Grant Administration 2011 - 2012 A N U A L __ R E P O R T

Grant Administration

2011 - 2012

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Laredo Independent School District Award Activity FY 2011 - 2012

Grant Administration Office

Superintendent’s Message

May 28, 2012

Greetings, The 2011-2012 LISD Grants Office Annual Report not only reviews the past year’s activities, but also provides a glimpse of our future. Every dollar brought into our school district is invested in our children --- tomorrow’s leaders. Funds derived by the Grants Office helps us respond to the needs of the 24,500 students who are enrolled in our 33 campuses. From a financial resources perspective, the past fiscal year, presented challenges and opportunities to LISD. The next 50 pages provide ample details about the Grants Office activity and how these funds affect our instruction. We are very grateful to all the institutions who help us accomplish our goals and mission. We thank our benefactors for entrusting us with their funds. With their broad support we can move forward with confidence in our mission to provide a quality education for our students in a safe and nurturing environment. We encourage everyone to bring their grant leads, ideas, and applications to the Grants Office. We can be far more effective and make a lasting impact if we work together. Sincerely,

A. Marcus Nelson

Dr. A. Marcus NelsonSuperintendent of Schools

http://www.laredoisd.org/board/superintendent.htm

From the District Grant Writer/Research Analyst


I am please to present the 2011– 2012 annual report of the Grant Administration Office under Financial Management. Many exciting and innovative programs have been funded through our grant administration efforts despite the current economic outlook and State funding reductions of $5.4 billion in education funding that has a direct impact on our educational programs and services. In addition, Federal (ARRA/Stimulus) funds had provided Laredo Independent School District with the opportunity to enhance our educational programs such as: Dual Language, Elementary Science, Fine Arts, Dual Credit, Technology, Parental Involvement, Fiscal Stability, Professional Development and School Safety. Currently, there are no additional (ARRA/Stimulus) funds available as the Federal funding has been reduced as well due to Federal Deficit.

This fourth annual report is designed to inform all stakeholders in the types of grant application submissions for external funding sources to supplement our current educational programs and support services. Overall, there were 17 grants being funded for a total of $59,975,989.00.

During the 2011 – 2012 school year the Grant Administration Office submitted 28 applications and processed 17 awards totaling $59,975,989.00. This represents a decrease of 60.87% in the number of applications submitted and a 54.84% decrease in the number of grants awarded. The decrease was a direct result of decreased State education program funding and Federal ARRA/Stimulus fund reductions.

During the Fiscal year of 2011 – 2012, Laredo Independent School District received funding for School Improvement Initiatives specifically for Lamar MS (6 million), Martin HS (2 million), Nixon HS (2 million), and Cigarroa HS (4 million). These funds provided for enrichment activities, college and career readiness, positive behavioral intervention strategies (PBIS), summer enrichment, library media services, physical education, intensive writing, reading, science and math RtI initiatives, school improvement, professional development and parental/community involvement programs/projects.

The administration and compliance of awarded grants to Laredo Independent School District continues to exceed expectations in an increasingly restrictive budget and competitive environment. This continued effort to research and submit grant proposals is very encouraging and is a testament to the underlying excellence of administration and staff in our ability to compete successfully to garner special revenues that enhance our educational programs. We expect to have continued funding opportunities and grants awarded for 2012 – 2013.

I am proud of the efforts of everyone and look forward to another prosperous and productive year for grant administration.

Sincerely,

Scott Roberts

Scott Roberts, MBA/IT; MS/ISDistrict Grant Writer/Research Analyst



The Grant Administration Office is pleased to present this Executive Summary of the Laredo Independent School District Sponsored Awards Activity for School Year 2011 – 2012, a period over which the Grant Administration Office received $ 59,975,989.00 million dollars in funding from multiple funding sources in support of enrichment activities, college and career readiness, positive behavioral intervention strategies (PBIS), summer enrichment, library media services, physical education, intensive writing, reading, science and math RtI initiatives, school improvement, professional development and parental/community involvement programs/projects science lab construction, and special projects.

Please note that this report only provides a summary of the School Year 2011 – 2012 proposals and grant awards managed by the office of Grant Administration and not any other funding received by the District in regards to special revenues.

