ECISD

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK: Feb. 20, 2012 - Feb. 25, 2012

oalife@oaoa.com

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BLANTON Daily: 7:45 a.m., Blanton news team presented by David Wardlaw’s sixth-grade class. Wednesday: Jump Rope for Heart due. Friday: Blanton spirit day, wear blue and orange. BURLESON Daily: 7:30 a.m.,...... Full story

ECISD MENUS: Feb. 20, 2012 - Feb. 24, 2012

oalife@oaoa.com

Following are the menus for Feb. 20 through Feb. 24.PRE-K BREAKFAST Monday: Apple muffin top, juice, milk. Tuesday: Peanut butter and jelly uncrustable, juice, milk. Wednesday: Gogurt and graham crackers, juice, milk. Thursday: Berry smash...... Full story

Odessa High geometry teacher Kristina Garcia, center, comments during a Professional Learning Community meeting with other geometry teachers Wednesday morning in her classroom. Other teachers pictured are Jimmy Low, left, and Emalee Blau.

Teachers meet weekly to discuss curriculum

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

Each week, during their conference periods, teachers in the Ector County Independent School District are meeting.The teachers meet with their department as part of the Professional Learning Community meetings, as required by district administrators....... Full story

ECISD board plans to discuss Educational Philosophy

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

The Ector County Independent School District’s board of trustees will meet for a regular board meeting to discuss several policy proposals, the superintendent’s evaluation and approve several reports.Tom Pace, board president for ECISD,...... Full story

Permian High junior Krista Foxworth, 17, works on her work

Students to bring art to Permian

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

More than 300 entries from students across the region will be judged Saturday by local artists at Permian High School. The Visual Art Scholastic Event, sponsored by the Texas Art Education Association, is a state and regional art competition for...... Full story

New Tech Odessa enrollment

ODESSA AMERICAN

New Tech Odessa officials plan to fill the first 60 slots for next year’s freshman class on Saturday at Ratliff Stadium. The campus, which will add a class each year until there are four grades, plans to enroll up to 120 students in its...... Full story

Permian students arrested on drug charges

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

District police were a presence in many classrooms at Permian High School on Thursday as several students were pulled from class and four arrested following drug related accusations. Brandon Alex Beene, 17, and Celeen Alysson Solis, 17, were...... Full story

Dance explosion tonight

OA LIFE

‘Dance Explosion,’ sponsored by the Panther Paws, is a celebration of dance styles. All Permian High School dance classes, the JV and varsity squads, as well as Future Paws participants will dance. Black Magic will also perform. It is...... Full story

Representatives from AVID programs at other school districts visit an AVID classroom Thursday morning at LBJ Elementary. ECISD had been selected as a model district for implementing the AVID program at all levels of education.

Visitors learn how AVID works in ECISD

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

The Ector County Independent School District has been using a college readiness program for the past five years and on Thursday it was used as a model for a few districts across the nation to view. The Advancement Via Individual Determination...... Full story

Teri Cowan, former ECISD teacher, speaks to a crowd of approximately 40 people about her experiences before leaving the district Thursday at the Odessa Shrine Club.

Unhappy ECISD teachers meet

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

It has been a difficult year of changes for several teachers in the Ector County Independent School District, and many of them expressed their concerns at a Texas State Teachers Association meeting on Thursday night.About 45 people, mainly teachers,...... Full story

Group looking at school district's overcrowding

ODESSA AMERICAN

A group of citizens has been meeting weekly for several months to discuss options ECISD has to address its problems with overcrowding. Hector Mendez, superintendent of the Ector County Independent School District, said the district’s board of...... Full story

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK: Feb. 13, 2012 - Feb. 17, 2012

oaschools@oaoa.com

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSBLANTON Daily: 7:45 a.m., Blanton news team presented by Erin Culpepper’s sixth grade class. Friday: Blanton Spirit Day, wear blue and orange; first grade dental presentation. BURLESON Daily: 7:30 a.m., Pledges,...... Full story

ECISD MENUS: Feb. 13, 2012 - Feb. 17, 2012

oalife@oaoa.com

Following are the menus for Feb. 13 through Feb. 17.PRE-K BREAKFAST Monday: Poptart, juice, milk. Tuesday: French toast sticks, juice, milk. Wednesday: Breakfast pizza, juice, milk. Thursday: Cheesy biscuit, juice, milk. Friday: Cereal bar...... Full story

ECISD pleased with TEA visit

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

Texas Education Agency officials have left West Texas after a weeklong intervention in Ector Independent School District due to performance shortcomings by the district.District officials say overall they are confident following the visit but will...... Full story

Johnny Vargas, Pre-AP Biology and Pre-AP Chemistry teacher, burns different chemicals to show how fire can help you determine what type of chemical they are during a class experiment Thursday at New Tech High School.

New Tech aims for progress

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

New Tech Odessa has come a long way in its first year, but its principal sees areas which can still be improved.“I’m never going to be satisfied, it’s always going to be about progress,” said Adrian Vega, New Tech Odessa...... Full story