Voters Approve to Rebuild Madison
by Katlin Thomas
Obama Moves Forward
Concerning the historical walls that past Madison Marlins have created with tiles that have their names and graduating year as well as class officers and honor roll students, Mr. Bankhead stated, “When we get started with the design, we are going to put together a committee that will be the principal, teachers, students and community members like the PTA and parents and talk to them. If they say we want to keep this part of the building, then we will try to build around it. But the majority of the campus will be new.”
Voters stand in line to cast ballots for candidates and issues of importance.
Houston voters approved the HISD $1.9 billion dollar bond proposal on November 17th, and $82.7 million dollars will be used to build a new facility for Madison High School.
According to a Houston ISD news blog by HISD Communications, HISD will spread the work out over the next six to eight years because of the large amount of construction included in the 2012 bond proposition. This approach will help control costs and allow the district to gradually phase in a 4.85 cent property tax rate increase over the next five
“Houston voters sent a message today that all children, regardless of where they live, deserve to attend quality schools in quality buildings that offer our great teachers the tools they need to prepare students for a successful future,” HISD board president Michael Lunceford said. HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said, “I wish I could send out a telephone call to every citizen in Houston and say thank you on behalf of our students and our teachers and our staff. When this work is finished, Houston will boast the most modern portfolio of urban high school campuses in America.” Dan Bankhead, CFS General Manger of Construction for Houston ISD, talked about the new building having LCD walls in the classrooms. “We are already looking at one wall being LCD so that when your science teacher is talking to you she is also talking to another class in Arizona, and the classes can see each other and talk back and forth.”
President Obama wins re-election in 2012, and student mock elections would have sent Obama back to the White House.
Many students were able to vote in mock elections on campus and on the “Voting Experience” field trip at the Hiram Clarke Multi-Purpose Center. Government teacher Mr. Clark took Patricia Amaya, Carina Martinez, Kristianna Baldwin, Don’Tresha Moore, Silvia Figueroa, and Ricardo Murillo, on a “Voting Experience” field trip to the Hiram Clarke Multi-Purpose Center. Most students and teachers took part in a national mock election from October 31 to November 1, 2012 that was a joint endeavor by the Social Studies and CTE department which allowed students to use a
Lorriane Muller, Juan Sanchez, Katlin Thomas, Karla Cerna, Rolando Campos, and Taylor Arvie at HISD bond rally.
years. The list of school projects to be included in the first phase of construction is being developed with an eye toward breaking ground on at least one project in each geographic district within HISD around the same time. Construction work is expected to begin in 2014. Click2Houston.com reports that the school district said the rebuilding order will be based on need.
PTSA Elects New Officers reporting by Dyan Harris
Career and Technology teacher Brenda Braziel with her students at the election poll: Mara Beltran, Wilfrido Hernandez, Jasmine Amezquita, Brittania Boyd, Jonathan Razu, Alexis Alex, Demarcus Hopkins, John McFarland, Elizabet Ruiz, Samantha Wobestone, Luis Chavez, Jasmine Williams, Brandon Little, Marco Chavez, Nakea Curtis, Juan Flores, Leah Alexis and Tremaine Dixon.
state-of-the-art online voting system sponsored by the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), a national civic education program based at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Approximately one million students were expected to vote nationwide during the twoweek voting period from October 22 to November 2. The YLI Mock Election is the largest secure, student-only online mock election in the nation.
Former PTSA President: Jackie Fontennot, New PTSA President: Penny Jackson, First Vice President: Michelle Moore, Second Vice President: Brian Frank, Secretary: Shenettra Reed, Treasurer: Mrs. Gloria Russell.
PTSA President Jackie Fontenot, Eley Coyle, Principal Sonja Williams, Brenda Braziel, Dyan Harris, and students Jasmine Lanes, Dasia Cravens, Jamie Russell, and Rasheed Russell met with new participants Darrell and Penny Jackson, Brian and Melanie Frank, and Sonja Butler on November 5th in the Madison library to elect new PTSA officers. Principal Williams spoke on the importance of testing and attendance. She explained to parents the new requirements for graduation from high school in Texas means that 9th and 10th grade students must reach minimum passing score on 15 tests. Mrs. Williams also said, “We are going to have to put more effort than what we did with TAKS.” She mentioned that students can get additional support before and after school from the Success Academy and the Homework Help programs. She also encouraged parents to go out and vote for the bond election that would provide funds to rebuild Madison High School. Mrs. Eley Coyle spoke briefly about Title I and the Magnet program and thanked parents for filling out lunch application forms to support the Title I program. The election results were: New PTSA President: Penny Jackson, First Vice President: Michelle Moore, Second Vice President: Brian Frank, Secretary: Shenettra Reed and Treasurer: Mrs. Russell. The positions are for 2 years, and only one position is allowed for each person. Membership dues are $10 adult and $7 youth.
The results from Madison students were:
BARACK OBAMA MITT ROMNEY GARY JOHNSON Write Ins JILL STEIN Abstain
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN LIBERTARIAN N/A GREEN N/A
92.65% 3.45% 1.50% 1.20% 0.83% 0.38%