School Year 2011 – 2012


Summary Data

Proposals Submitted..........................................................................................28

Dollars Requested…………………………………………..............$88,622,773.00

New Awards…………………………………………………..……….………..…......6

Award Amounts Received……………………………………………………….….…..$18,505,678.00

Continuation Awards………………………………………………….……………………........….11

Award Amounts Received………………………...…………..….....$41,194,878.00

Number of Applications Awarded………………………………………..……...…17

Award Amounts Received ..……………………….........................$59,975,989.00

School Year 2011 – 2012 Award Activity and Submission by Department or Campus

Grant activities continue to play a vital role in the on-going effort to create an environment of educational support services through innovative ideas conducted by administration and staff at Laredo Independent School District. For School year 2011 – 2012 there were a total of 17 new projects and/or current projects awarded, totaling $59,975,989.00. The amount of continuation funding received for this fiscal year was $41,194,878.00, which included summer enrichment, library media services, physical education, science lab construction, accelerated instruction in writing, reading, science and math RtI, special education, school improvement, professional development, teacher incentives, and parental/community involvement projects.

For School Year 2011 – 2012 there were a total of 28 grant applications submitted representing a 60.87% decrease from the previous fiscal year with a total of $59,975,989.00 awarded.

GRANT ACTIVITIES

PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS

0

20

40

60

80

4 5

19

6171

31

17

Grants Awarded by Year2005 - 2006

2006 - 2007

2007 - 2008

2008 - 2009

2009 - 2010

2010 - 2011

2011 - 2012

48%

16%

24%4%

1% 8%

Grant Activities

Federal Programs

Special Education

Texas Title I Priority Schools

School Improvement Program

Career and Technology Education

Edu Jobs ARRA/Stimu-lus

For school year 2011 – 2012, there was a 54.84% decrease in funding received for project and program related activities from the previous fiscal year.

The majority of the funding support received has been provided by Federal and State funding sources accounting for 99% of the total award dollars .

As in the past, the majority of awards have supported academic program activities, which represents 90.58% of the total funds received.

AWARDS BY SOURCE AND PURPOSE



24%

7%

16%

48%

1%

4%

0% 0%

Grants by Purpose

Texas Title I Priority Schools

Edu Jobs Fund

Special Education

Federal Programs

Career Technology Education

School Improvement

Algebra Readiness

Health Science



$14 MILLION AWARDED FOR THE TEXAS TITLE I PRIORITY SCHOOLS PROGRAM (TTIPS) GRANTThe Grant Administration Office had a successful 2011 – 2012 year by the district being awarded $14 million dollars to support school improvement activities at Martin High School (2 million), Nixon High School (2 million), Cigarroa High School (4 million), and Lamar Middle School ( 6 million).

Cigarroa High School if they meet the TEA required performance measures have an opportunity to receive an additional 2 million dollars in funding. This could bring the total award amount to $16 million dollars for school improvement activities.

The funds will be expended on programs that support the school improvement strategies of the Transformation Model to enhance teacher classroom preparedness, instructional delivery and content competency, improve high school graduation rates, improve at-risk student academic achievement on State assessments, improve student attendance rates, and student postsecondary readiness as per the Texas High School Completion and Success Initiative.

The Texas Title I Priority Schools Program offers the campuses operational flexibility and provides for the following:

1. Partner with SIRC and others to obtain all necessary, intensive technical assistance and support to carry out the transformation process.

2. Increase and enhance teacher and staff knowledge and skills by providing job-embedded professional development.

3. Identify and reward individuals who contribute to student academic achievement; remediate and remove those who do not.

4. Create formal structures of decision making and best practices.

5. Engage teachers in Professional Learning Communities to collaboratively conduct action-research aimed student outcomes.

6. Development of a campus-wide Response-to-intervention that focus on academics, behavior, and extended learning.

7. Establish a principal and teacher evaluation system that includes student growth and professional performance.



$1.762 MILLION AWARDED FOR THE DISTRICT AWARD FOR TEACHER EXCELLENCE (D.A.T.E.)

