclude the busy week, Dr. Bartlett and Ms. Lout served up the LSE staff by hosting a tailgating party for all our 1st round draft picks!

Montgomery JH Bells Take Center Stage

~ valissajones

Earning Division I Ratings at Bryan Rudder High School Competition on Saturday

Montgomery Junior Bells Lieutenants, Laurel Hereford and Victoria Mattfeld earn Division I ratings for their duet. Captain, Sierra Hayden and Lieutenant, Victoria Mattfeld scored Division I ratings on their solos. Mallory Mosley, 7th grade line member, also scored Division 1. The entire Junior Belles team will compete February 20th at Montgomery High School and March 6th at the Woodlands College. #BearProud

The MISD Minute: Friday, Feb. 5, 2021

~ Montgomery ISD

Dear Team MISD,

This week is National School Counseling Week!

Our school counselors play a critical role in both the academic and social and emotional well-being of our students. Each day, they push our students to achieve the goals and aspirations they’ve set for themselves, while ensuring that each of them receive the support they need to be successful. I could not be more thankful for the hard work and dedication our counselors have shown this year. They are truly making a tremendous impact on the lives of Montgomery ISD students, and the work they have contributed to our district’s collective efforts this year is without a doubt one of the reasons that nearly 95% of our students are currently participating in traditional, in-person instruction.

Showing appreciation for our counselors is especially important – even personal – to me. When I entered high school as a student, going to college was not an option I was considering. However, my high school guidance counselor not only inspired me to pursue college, but also helped me secure the scholarships I needed for financial support along the way. I would not have become the first person in my family to attend college and ultimately obtained my Master’s degree and Ph.D. without the guidance, support and inspiration of my counselor.

It has been a pleasure getting to know our dedicated counselors during my time as superintendent. Seeing their passion and dedication to our students is inspiring, and I’m excited about the work being performed in our district strategic plan to further strengthen the role of counselors in Montgomery ISD.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heath Morrison

MISD Strategic Planning Survey

As we continue our district strategic plan work, it’s important that we survey our employees, parents, students and community members on important issues encompassing the five Board of Trustee-adopted district goals, which are: Academics, Safety, Operations and Finance, Human Capital, and Communications and Customer Service.

Diverse community and stakeholder participation in the district strategic planning process is important to us as our strategic plan task force committees work on Key Performance Indicators and initiatives and strategies designed to meet our district goals.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by clicking the link below. The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

We appreciate your time and feedback. The survey will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15.

Click here to access the MISD Strategic Planning Survey

Budget Town Hall Reminder

On Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m., we will hold a Budget Town Hall meeting in the Board Room of the MISD Education Support Center.

At this Town Hall, Chief Financial Officer Kris Lynn and I will discuss our budgeting process and priorities for the 2021-22 school year and provide the community with an overview of district revenues and expenditures. As we work through our budget process, we are fully committed to transparency, active engagement and making meaningful improvements to employee salaries.

I look forward to the community’s participation in these discussions.

Student Leadership Council Meetings

  • MHS
  • LCHS

It is always the highlight of my week when I have the pleasure of meeting with our student leaders. This week, I held my monthly meetings with my student leadership councils at Montgomery HS and Lake Creek HS.

These leaders never fail to impress me with their passion and insight on how we can improve the student experience in Montgomery ISD. During this meeting, students provided us with valuable input on our strategic planning survey, which was launched today. We also discussed their personal growth as leaders by reviewing one of Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: First seek to understand, then to be understood.

Communication Council Meetings

This week I met with my District Elementary and Secondary Communication Councils. These groups are comprised of a representative from each campus who each bring to me various issues, thoughts, concerns and suggestions raised by their colleagues. In addition to the issues brought forward by members of the councils, we discussed the district strategic plan process and also spent time talking about culture and morale across the district.

These conversations are not only important, but valuable to me as we seek constant improvement in how the district supports our teachers and other campus-level staff. I charge myself, and my leadership team, with responding to the issues raised by the communications councils in writing, which we always share districtwide to all staff.

Our goal is to provide written responses to issues raised by the communications councils within the next two weeks.

Superintendent Shout-Out: Jayson Kimberly

This week, I want to give a Superintendent Shout-out to Montgomery High School’s Jayson Kimberly, who was recently featured on KPRC Channel Houston Life for his fantastic work through his own non-profit organization, Leave it for the Pooch. As the proud owner of a rescue dog, I am especially moved by Jayson’s story and dedication to this outstanding cause.

You continue to make us all proud, Jayson!

You can watch Jayson’s segment on Houston Life here.