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BISD calls for $99 million in bonds
Friday February 1, 2013 •
Election set for May 11 to pay for technology, new Fabra, facility upgrades
24 pages $1
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Inside BHS closer to 27-3A title
BY GAIL YOVANOVICH Staff Writer
On May 11 voters will decide the fate of a $99.48 million school bond issue proposed by the Boerne Independent School District Board of Trustees Monday. The board voted unanimously to call for the bond election, which includes major investments in technology, facility upgrades and enhanced security features for all district schools. Board Presidfent Jennifer Christianson praised the facilities and resource planning committee, a 70-member group of district citizens that formed
the bond package, and said she was pleased with the level of community input that went into its formulation. The bond’s $14 million in technology funding will include extensive upgrades to wireless Internet access, computer hardware, communication systems and mobile devices, allowing access to educational resources increasingly found in digital format. Funding for the proposed new Fabra Elementary campus took into consideration the age of the existing school and its limitations as a modern learning environment. The new campus would be located in the existing attendance zone, and, with some renovation,
the current facility would be repurposed for administrative and alternative school uses. Major upgrades to Curington Elementary School and Boerne Middle School North, two of the district’s older campuses, were included in the bond, along with expansion of career and technology education programs at Boerne High School to alleviate overcrowding and scheduling issues. The bond would also fund security and safety projects on all campuses, including enhanced security at school entry points, special security locks on all classroom doors, upgraded security cameras and other needs that might be identified
See BONDS, page 2A
Superintendent highlights superior achievement by district students
Passports to prizes Boerne High’s Harlee Taylor shoots in Tuesday’s district game with Bandera. For a complete basketball round up, see today’s sports, pages 15A-16A.
Happy...
BY GAIL YOVANOVICH
■ Staff Writer
duffle bag. First prize winner Cynthia Lyons received an iPad mini with accessories. Those who qualified for the first prize drawing had to attend 16 events. Second prize of an e Nook tablet with accessories was Sandi Wyss. A minimum of 14 events was necessary to qualify for second. Third prize for attending a minimum of 12 events went to Michael Nichols, the basic prize package of
Superior student achievement in all academic categories was the highlight of Boerne Independent School District Superintendent David Stelmazewski’s annual Academic Excellence Indicator System report for the 2011-12 school year. At BISD’s Board of Trustees meeting Monday, Stelmazewski noted the percentage of district students graduating for the period was 98.6 percent, compared with a statewide average of 75 percent. Over 90 percent of sophomores and juniors earned passing marks on all accountability tests, compared with 75 percent statewide. Nearly 90 percent of BISD students took the SAT and ACT tests, compared with 68.9 percent statewide. “Good instruction, good kids and good community help make all that happen,” said Stelmazewski, and he complimented district teachers and campus administrators “who make sure our kids are successful.”
See HERITAGE, page 3A
See BISD, page 2A
...Birthday February 1 Lacy Cannon Edie Griffith Corrine Langston Shannon Lee Kenneth Maxymof Vicky Rudloff February 2 England Allaison Getz James Dominick Thomas Fabian Alonso Bob Rhodes Mildred Sprowls February 3 Mary Abernathy Pearl Barnard Effie Dyal Bobby Hale Geri Lee Earl Marvin Mack Richter Carol Scott February 4 Betty Hughes Lucille Krauter Ruby Grace Posey Carolyn Stauss
... Anniversary February 1 Adam & Regina Harvey
Deaths
Prize packages were awarded to five winners in the Kendall County Sesquicentennial Heritage Passport Program during the County’s 150th anniversary celebration last year. The awards were presented Monday by the Kendall County Historical Commission at the Historic County Courthouse in Boerne. Grand prize winner Mary Stuman received an iPad 4 with accessories. She attended all 17 Heritage Passport events to qualify for the grand prize. Everyone who attended all 17 events received a KC150
Champion Ac-Dec team takes regionals BY ELENA TUCKER
■ Staff Writer
Antonia ‘Toni’ dela Rosa For complete obituaries, see page 2A and online at www.boernestar.com.
Index Business 9A-10A Calendar 8A Celebrating the Arts 18A Classifieds 1B-6B Confessions of a Bookaholic 11A Crossword 14A Faith 7A From the Heart 11A Games 14A Hill Country Gardener 11A Mary Alice's Potpourri 17A Native Plants 18A Real Estate 1B-3B, 6B Records 12A Service Directory 4B-5B Sports 15A-16A Viewpoints 4A
Volume 107 • Number 10 All contents copyright 2013 The Boerne Star
Historical commission announces Heritage Passport prize winners
Champion High School’s Academic Decathlon team made a strong showing at regional competition last weekend, bringing home almost 50 individual medals, and first place for the team as a whole. It was the Boerne Ac-Dec team’s best performance since teacher, Matt Haecker, began coaching the scholastic club about a half-decade ago. “This is by far the strongest year (we) have ever had at the regional level,” Haecker said. Not only did the team take first place after two days of tests, interviews, speeches, The champion Champion AcDec team, from left: back - Ben Herr, Travis Roberson, Matt VanDivier; and essay writing, Samantha front - Matt Haecker, Cheyenne Poston, Rachel Thompson, Anya Maltsberger, Andrew Ditri, JoPhoto by Robert Thompson Farmer took top individual hanna Walker, Tyler Roberson, Sam Farmer. honors and Anya Maltsberger placed second. Because this year’s theme when something my dad said informational accumula- (3.75–4.00 GPA), Scholastic Academic Decathlon was Russia, Samantha could be related to Russia, I tion. One of the most unique (3.00–3.74 GPA), and Varinvolves strenuous thematic Farmer - who estimates that would make a connection,” aspects of Academic Decath- sity (0.00–2.99 GPA). Thus, study on the part of team she spent more than 200 Farmer said regarding con- lon is the fact that teams despite a natural competimembers who must absorb hours studying - laughed that versations with her father. include competitors of vari- tiveness, the group is able to information about art, eco- she is now able to tie almost “He got tired of all the ‘use- ous achievement levels. forge strengths through its nomics, music, science, any conversational topic less’ trivia!” Students test in one of very diversity. And accordlanguage/literature, social back to the former USSR. However, Ac-Dec’s ben- three divisions, based on science and math. See AC-DEC, page 3A “At every possible instance, efits extend beyond its vast grade point average: Honors
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