GRANTThe Grant Administration Office had a successful 2010 – 2011 distribution of funds to all campus based personnel that qualified for our third performance based awards system. The 2010 – 2011 our third and final year of the performance based award was approved and was implemented for the 2010 – 2011 school year. Payouts occurred in October and November of 2012.

The D.A.T.E. grant provided performance based incentives to all campus personnel meeting the programs performance based criteria. 60% of the grant applied directly to core area teachers and the other 40% for all other campus instructional and non-instructional support staff.

In prior years the district has been awarded the Teacher Excellence Educator grant known as (T.E.E.G.). The T.E.E.G. grants were given to campuses that met the state performance growth index and were selected to apply directly from TEA. This award was then distributed through a campus based decision making committee.

Different from the T.E.E.G. grant the D.A.T.E. grant is the first grant of its kind for the district and the district had been awarded funding of this type to provide additional incentives to teachers for reaching different levels of performance based measures at various grade levels.

Teachers qualified for higher amounts of incentives based of their respective grade level performance measures as defined in the grant criteria as well as set amounts for maintaining TAKS averages at or above 70%.

The contingency funds include an attendance award and the remaining if any was equally distributed among all teachers qualifying for either Part I or Part II. The total payment for attendance for the 2010-2011 school year was $630.00 for those who qualified.

Meetings and Presentations were held district wide and with campus administrators and staff in order to explain the process and procedures necessary to implement this grant successfully during the 2010-2011 school year.

The D.A.T.E. grant funding totaled $5,287,512.00 over the three years of grant implementation.

Currently, there is no indication from the Texas Education Agency whether this type of program will be funded in the near future due to the $5.4 billion in education cuts that have occurred this biennium.



$7.1 MILLION AWARDED TO SCIENCE LABS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR MARTIN, CIGARROA, AND NIXON HIGH SCHOOLS.

Recently, Laredo Independent School District completed construction of the new state of the art Science labs at Martin, Nixon, and Cigarroa High Schools. These state of the art Science labs will provide our students and community with the most advanced Science lab classrooms for 2011 -2012 and beyond . The Grant Administration Office submitted these applications through the school foundation grant program and were awarded $7,184,600.00 for the New Science Labs Classroom Construction during the 2009-2010 school year. The amount decreased from $7,511,200.00 based on student enrollment numbers.

The grant funding formula considered the average daily attendance (ADA), enrollment, and number of current classrooms identified as science labs. The formula takes in to account the number of existing classrooms identified as science labs, the need for additional science labs, the maximum number of science labs eligible to satisfy the 4 year science requirements, the maximum number of labs eligible for each campus and the calculation of the grant amount requested.

The Laredo Independent School District infused the funds into completion of its Science lab construction projects that are now being used for Science instruction. These funds could not have come at a better time when there has been a fund shortfall to complete these projects from the 2005 Bond Issuance that called for new science lab construction. These funds were only to provide additional science lab classrooms and could not be used to replace existing science lab classrooms.

Raymond & Tirza Martin High School received $3,592,000.00 for an additional 11 classrooms.

Joseph W. Nixon High School received $1,633,000.00 for an additional 5 classrooms.

Dr. Leonides G. Cigarroa High School received $1,959,600.00 for an additional 6 classrooms.



SCHOOL YEAR 2011 – 2012

NEW AND CONTINUATION AWARDS

Texas Title I Priority Schools Grant Program – Martin High School

Awarded: $2,000,000.00

Granting Agency: Texas Education Agency

Purpose: The primary goal of the grant is to provide funding for school transformation activities that include programs that support the school improvement strategies of the Transformation Model to enhance teacher classroom preparedness, instructional delivery and content competency, improve high school graduation rates, improve at-risk student academic achievement on State assessments, improve student attendance rates, and student postsecondary readiness as per the Texas High School Completion

and Success Initiative.

