Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Run For Ryan Tomorrow

HPISD students and community members are banding together to raise money and search for a kidney donor for 11-year-old Ryan Michael.

Ryan’s fellow students at McCulloch Intermediate School are raising money to help offset the considerable expenses associated with Ryan’s kidney transplant with the Run for Ryan. The fund-raiser will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the MIS track. If you would like to sponsor a runner or get more information about the Run for Ryan, please contact MIS Assistant Principal Dr. Marcia Pool at poolm@hpisd.org or call 214-780-3500.

HPISD voters approve $75.4 million bond issue

HPISD voters approve $75.4 million bond issue

Voters in Highland Park ISD overwhelmingly approved a $75.4 million school bond issue today with 91.15% backing the proposition. The vote was 1,844 to 179.

“I am deeply grateful to the community for supporting the bond issue and for investing in the maintenance of the historical school houses that have served the students of HPISD for many decades,” HPISD Superintendent Dr. Cathy Bryce said. “We pledge to manage the money with the utmost care and to work closely with a community-based bond oversight committee to ensure that the projects are completed in accordance with community expectations.”

Bryce said she was thrilled by the voting turnout and the margin of victory.

“The voting numbers speak volumes about this incredible community and its support for its public schools. This community never ceases to amaze me.”

HPISD School Board President Jeff Barnes called the results “a tremendous vote of confidence from our community.”

He lauded the Facilities Committee and the Community Bond Committee, both of which were made up of community members.

“We are so grateful to these leaders for their excellent work,” Barnes said. “The Facilities Committee laid the groundwork for a successful bond issue by touring the campuses and studying the details of each building’s maintenance history and projected needs. They also spent considerable time holding public forums and listening to feedback from parents and other taxpayers. In the end, they brought a very solid proposal to the school board, which we, in turn, put to a public vote.

“Then the Community Bond Committee picked up the ball and put together a phenomenal campaign,” he said. “They put up yard signs, distributed letters and reminder cards and ran a very effective e-mail campaign advocating for the bond. There is no doubt that their work led to increased voter awareness and turnout. We thank each and every one of these workers, and each voter who went to the polls and supported our schools.”