School calendar survey draws nearly 350 responses from parents
San Jacinto Newstimes - April 3, 2008

COLDSPRING -- Almost 350 parents responded to a survey by Coldspring- Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District (COCISD) regarding next year’s calendar, according to Dr. Billy Bowman, interim superintendent. Bowman reported the results to COCISD trustees at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 25. Per request of a majority of parents who completed the survey, Bowman said the District Educational Improvement Committee recommended a calendar that includes six-week grading periods with the fi rst semester ending before Christmas break. Bowman said the committee recommended having two, consecutive early dismissal days in September for parent/teacher conferences.

First day of school is August 25 and students will be dismissed for a full week of Thanksgiving holidays and two weeks for Christmas holidays. Following Christmas break, teachers report back one day earlier than students for staff development training. The last day of school is currently scheduled for June 4, contingent on use of two inclement weather days. The board accepted the proposed calendar, which will be posted on the COCISD web site. In other action, trustees approved the addition of an anatomy and physiology course and a phlebotomy course to the Health Sciences Technology (HST) curriculum. Bowman said students not enrolled in HST programs can enroll for the anatomy and physiology class and receive a general science credit. Regarding the phlebotomy course, it is available as a summer school or continuing education course to high school graduates only.

Susan Caraballo, R.N., HST instructor, said students must have a high school diploma to take the phlebotomy certifi cation test. Upon passing the exam, they will be eligible for employment as a phlebotomist. An additional opportunity for students to obtain certifi cation for entry into the job market is now under trustees’ consideration as they authorized Bowman to investigate the possibility of an athletic trainer program at the high school. Like the phlebotomy course, successful students will be eligible for a certifi cation exam and, upon passage, employment as an athletic trainer. Following an executive session, trustees:

• Accepted the resignation of Kevin Freed as the district’s chief of police. Freed is taking a position with Conroe ISD. His resignation is effective March 31.

• Received the retirement announcement of Barbara Harvey, fi fth grade science teacher. Harvey, a 20- year professional educator, will retire at the end of the school year. • Accepted the resignation of high school teacher and coach, Doug Keeney. Keeney’s resignation is also effective at the end of the school year.

• Approved contract extensions to all teachers, counselors, librarians, diagnosticians, assistant principals, and the speech pathologist as recommended by the superintendent. COCISD trustees will have their next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 22 in the High School cafeteria. The public is invited.