Texas Title I Priority Schools Grant Program – Nixon High School

Awarded: $2,000,000.00








Texas Title I Priority Schools Grant Program – Cigarroa High School

Awarded: $4,000,000.00




Cigarroa High School could receive an additional years funding in the amount of $2,000,000.00 providing the campus meets its performance measures as indicated by TEA. This would bring Cigarroa High School’s total award to $6,000,000.00

Texas Title I Priority Schools Grant Program – Lamar Middle School

Awarded: $6,000,000.00






Special Education Awarded: $10,129,803.00

DEAF Consolidated Grant


Purpose: Providing students with activities that enhances their cognitive skills in learning by applying best practices through an implementation of special education programs for students who are identified as having special needs.

Special Education Awarded: $32,288.00

IDEA-B Grant


Purpose: Providing students with activities that enhances their cognitive skills in learning by applying best practices through an implementation of special education programs for students who are identified as having

special needs.

Edu. Jobs Fund (ARRA/Stimulus) Awarded: $4,400,678.00


Purpose: The primary goal of the grant is to provide stabilization funding for

school districts in order for them to be able to balance their budgets.



NCLB Federal Consolidated Programs Awarded: $28,326,703.00


Purpose: Providing additional funding for Salaries, professional development, dual language, technology, dual credit, fine arts, parental involvement, supplemental education services, and non-public private

Schools.





Carl D. Perkins Awarded: $652,621.00


Purpose: Providing additional funding for Career and Applied Technology

Education Programs.

School Improvement Program – Christen Middle School Awarded: $483,795.00


Purpose: Providing additional funding for School Improvement Campus

Based Initiatives. School Improvement Program – Cigarroa Middle School Awarded: $397,475.00



Based Initiatives. School Improvement Program – Cigarroa High School

Awarded: $253,286.00



Based Initiatives.

School Improvement Program – Martin High School Awarded:

$515,575.00



Based Initiatives.





School Improvement Program – Nixon High School Awarded:

$423,996.00



Based Initiatives. Beginning Teacher Mentoring Induction Program

Awarded: $154,668.00


Purpose: Provides funding for New Teacher Orientation and Professional Development Programs.

Algebra Readiness

Awarded: $230,021.00


Purpose: Provides funding for New Teacher Orientation and Professional Development Programs.




Grant Funding Cuts/Reductions

Texas Reading First

Pre-K Early Start

District Award for Teacher Excellence (D.A.T.E.)

Student Clubs

State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF ARRA/Stimulus)

Texas Fitness Now

Special Education ARRA/Stimulus

NCLB Federal Title I A/Title II D ARRA/Stimulus Funds

Texas State Legislative Budget Cuts:

Federal ARRA Stimulus Funding Expiration:

Life Skills for Student Parents

Beginning Teacher Mentoring Induction Program

Science Labs Program

New Instructional Facilities Allotment

High Schools That Work

Intensive Summer Program

Algebra Readiness

Investment Capital Fund

School Improvement Funds

Optional Extended Year Program (OEYP)

Student Success Initiative

State Longitudinal Data Systems

State Energy Program

Edu-Jobs



SUCCESS STORIES……

Martin High School – Texas Title I Priority Schools Program 2011 - 2012





Students attended and benefitted from a Young Men’s Leadership Conference which is supported in by TTIPS under the Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS).* These young men learned leadership skills for life outside the classroom.

* Decreased number of student placements into LISD’s Alternative Placement Center from 76 placements in 2011 to 34 placements in 2012. (This represents a 45% reduction in Level 3 and Level 4 offenses on campus)





Students visited the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center to learn about Aquatic animals, Reptiles, Mammals indigenous to South Texas, and experienced hands on science activities.

College Readiness Educational Trips:

TAMIU – 200 studentsLCC – 250 studentsSecrets to Success – 20 studentsSTEM – 50 students





INCREASED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT:Monthly Drug Awareness sessions addressing topics such as:

October 2011 – Suspect Your Child is Using Drugs or Alcohol? (19 parents trained) November 2011 – Tobacco Awareness(13 parents trained) December 2011 – Suicide Prevention(44 parents trained) January 2012 – Gang Prevention and Awareness

(22 parents trained)

January 30, 2012 - Financial Aid 70 parents trained March 1st, 2012 - Financial Aid 13 Parents trained





Extended Learning Time – Afterschool tutorials (2 days a week), extending the instructional day by 60 minutes.

