Monday, February 15, 2010

Dragon Affinity Credit Card

Carroll ISD took a step closer to getting a Dragon Logo Affinity Credit Card that gives a percentage of all purchases back to the general operating fund. The Carroll School Board voted tonight to apply for an exclusive credit card program with Capital One, Inc. Families who apply and qualify for a Dragon Credit Card can help raise funds for their local K-12 school district. The program gives $50 for every first-time purchase, 2% on gas and grocery purchases and 1% on all other purchases. There are also select merchants that will earn Dragon card users up to 10% back to their local school district.

Approval and implementation of the program is pending final legal wording on the Terms of Agreement between both CISD and Capital One. The idea was part of a list of suggestions in a final report by a citizens Revenue Enhancement Committee in 2002. Fort Worth Star Telegram reporter Jessamy Brown actually researched and identified that back in 1992, her newspaper reported on a CISD green and white Dragon MasterCard that in some way earned money for the district, but so far school officials have not located information on that historical card program.

Details on the application process will be forthcoming. Agreements for card qualification, acceptance and use will be between the individual card holder and Capital One. CISD will not obtain or have access to anyone's credit information nor will they have any part in acceptance or approval of individual applications. The funds would not be subject to the state's recapture program, meaning that Dragon families could simply use their own every day purchases and spending habits to benefit their child's own education.

Even more exciting is the fact that an executive with Capital One's Virginia headquarters resides right here in Carroll ISD and was present at tonight's School Board meeting. We are thankful and appreciative of the many loyal Dragon parents, supporters and alumni who care about this district and its children. We hope to be announcing details on an approved Dragon Affinity Credit Card program in the days and weeks ahead.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Carroll Schools Closed Friday

Carroll school officials joined others in North Texas by announcing the cancellation of classes for Friday, February 12. The decision came shortly after 3 p.m. and was announced using the emergency telephone notification system, local media outlets, social networking sites, email systems and the district's website. Joining in closure were neighboring Keller, Birdville, Grapevine Colleyville, and HEB ISDs. Fort Worth ISD and many others in North Texas also closed on Friday. As of this writing, our area had received about 5-6 inches of snow.

Thursday turned out to be a tense but beautiful day watching the unprecedented snowfall in our area. Ensuring the safe return home of our students and staff became the top priority. Thank you to all the parents, students and staff for patience during this difficult morning. As usual, our Dragon family was great in handling the situation and supportive of our school staff who stayed on campus until the last child departed safely.

Carroll schools turned out early on Thursday, but school officials were able to post a completed full day to avoid having to add school days in June. To be considered a full day, schools must be in session for four hours. Closure on Friday means that Carroll ISD has now used both of its bad weather days in April. Students and staff will now have school on Friday, April 9 and Monday, April 12. Hopefully, the bad weather is behind us and we won't have to deal with additional days off or adjustments to the calendar.

As a reminder, students already had a scheduled holiday on Monday, February 15. Staff will participate in professional development activities on Monday and classes will resume on a normal schedule Tuesday.

Dragon families and staff are learning that the district's new Twitter, Facebook and Communications Blog are the fastest, most efficient way to obtain the latest up-to-date news. Be sure to go online and become a follower or fan of each from your home computer. The links are available on the main page of the CISD website.

Enjoy your long weekend Dragons and thanks for your support!

Early Dismissal Announced Feb. 11

Due to deteriorating weather conditions, Carroll ISD is announcing an early dismissal today, Thursday, Feb. 11.

Elementary grades PK-4 - Noon Dismissal

Intermediates/Middle Schools grades 5-8 - 12:40 p.m. Dismissal

High Schools/Senior High grades 9-12 - Noon Dismissal (drivers are now available to go ahead and run our high school routes. We originally planned for 1:30 p.m. bus routes, but instead we will run high school and senior high buses at noon - principals have been notified)

Parents can certainly pick up children earlier if preferred, but these are our official dismissal times due to staggered schedules/bus availability.

The safe return home of all students is our top priority. School administrators will remain on site until students return home.

Be careful and stayed tuned to any further announcements affecting Friday. Thanks for your patience as we handled a difficult weather situation.

Carroll Schools Open Today

Carroll ISD is open today on a regular schedule. The overnight dusting of snow has created slushy conditions, but generally roads are not reported to be icy or slick. Buses are operating as usual, but could be delayed arriving at some individual pick-up sites due to slower traffic. Dress children in warm clothing for outdoor conditions at bus stops.

Drive carefully - especially less experienced teen drivers - and give yourself plenty of time for traffic delays due to the weather conditions.

School officials will continue to monitor the forecast as we are expecting additional precipitation later in the day. As always, we'll utilize every means possible to inform Dragon families of any official announcements related to inclement weather.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Dragons On Alert For Pending Weather

Dragon families should continue to monitor all CISD communications for official announcements about the pending wintery weather and how it might affect the regular school schedule. The DFW area is supposed to receive a mixture of snow and ice later this evening and into the early morning hours on Thursday, February 11. We are all fully aware of how unpredictable Texas weather can be, but it seems we are destined to have at least some cold, wet and possibly slick conditions over the next 24-48 hours.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Performances Postponed
Already, the wintery forecast has caused the postponement of three Fort Worthy Symphony Orchestra performances originally planned for Thursday, February 11 at Carroll Senior High School. The group expects to reschedule the concerts some time in April.

Carroll ISD will carefully monitor the National Weather Service and collect input from transportation officials and neighboring school leaders before making any official weather-related announcements. Believe it or not, the decision to delay or cancel school is one of the most difficult decisions because school officials have to make the call hours in advance of knowing exactly what the temperatures and weather will be. Please know that at all times, our priorities are the safety and well-being - of our students and staff.

Current road conditions are not the only factor used in making a decision. The Superintendent and his leadership team must consider temperatures, pending forecasts, ice and snow on sidewalks and bus stop areas, the availability of school staff and the operational capacity of the building heating systems.

The district will utilize the Connect-ED emergency telephone system, the website, media outlets and social networking sites to make official district announcements. If you aren't already a fan of Carroll ISD News on Facebook, our official Communications Blog or Twitter, join these sites now to receive the latest CISD news.