Teaching Civility in Uncivil Times: A Parent's Role

From Kanye to Congress, the notion of civility seems to be getting a ton of attention in the national spotlight and for some reason gets a little lost in translation these days.

Next week, renowned speaker Dr. Adolph Brown will spend some time with the District's middle school students in a special presentation entitled "Character Counts."

Dr. Brown (pictured at right with Asst. Supt. of Communications, Terry Morawski) will address themes of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and civility for the middle school students.

On Tuesday, October 6, he will provide an opportunity for parents to listen to what they can do to help in a program entitled, "Teaching Civility in Uncivil Times: A Parent's Role."

We invite the MISD community to attend this special presentation at the Willie Pigg Auditorium.

Schedule for Middle School Assemblies
October 5-7, 2009

Monday, October 5
9:30 - 11:00 AM Coble MS
1:30 - 3:00 PM Howard MS

Tuesday, October 6
9:30 - 11:00 AM, Wester MS
1:30 - 3:00 PM, Jones MS

PARENT MEETING
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Willie Pigg Auditorium

Wednesday, October 7
9:30 - 11:00 AM, Worley MS
1:30 - 3:00 PM, Jobe MS

We want to know what you think. What do you think parents (and perhaps the greater community) can do to help foster civility? Do you think this is even a problem? The comments are yours.

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MISD has invited Dr. Adolph Brown to provide presentations and speeches for a few years for staff, high school, and middle school students.

From the Rumor Mill

We haven't done this in a while, so it's time to check in with some rumors that we've heard floating around the District.

Rumor #1 - Mansfield Legacy High School is the second largest high school (square feet) in the state. False.

Sorry to disappoint you on this one. LHS is about 425,000 sq ft and in this area there are at least four high schools that a larger including McKinney Boyd High School (530,680 sq ft), Prosper High School (590,000 sq ft), Northwest Byron Nelson High School (504,000 sq ft), and Allen High School (582,000 sq ft).

Rumor #2 - Mansfield High School is 100 years old. False.

As it turns out, Mansfield HS is 85 years old this year. However, we do have a centennial celebration this year and it's for the Mansfield ISD. Yes, the Mansfield Independent School District is 100 years old this academic year. Plans are underway to mark this historic year with events, projects, and opportunities for the community to join in the fun. Look for future posts and information on the District's Web site for details as they develop.

Rumor #3 - Teachers are going to be fingerprinted for criminal background checks. True.

The Texas Legislature passed a law in 2007 (SB 9) requiring fingerprint-based criminal background reviews for certain school employees.

Beginning in November 2009, the following groups of staff members will be fingerprinted and processed:

• All MISD substitute teachers (certified and non-certified)
• All MISD certified educators
• All MISD paraprofessionals working (certified or non-certified)
• Note: All non-certified school employees must submit fingerprint information to the Department of Public Safety before starting work for a District.

We are providing information regarding the fingerprinting on the Personnel Web pages, including an FAQ page. It is our hope that employees will read through this information carefully and understand the process especially for those whose name on their teaching certificate doesn't match their driver's license because of a name change. Additionally, both TEA and the State Board of Educator Certification are maintaining pages with information.

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Send us your rumor mill items and we'll take them on here. You can send us one via comments or by emailing blog@mansfieldisd.org . If you send it by email, be sure to let me know it is a rumor mill item in the subject line.

Possible Site Location for Proposed Auditorium and Professional Development Center

Updated October 28, 2009: At the October 27, 2009 Regular School Board Meeting, Board Trustees approved a motion to put the MISD Performing Arts Auditorium and Professional Development Center at the Shops at Broad location pending the final resolution of a tri-party agreement between MISD, City of Mansfield and Forest City Developers at the November 17th Board Meeting.

Updated September 24, 2009: At the September 22, 2009 Regular School Board Meeting, Board Trustees approved the construction of the performing arts auditorium and professional development center by a 6-0 vote.
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The developer of The Shops at Broad Street, working with the City of Mansfield, has approached the school district with a proposal to locate the proposed Performing Arts Auditorium/Professional Development Center to the land at Broad Street and Highway 287.

The school district is examining the proposal and is addressing the following conditions:

• The land will be given to the school district at no cost to the district.
• The school district will retain the 25 acres of land behind Ben Barber to be used in the future as the district deems necessary.
• The school district will retain 100% ownership of the facility.
• The district will incur no additional cost to the overall construction price if we decide to move the facility to the The Shops at Broad Street.
• If any non-MISD group wants to use the facility, they will pay a rental fee and meet MISD requirements for use.
• There will be no special consideration given to the City of Mansfield for the use of the facility.
• The City of Mansfield or any outside group would have the ability to rent the facility if they are willing to pay the rental fee.
  

The reason given for gifting the land to the school district is that if the facility is built it would spur additional development at The Shops at Broad Street. This would also lead to greater sales tax revenue. There will be additional meetings with the city and the developer of the The Shops at Broad Street to discuss the proposal and other possible considerations.