October 31, 2019

Homecoming week is always filled with excitement. The traditional "Burning of the B" took place just before the rain and the pep rally on Friday was full of spirit. Our Tigers went on to earn a big win against Ellison! Congratulations to this year's Homecoming Queen Katelyn Eubanks and King Jijah Washington. This year's "Think Pink Go Red" campaign raised over $8,000 to benefit the Baylor Scott & White Cancer Institute. The check was presented during the game.

Message from the School Board President: Dear ,  October has been a bountiful month of fall festivities and community generosity across our district. This year’s annual United Way Campaign showcased the charitableness of Belton ISD staff and students with more than $18,800 being raised for the important services United Way of Central Texas provides to our families and neighbors. Over $5,800 of the money raised came from our campus-based student spirit chain fundraisers. By purchasing strips of red and white construction paper for a 25-cent donation, students were able to see how every little bit counts when giving to others. I was honored to stand amongst our students and staff as they stretched their campus spirit chains across Tiger Field together on October 4. I invite you to experience the celebration for yourself by watching this video.

The Belton Educational Enrichment Foundation (BEEF) hosted their successful Red Carpet and Casino Night at Tenroc Ranch in Salado on Tuesday, October 8. The evening of fun, games and an exciting live auction resulted in our community chipping in over $100,000 for student scholarships, innovative teaching grants and paraprofessional grants.  This record-setting total came just days after a $25,000 donation from the McLane Company, Inc. was presented to BEEF on site amid the construction of Lake Belton High School. In celebrating and recognizing this significant donation from McLane, BEEF chose the location of the district’s new high school campus in Temple to further emphasize the significance of their ever-increasing impact and support for graduating seniors. When the first class of Lake Belton High School Broncos graduates in May 2023, they too will be able to take advantage of the generosity and support of their community through applying for and receiving scholarship funds through BEEF. Continued investment by companies like McLane, combined with the commitment and volunteer service of BEEF Board members, will ensure that as our district’s enrollment continues to grow, so will the support and opportunities for our students. Community involvement has been and will continue to be an important part of how Belton ISD takes care of our kids. Next week, with the help of our third-party search firm Thompson & Horton, LLP, more than 60 members of our community will be participating in focus groups as we move forward in our search for the district’s next superintendent. It was a priority to my fellow board members and I that all staff members, parents, students and taxpayers in Belton ISD have a chance to share what’s important to them in selecting the district’s next top executive. From November 8 through November 15 there will be an online community survey available on the district’s website www.bisd.net . Please take the time to share your comments with us! Sincerely, Suzanne M. McDonald President, Board of Trustees

This year's Belton Educational Enrichment Foundation (BEEF) Red Carpet event was another huge success with over $100,000 raised this year for student scholarships and teacher grants. Thank you to the BEEF Board and volunteers who worked hard putting the event together, to Auctioneer Trey Galloway and his son, Thomas, who led the live auction, and Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow Student Jacob Massters provided musical entertainment. BHS cheerleaders greeted guests and helped with food and beverage service. Also pictured is the check presentation to BEEF from McLane Company at Lake Belton High School.

BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS Policy: At the regularly scheduled Board meeting on Monday, October 21, the Board approved the Policy Committee recommendation to amend FDA(LOCAL) and FDB(LOCAL) regarding Transfers. The Committee's next meeting is scheduled for November 4. Details of the policy include Discount the interdistrict transfer fee for children of active duty military families by 50%. Close campuses for all new transfers when a campus meets a pre-set attendance threshold established by Belton ISD with input from our demographer. Allow district employees to request a transfers for their children to any District campuses. Approved interdistrict transfer students will be assigned to the campuses in closest proximity to their home addresses. If a campus cannot accommodate the transfer due to space, the student will be placed at the campus in next closest proximity until a campus with available space is found. Interdistrict transfers shall not exceed 4% of the total Belton ISD enrollment. Except for the following considerations, all students will be expected to attend the campus they are zoned to attend in 2020-2021: Non-policy considerations recommended by the committee. Work with Templeton Demographics to eliminate perpetual transfer considerations for “hook” students. Allow NBMS 8th grade “hook" students to request transfers to LBHS for 2020-2021. “Hook” 5th grade students to attend the campus the group will be zoned to in 2021-2022. Miller Heights zoned 8th graders will attend assigned campuses. Grandfather and legacy requests will not be considered for any campus. Current 8th and 9th grade interdistrict transfer students will attend BHS. Current 6th and 7th grade interdistrict students will be assigned to the campus in closest proximity to their home per policy update. Facilities: The Facilities Committee reviewed a list of capital improvements, bundled into three categories based upon priorities. The Board approved funding the first two sets of priority items by amending this year's budget to include a capital improvements line item of $3.5M. These projects will impact all older campuses and begin in late November or early December. The Facilities Committe's next meeting is scheduled for November 20.

For more information on the Belton ISD Superintendent Search Process timeline and to take the community survey available November 8th through November 15th, visit the district website here.

Superintendent Snippets: Congratulations to our National Merit Semifinalists, National Merit Commended Scholars and National Hispanic Scholars! Congratulations BEEF for a very successful Red Carpet Event! If you are interested in a student transfer, please read below. Elementary mascots are coming! The announcement will be on November 6! Thank you to our principals for a job well done. This is a time of change for Belton ISD and I am honored to be a small part of it. Along with the advent of a new high school, Belton ISD will have a new superintendent and several new administrative staff members. Additionally, facility improvements are underway and our lower income campuses are undergoing significant instructional planning and professional development. With all of this going on it is very important to take care of yourself. My best to each of you going into this holiday season! Robin Battershell, Ed.D. I nterim Superintendent, Belton ISD

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION Nine seniors from Belton High School were named National Merit Semifinalists, National Merit Commended Scholars and National Hispanic Scholars for 2019. Seated from left to right in the photo above: Gayathri Devi Thirunavukkarasu, Elizabeth Moctezuma-Manzanero, Miranda Davila, and Gabriela Hansen. Standing from left to right: Joshua Bledsoe, Dean Biava, Euni Wu, Jonah Jimenez, and Sydney Hunt.

STUDENT SERVICES Middle School Intradistrict Transfer applications are currently being accepted for the 2020-2021 school year. The deadline is November 15th. For more information, click here. COMMUNICATIONS All Belton ISD elementary schools will be hold campus mascot elections Tuesday, November 5. Winners will be announced publicly on campus Facebook accounts after noon on November 6.

We are grateful for the essential role that principals play in making schools great and know the success of Belton ISD is a direct result of our campus principals. We have a talented group of leaders taking care of our children.

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