The Austin Independent School District, established in 1881, is located in Austin, Texas and consists of 124 campuses with a population of 86,000+ students. The Fine Arts Department of Austin ISD serves students and faculty in Art, Dance, Music (Elementary/General, Band, Choir, Orchestra), and Theatre curricular content areas, grades kindergarten through twelve.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee (ESAC) assists Austin ISD in being a recognized example of environmental education, stewardship, and sustainability. To accomplish its purpose, the ESAC serves as an advisory body to the Superintendent, who is responsible for administrative decisions and for providing administrative recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval.

Click on the link to the Austin ISD website below to access information pertaining to ESAC:

http://www.austinisd.org/advisory-bodies/esac

ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE (ADL)

Dear Staff,

Please take 80 seconds to watch this incredible video related to racism. In honor of our Centennial Year, we are excited to launch ADL’s “Imagine a World Without Hate” video and action campaign, and we invite you to be among its first viewers. Take just 80 seconds of your time to watch this powerful video that imagines a world without racism, homophobia, or anti-Semitism; a world in which the hate violence that took the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr., Anne Frank, Daniel Pearl, Matthew Shepard, and others did not happen. Imagine what these individuals could have continued to contribute to society if bigotry, hate, and extremism had not cut their lives tragically short.

After 100 years of fighting bigotry and fostering respect, we are celebrating our successes, while at the same time recognizing that we still have a long way to go to achieve a world without hate. Join us by watching, sharing, and taking steps every day to create world without hate. Explore the Imagine website, www.adl.org/imagine, and step up to take action as an individual, community, school, or corporation.

Thanks,

Greg Goodman
Director of Fine Arts
Austin ISD
1211 West 6th Street
Suite 600
Austin, TX 78703-5338
Work # 512-414-4760
Fax # 512-414-9975
Cell # 281-642-0340
www.austinisdfinearts.org

AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Bond Election

Dear Staff:

The following information has been provided by the office of public relations and multicultural outreach:

An interactive map on the bond is now available online. The public can easily identify factual information about the bond by school and facility. Check it out.

In addition to the interactive map, below are other web updates I wanted to bring to your attention.

  • A short video is available to help provide factual information about the bond.
  • An FAQ on bond basics is available under Resources. Feel free to print and hand out to your communities. This is in English and Spanish.
  • Information by school is available in the Bond Program section of the website. New fact sheets are being created by school and will be released soon.
  • A copy of a PowerPoint presentation is also available in the Resources section of the website. Additional parent-friendly versions will be available soon.

We recognize parents, families, and the general public are asking you and your staff for factual information about the bond. Attached are approved talking points to help you provide factual information to your communities. Please remember that Austin ISD employees cannot use public funds or resources to advocate for or against the bond. Refer to the public to the bond website (www.austinisd.org/bond) or to the bond hotline (414-BOND) for additional factual information.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me directly.

Thanks.

Alex Sánchez
Executive Director
Public Relations and Multicultural Outreach
Austin Independent School District
Office: 512-414-9776
Mobile: 512-574-0081
alex.sanchez@austinisd.org
www.austinisd.org/prmo/services

AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Bond Election

Click here to access a letter from Austin ISD Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen pertaining to the May bond election.

Click here to access a summary of the bond election.

Click here to access talking points about the bond election.

TEXAS COALITION FOR QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION
Arts Education Days at the Capitol

Arts Education Days at the Capitol, sponsored by the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education, will be held Monday-Tuesday, March 4-5. Click here to access the performance schedule.

AUSTIN CREATIVE CLASSROOM FUND

Applications for the Austin Creative Classroom Fund (ACCF) are now available for teachers and school staff. The ACCF exists to support the development of arts-rich schools in Austin ISD and to expand creative learning opportunities for students. Click on the link to the Austin ISD Office of Innovation and Development website provided below to obtain additional information pertaining to the ACCF:

http://aisdinnovation.blogspot.com/2013/02/austin-creative-classroom-fund.html

"INSIDE AISD"

AISD TV has a new series, "Inside AISD." This monthly "good news" TV show highlights good news and programs as well as recognizes students and staff.

Our third episode features several stories, including one on the Frozen Music composition competition. Thank you for working with us at AISD TV. We are happy to help spread the word about the excellent work you are doing. Be sure to tune in to watch Inside AISD.

The third episode is scheduled to air on AISD TV 22 Thursday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. Each new episode will air on the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. It also airs periodically throughout the 24 hour programming schedule. "Inside AISD" will air on AISD TV on TimeWarner Cable Channel 22, Grande Communications Channell 22, and U-verse Channel 99. Full episodes will also be posted to our blog at aisdtv.blogspot.com.

Cheryal Loosmore
TV Production Specialist
AISD TV Cable Channel 22
Baker Building - Room 116
3908 Avenue B
Austin, Texas 78751
Main Number: 512-414-1030
Office Fax: 512-414-1029
Office Phone: 512-414-1017

TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ROCK!
Student Video Contest

Click here to access an article in the October 2012 issue of the Texas Association of School Boards "The Star" newsletter pertaining to the "Texas Public Schools Rock!" student video contest.

