‘Tis the season, and everyone at the Administration Building is enjoying the wonderful performances of our students from schools throughout the district. For the “Twelve Days of Christmas” we are being treated to a variety of entertainment from the Robert E. Lee High School Jazz Band and Varsity Choir, Highlands Junior School Choir, Ross S. Sterling High School String Quartet, Bowie Elementary Honor Choir, Gentry Junior Camarata, Sterling High School Band, Gentry Junior Spotlight Choir, GCM Theatre, Sterling Choir, Lee Chamber Orchestra, Cedar Bayou Junior School Varsity Choir and Goose Creek Memorial High School Show Choir. Since we don’t always have students in our building, these visits provide an opportunity for everyone here to see their amazing talent. It sure gets you in the Christmas spirit!

The Citizens Bond Planning Committee (CBPC) has completed its work, recommending a $335 million bond proposal to take to voters in May, pending approval from the Goose Creek CISD board of trustees. This has been time consuming, but it’s allowed us to clearly see that everyone involved had the best interest of our students at heart when considering the bond projects. The new bond proposal includes a sixth junior school to be constructed on the north side of the district to accommodate growth of our student population. It provides for a 17th elementary school, also to alleviate overcrowding, and a replacement for San Jacinto Elementary. You can read more about the details of the bond package on our website at www.gccisd.net under Citizens Bond Planning Committee or CBPC.

While a couple of industry expansion projects wind down to completion in alignment with the successful 2013 school bond, continued growth in our region continues to be projected. In fact, two or more expansions are already underway. Over the past five years, the district has averaged nearly 10 percent growth, and we expect this trend to continue over the next decade. With completion of our Strategic Plan and the CBPC process, Goose Creek CISD should be well positioned going into the future. I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank our committee members who served on these committees as your input has been vital to the successful planning.

When we return from our break, we will hit the ground running. Teachers and students will continue to prepare for upcoming state-mandated testing. While we recognize that mandated testing is the standard for measuring success for the state of Texas, we will always advocate for local control of evaluating our students and faculty. Tests do not begin to measure the abundant talent and dedication that I get to witness on a daily basis as I travel across our district.

I am so proud of the progress we’ve made as our community continues to become more diverse, since we consider diversity a strength. I’m also proud of our growth within the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, which continues to spotlight the need for skilled workers in our area. The students of Goose Creek CISD have more opportunity to begin career exploration than most school districts across the state. We are blessed to live in what is recognized as the industrial hub of our world economy, and I’m thankful for the strong business and industry partnerships as a result of this.

As we near the end of 2018, not only do I reflect on the year behind us with gratitude, but I also am thankful to look ahead to 2019 with an optimistic outlook on the opportunities the new year will bring.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and administrators of Goose Creek CISD, I’d like to wish everyone

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!