Saturday tutorials for 4 hrs that provides for differentiated instruction and student-centered learning.

Tutorial services offered throughout the school day and Saturdays served approximately 400 students per month.

Approximately 18 – 20 teachers offered Saturday tutorials per week.

Extended Saturday Incentive winners





Students received enhanced support and instruction in college and career readiness, accountability, and character development.

Dual enrollment participation 2012:

a. EN1301 – 37 students (2011 – 33 students)b. EN1304 – 62 students (2011 – 12 students)c. College Alg. – 27 students (2011 – 2 students)





This year, a newly designated award was created in memory of the late LCC instructor Ricardo Hernández, who was a member of the WCHF’s Local History Curriculum Committee that developed the Laredo History course being taught now at LISD and St. Augustine High School. The award is intended to annually honor outstanding achievement for either a student or a teacher in the Laredo History curriculum. The first recipient of this award will be Martin High School educator, Luis R. Gonzalez (Cowboy Hat) who will be recognized for taking his Laredo History students to attend the historical conference that was part of the Tejano Monument unveiling event in Austin





* Students have received enhanced support and instruction in college and career readiness, accountability, and character development.

Here eight new student members are inducted to the INTERACT club, a subsidiary of the Rotary Club. These students formed this club through extended day learning activities in their English IV class. They learned how to provide service to the community and now have 30 total members. (Three times the members we had last year.)





College Readiness Educational Trips:

TAMIU College Readiness – 50 studentsTAMIU College Readiness 2 – 150 studentsLCC College Readiness – 250 studentsSecrets to Success – 20 studentsSTEM – 50 studentsTexas History Class – 10 studentsHolocaust Museum – 80 studentsAustin TX. College Readiness - 40





300 Students and 24 teachers actively participated in our “TTIPS College Readiness SMART Conference” on a Saturday. These students picked their own sessions to attend throughout the day in subjects such as: Ballroom Dancing, Welding with Computers, I pads with Electric Circuits, and Physics. The students in the picture were dropping Eggs off the building encapsulated in “Landing Vessels” constructed to withstand a harsh landing. They were under the direction and supervision of their science teachers Ms. Prado and Ms. Valadez, Mr. Cortinas, Asst. Principal, and their Principal, Guillermo Pro.








Nixon High School – Texas Title I Priority Schools Program 2011 - 2012

This grant made it possible for our school to increase the effectiveness of teachers and campus leaders, improve instruction through targeted professional development, creating community-oriented schools and providing operational flexibility to schools to increase student achievement. Data Driven Decisions Curriculum alignment to improve student

achievement in reading/ELA, mathematics, science, social studies

Extended Common Planning for Teachers Extended day professional development

for all teachers

Integration of Different Teaching Strategies to promote Creativity

• Journal Writing• Group Activities

• Note taking





Increasing Student Engagement

Students have to OWN it!

Show don’t tell !

Pass the CREATIVITY and THINKING SKILLS to them!

WE all learn by doing!





Writing Activities

Note Taking

Daily Journal

Reflections





Progress Monitoring

The Student OWNS IT!Accountability





Must Attend

Tutorials Recommended

Tutorials Optional

Hard at Work

Math is FUN-damental





Forever Green and

Gold!








Cigarroa High School – Texas Title I Priority Schools Program 2011 - 2013

With the help of the TTIPS grant, Cigarroa High School has embarked on a journey of transformation that allows students to become more successful. Students have been provided extra learning time to help them be successful in state mandated exams and they have been able to work with a math consultant that provided innovative ways of learning. Through different incentives such as guest speakers and musical guests, students have been motivated to attend school and the Cigarroa’s attendance rate has increased.

CHS students with CBP guest speaker.





Cigarroa English IV students attend Renaissance Festival in

Waxahachie, Texas.





One of the key components of the transformation model is parent and community involvement. Cigarroa HS has increased its efforts to close the gap between the school and its community. A merienda was held with the local community members and Cigarroa’s parent liaison to discuss ways to assist students. A health fair was held at Cigarroa High School to promote wellness to the local community and invite the community to become active at the school’s events.





CHS merienda with local community

members.