AUSTIN ISD 2013 BOND PACKAGE

Click here to access an article in the October 23, 2012 issue of the "Community Impact" pertaining to the Austin ISD 2013 bond package.

AUSTIN ISD ARTS INITIATIVE

Click here to access an article in the October 23, 2012 issue of the "Austin American-Statesman" pertaining to the Austin ISD arts initiative.

McCALLUM HIGH SCHOOL
Fine Arts Coordinator

Kalyse McElveen is very excited to be joining the McCallum High School Fine Arts team as the newly appointed Fine Arts Coordinator. Ms. McElveen comes from a family of educators and knew early on that education would play a primary role in her career path. She holds a Master of Arts in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and a Bachelor of Music from Texas Tech University. During graduate school, Ms. McElveen interned in the Education Departments at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Over the last couple of years, Ms. McElveen managed a multi-million dollar, ten-campus afterschool education program for the Del Valle Independent School District (ISD). Last year, the program provided academic, enrichment, college readiness, and family engagement activities to over 1,800 students and 1,300 parents. She also led a community task force, which developed a five-year strategic plan for the program and provided a collaborative environment for stakeholder participation.

Prior to her most recent post in Del Valle ISD, Ms. McElveen directed middle and high school bands for five years in Texas public schools and worked and volunteered for several nonprofit education agencies in central Texas. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ascend Center for Learning, a nonprofit organization whose mission is helping adults reclaim their lives through individualized education programs.

Ms. McElveen is looking forward to meeting and working with the entire McCallum High School community, including school staff, faculty, students, and parents!

TARGET FIELD TRIP GRANTS

Click on the link below to access information pertaining to Target Field Trip Grants:

http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031880

ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
Calendar of Observances

Austin ISD Fine Arts Staff:

Click here to access the Anti-Defamation League Calendar of Observances for the 2012-2013 school year. Please refer to this calendar when planning next year's events. It is extremely important that we have knowledge surrounding all faiths and that we plan accordingly.

Thank you.

Greg Goodman
Director of Fine Arts
Austin ISD

THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS EDUCATION

Virtually all Texas public schools have experienced difficult financial situations in the past few years. We at the Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts (CEDFA) realize that many of your fine arts programs have encountered reductions in resources and personnel in addition to the elimination of entire programs.

To spread the word pertaining to the critical importance of Fine Arts education in our schools, CEDFA has commissioned an inspirational and supportive video. Please view, enjoy, and share the video via the link provided below with everyone - friends, colleagues, and administrators. Inform and remind your community that Fine Arts education is always a sound investment for our students.

The Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts

Thomas H. Waggoner
President, CEDFA Board of Directors
Program Director of Fine Arts Education
College of Fine Arts
The University of Texas at Austin

AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Dear PAC Task Force Members:

Following the Task Force’s last meeting, the District has continued working on development of the Performing Arts Center. As it has been a while since the Task Force has required a meeting, we wanted to provide you a quick update on the progress and next steps in the development of the facility.

District staff is continuing negotiations with Catellus, the developer of the selected site for the facility, to determine how to address needs related to the required building liner. As we work to come to an effective conclusion on the liner, we have refined the schematic design based on Task Force and community feedback. The team expects to have final documents ready to facilitate the construction bid process upon the Board’s approval of purchase of the site with the expectation of keeping to the original schedule to break ground this fall.

Upon conclusion of site negotiations, we will be in touch to regroup the Task Force as we enter into the construction phase of development. As a reminder, information about the Performing Arts Center and the Task Force is available to the public on the “Performing Arts Center Task Force” page of www.theappleatwork.com.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments at this stage in the process and thanks, as always, for your service to the Austin Independent School District.

Pat Rossett
Office of Facilities
Austin Independent School District
512-414-4910 (Telephone)
512-414-4009 (Fax)
prossett@austinisd.org

 

ANY GIVEN CHILD SURVEY
Austin ISD Arts Organizations and Artists

If you currently provide arts education services to Austin ISD schools, grades K-8, your help is needed.

Please respond to this 9 question survey to help identify what campuses you serve by providing workshops or multiple visit residencies, teaching in after school programs, hosting field trips in your theaters or museums, or providing professional development.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H8NLYHQ

This information will be used by the Kennedy Center's Any Given Child initiative, a collaboration among the Austin ISD, the City of Austin, and the arts community, to identify and address any inequities that might exist in our schools. The short survey will ask you basic information about your program and ask you to identify the Austin ISD elementary and Mmddle schools you served during the 2011 calendar year.

If you only work in private schools, Austin ISD high schools ,or in other school districts, you need not complete this survey. If you do serve Austin ISD students, we hope you will complete this survey by February 27, 2012.

Thank you for the transformational education you bring to the students of central Texas. We admire your work.