Ferris ISD Superintendent's Corner

School Board Appreciation Month

2011-01-18T14:29:00.001-08:00

Throughout the state of Texas school districts are honoring their board members for the hours of service and dedication that they give to the students and staff of each school district. In Ferris ISD we have 7 dedicated board members that volunteer endless hours to the betterment of our district. Board members serve 3 year terms and are elected by the registered voters that reside within the boundaries of Ferris ISD.

Board members in Ferris ISD are:

Thomas Griffith- Board President
Robert Scott, Jr. - Board Vice President
Lee Longino- Board Secretary
Bobby Lindsey- Board Member
Jorge Lopez- Board Member
Elizabeth Munoz- Board Member
Duane Yee- Board Member

At Ferris ISD we salute our board members! Thank you for the service and dedication that you give to Ferris ISD!

Inequity in Texas Public School Funding

2010-10-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

As a citizen of the great state of Texas you would assume that no matter where you live that the value placed on a child's education would be the same. That is certainly not the case in Texas! The Texas Public School Finance System continues to fund school districts on an unequal basis. Approximately 660 Texas school districts fall below the state average target revenue of $5,455($5,455 is the average amount that school districts receive per student). Our district, Ferris ISD, falls well below the state average of $5,455 per student. We receive $4,975 per student. As an example, Ferris ISD receives revenue per student of $4,975, this is approximately $10,560 less for a typical classroom of 22 weighted students. Funding disparity is not particular to Ferris-it is a state-wide problem that affects all Texas school children. Additionally, in Ellis County, the average revenue per student is $5,131 or approximately $7,128 less for a typical weighted classroom of 22 students.

The students that reside in Ferris ISD and attend our schools deserve the same opportunity that students get in other districts throughout the state of Texas. Our students deserve the same quality: facilities, teachers, classroom manipulatives, equipment, field trip opportunities, and other educational assistance. I would encourage each of you to contact your elected state officials and let them know that we all expect for the state government to "Make Education a Priority" and to fund school districts equitably. All Texas students deserve the same opportunity!

Ferris ISD State Officials:

The Honorable Jim Pitts
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, Texas 78768

The Honorable Brian Birdwell
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711

Super Summer

2010-07-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Students and staff members of FISD are currently enjoying their summer. School will resume for students on Monday, August 23rd at 8:00 a.m. Returning staff members will report back to school on Monday, August 16th for our district breakfast at 8:00 a.m. at the Ferris High School Cafetorium.

If you need assistance from any of us at Ferris ISD, you can reach us at 972-544-3858 throughout the summer. From June 7th through August 6th, Ferris ISD follows the schedule of four 10-hour days a week, Monday through Thursday, resuming its normal schedule on Monday, August 9th.

Have a great summer!

Summer Educational Opportunities

2010-04-30T11:33:00.001-07:00

As summer approaches students will leave the schoolhouse and go home for the summer. Many students will totally shut down for the summer and choose to do nothing educational. Research shows us that kids lose part of what they have learned when they turn off and tune out during the summer months. One way to combat this loss is to provide your student with educational opportunities throughout the summer months. Some ideas might include:

*Field trips to various local sites such as:
a. The Dallas or Ft. Worth Zoo
b. The Museum of Natural History
c. The Dallas Museum of Art or the Kimball Art Museum(Ft. Worth)
d. The Nasher Sculpture Center
e. The Dallas World Aquarium
After the trip have your student discuss what he or she found interesting and have them do additional research on those topics.

*Attend a cultural event such as :
a. The Dallas Summer Musicals
b. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra
These events will broaden your students cultural awareness and expose them to the performing arts.

*Watch educational television such as:
a. Nova or Frontline on Channel 13- Both shows explore current and sometimes contraversial issue
b. The National Geographic Channel- Exposes the student to the vast world of nature

There are many ways to extend the learning experiences of your student. If you need addtional suggestions contact your child's teacher.

Working together we can make certain that your child achieves his or her maximum potential.

The 3 Keys to Educational Success

2010-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Many people believe that they simply send their children to school and the school system will produce an educated young adult. Oh that it were that simple. We do an excellent job in public schools educating students. Our students are able to compete with students from across the country for:jobs, college scholarships, and college admissions. Success in school doesn't just happen. To maximize a students time in school there are three components that must work diligently to create and turnout a highly educated young adult. Those 3 components are:
*The Student
*The Parent
*The School
If any of these 3 participants neglect their responsibility then you will have less than maximum potential outcome. Let us now look at the responsibilities of each.

The Student- The student must want to learn and realize that we all have high expectations for his or her performance. If these expectations begin at an early age then the student will hopefully internalize these expectations and they will become intrinsic goal for the student. The student will have high expectations for themself and they will strive, on their own, to achieve excellence. The student must also put in the time to study and prepare for class. Student must develop a good work ethic and learn to utilize their time wisely.

The Parent- The parent must have high expectations for their student. Parents must hold their students accountable and expect their student to achieve up to their potential. Parents must be supportive of the school and remind the student of their responsibility in the educational process. Parents must demand that the student achieve up to their potential and intervene if the student is not meeting those demands. Communication with the school is a critical part of the parents role. Be certain to regularly communicate with your students teacher(s). Find out from the teacher how your student is performing in class and make the necessary adjustment at home to maximize your childs performance.

The School- The school must provide each student with a rigorous course of studies that will prepare the student for life after high school. Teachers should develop a rapport with each student and deliver instruction in various ways to meet the varied learning styles of the students. Schools must insure that students are safe and feel comfortable at school. Teacher must communicate with the student and the parent and make certain that the student is maximizing their potential.

If these 3 groups each do their part in the educational process then we can rest assured that our end product, a well prepared young adult, will be ready to function in todays dynamic marketplace. At Ferris ISD we want to maximize every students potential.