Lamar Middle School – Texas Title I Priority Schools Program 2011 - 2012

Do you have the courage to change?

Paren

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Job-Em

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Staff

Developm

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Exten

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Lear

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Tim

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Expand

Emerging

Technology





LMS provided tutorial sessions in Core Academic subjects during and after school and Saturdays. The TTIPS grant has provided classroom teachers academic support by assisting in efforts to better meet individual learning styles.

Saturday Science & Math Camps





Teachers and administration were provided job-embedded

staff development that targeted application of

rigorous classroom instruction in all core areas through

Making Middle Grades Work which include Math and

Literacy group activities.





Lamar Middle School’s Mardi Gras themed Family Reading Night resulted in

an increase of parent and community awareness. Motivational speaker Efrain

“Happy” Guerrero captivated the audience with his humor and relevance

including strong messages which promoted being active in their children's’ education. LMS was awarded top Middle School for most parents in attendance. It

is LMS’s goal to provide such campus/community activities to increase

parental involvement.

Pare

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Involv

ement



Let’s Play Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Grant - $15,000Lowe’s - $5,000

Submitted by: Irema Saenz Trevino, Librarian

Community Build Playground project (please see video)

Both grants were used to build a playground from the ground up by the teachers, staff, and community of Santo Niño Elementary.

BEFORE



During



Let’s Play Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Grant - $15,000Lowe’s - $5,000


Community Build Playground project (please see video)

Both grants were used to build a playground from the ground up by the teachers, staff, and community of Santo Niño Elementary.

AFTER



Earth Keepers - Recycling, Conservation, and Gardening Projects

Through the Hero grant from Lowes we received $1,100 of Garden resources including eleven 4’x4’ raised beds.

The Santo Nino Earth keepers have made some great contributions of time and energy to help beautify our campus with 8 young trees,

twenty Silverado Sage bushes, and ten Hibiscus bushes, all planted by students, with money earned by recycling Aluminum cans!

The Earth keepers , with parent volunteers, helped move and fill the beds, plant, water, and weed around the plants. We planted on

February 14th, and have already harvested half a dozen large cucumbers, many white onions, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes. The

corn, melons, and beans are still growing, and the students are excited .

Our Earth keepers also did many community clean ups and tree planting as well as learned the value of spending time helping others

and living a healthy lifestyles.



Santo Nino Growing Gardens May 2012

Weeding the garden beds preparing them for

planting March 2012.

Earth keepers celebrate the success of picking vegetables they helped

plant and care for.



First Book National Book Bank Grant - $9,000

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Grant - $5,412


In an effort to promote reading, each student received a total of 6 free books throughout the 2011-2012 school year.

In addition, parents were invited and asked to get involved in the reading initiative.




Texas Commission on the Arts - $653.00

Grant was used to bring a live production of the musical School House Rock Live! to all grade levels. Students are familiar with the classic educational television series via the V-Brick announcement system.

*Please note - no pictures of the actual performance are available due to

copyright infringement laws.



LAREDO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Jesus MartinezDistrict 2

Trustee

Jose R. Perez District 7

President

Hector J. GarciaDistrict 6

Vice President

John AmayaDistrict 3

Trustee

Dr. Cecilia May Moreno

District 5

Secretary

Jose A. Valdez District 1

Trustee George M.

BeckelhymerDistrict 4

Trustee

About the Grant Development Office

Scott Roberts District Grant Writer/Research Analyst

Grant Administration Office904 Juarez

Laredo, Texas 78040Phone: (956) [email protected]

Visit us on the web http://www.laredoisd.org/departments/grantadmin/default2.html

The Grant Administration Office, a unit of Federal Programs under

Financial management, supports and provides services for

administration and staff in securing funding resources from public,

private, and foundation sources. An emphasis is placed on

securing funds to achieve the Laredo Independent School Districts

goals and objectives. The Grant Administration Office supports the

grant writing process of the administration and staff through all

stages of proposal development – from the initial planning , project

implementation through project completion.



mailto:[email protected]

http://www.laredoisd.org/departments/grantadmin/default2.html

Documents

Grant Administration 2011 - 2012 A N U A L __ R E P O R T