February 2024
The Rapp Up: Staff Newsletter
Happy Friday, LISD families!
What a busy week it has been here in LISD. At Monday night’s board meeting, the Board called for three Bond propositions to be included on the ballot this spring to address needs related to athletics and recreation, our two aquatic centers, and our five existing stadiums. I hope you’ll keep reading for more information about these propositions and our upcoming local elections.
I recently had the pleasure of surprising our 10 Teacher of the Year finalists. It was such a joy to see them doing what they do best; teaching our wonderful students here in LISD. Over the next few weeks you’ll have the opportunity to get to know the finalists through a series of video interviews, and I know you’ll be touched by their passion for education.
All month we have celebrated Black History Month, and I have loved seeing the celebrations taking place on our campuses. We are hosting our annual HBCU College Fair this week, where students get a chance to speak with representatives, alumni and organizations from HBCUs across the country. We also hosted our 13th annual LISD Chin Culture Festival this week at Lewisville High School, celebrating the many Chin students that call LISD home through dance performances, music, fashion and more.
Throughout February, we’re proud to celebrate Go RED month as a district. During this month we raise funds and awareness in partnership with the American Heart Association to encourage heart health for our students, staff and LISD community. I am thankful for our school nurses who are educating staff and students on their campuses, and encourage you to take charge of your heart health this month and every month!
I hope you’ll keep reading for important district news, enrollment information, upcoming events and more. As always, thank you for partnering with LISD in the education of your students. Have a great long holiday weekend!
Dr. Lori Rapp
Superintendent of Schools
Follow along with me:
Important Dates
Feb. 16 | Student Early Release
Feb. 19 | Holiday
March 1 | Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day
March 4-8 | School Social Worker Week
March 4-8 | Educational Diagnosticians Week
March 8 | Student and Staff Early Release
March 11-15 | Spring Break
To view the 2023-24 LISD Academic Calendar visit LISD.net/cal.
For school hours, including early release times, visit LISD.net/hours.
WATCH: A message from Dr. Rapp.
Feb. 12 Meeting Recap
The Board of Trustees met for the regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday, Feb. 12. Students from Donald Elementary led the Pledge of Allegiance, and counselors who received the CREST award were recognized. The American Heart Association presented awards to two school nurses who rescued colleagues from cardiac emergencies, and athletic facilities at Lewisville High School and Marcus High School were officially renamed. Read the full recap HERE.
Board Spotlight: Michelle Alkhatib
In this month's Board Spotlight, Michelle Alkhatib explains the role of a trustee and what the position entails. To read this spotlight and more, click HERE.
LISD Calls for Bond
Also at Monday’s board meeting, the Board voted unanimously to include a Bond Election on the May 4 ballot. Registered voters residing within Lewisville ISD boundaries will be asked to consider a total of three propositions that would generate additional funding to conduct maintenance, repairs and renovations at various athletics and recreation facilities across the district, as well as all five existing high school stadiums and the district’s two Aquatic Centers. If voters approve all three bond propositions (totaling $101.8M), there will be no increase to the LISD tax rate. Find details at LISDBond.com.
Be The ONE Who Votes
We want you to Be The ONE Who Votes! Keep reading for information on the upcoming elections this spring, and visit LISD.net/Legislative to find a list of elected officials who represent LISD, our district’s priorities and more. Visit LISD.net/Vote for election resources such as voter registration information, polling locations and more.
March 5 | Primary
Tuesday, March 5 is Primary Election Day here in Texas! Make your voice heard during early voting, which begins Feb. 20 and ends on March 1.
May 4 | Uniform
On Saturday May 4, LISD residents will see the three Bond propositions and two Board of Trustees seats on the ballot. Early Voting will run from April 22 to April 30. The deadline to register to vote is Thursday, April 4.
Bond Project Update
Projects that were approved in the 2023 Bond proposals are already full steam ahead, and the LISD technology team has begun our updated staff device deployment. The final projects from our 2017 bond are also taking place, with the arena at The Colony High School expected to be completed before next school year. And we will soon break ground on the very last project from the 2017 bond - the addition at TECC East. Thank you, voters!
Dual Language Enrollment | Happening Now
Families with Spanish-speaking students entering kindergarten or first grade can now apply for one of the limited spaces available in LISD’s Dual Language Program. The program is offered at Creekside, Independence, Parkway, Peters Colony, Prairie Trail and Vickery Elementary. To learn more, all families are invited to attend virtual information sessions on Feb. 22 and April 16. Visit LISD.net/DualLanguage to access the sessions and learn more about the Dual Language program.
Kindergarten Enrollment | Happening Now
We’re in our Kindergarten Era! Early childhood programs will be hosting parent information sessions on March 6, 7 and 25 for families wanting more information about what to expect when their little learner starts kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year. Help us spread the word by sharing LISD.net/kindergarten. Families can now enroll at any time.
Pre-K Enrollment | Begins April 1
LISD serves eligible four-year-old students in full-day, state-funded pre kindergarten classes. Students must be 4 years old on/before Sept. 1 of the school year for PreK enrollment and qualify by one or more of the criteria. Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year begins April 1, and in-person enrollment events will be held on April 11 and 12. Help us spread the word by sharing LISD.net/prek.
Help Us Spread the Word!
Lewisville ISD is hosting a job fair for all positions, including: Certified Teachers, Alternatively Certified Teachers (with a Statement of Eligibility), Rehire Retirees, Part Time Employees, Paraprofessionals, Auxillary Staff, Substitutes, Child Nutrition/Food Service Workers and Custodial Service Employees. The fair will take place at Hebron High School on March 23 beginning at 9 a.m. Share on social media, and visit LISD.net/JobFair for more information.
Recognize SomeONE
We have received more than 4,000 submissions already for this school year, with more than 35% of those submissions coming from parents or community members. We are proud of the work our staff is doing, worthy of recognition! Visit LISD.net/Recognize to highlight a fellow staff member today!
Communication Commitments
We are committed to building positive partnerships between staff and communities with clear communication. Throughout the school year, we want to remind families of our LISD Communication Commitments.
This month's commitment is: We will be proactive in letting you know about any concerns so that we are able to work together to find a solution. To view the Communication Flow, click HERE.
Congratulations, Teacher of the Year Finalists!
We are pleased to announce our 2023-24 Teacher of the Year finalists! Yesterday, we had the privilege of surprising each of the 10 deserving finalists on their campuses. Stay tuned to the LISD Facebook page over the next few weeks where you'll have the chance to get to know each of these finalists before the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year are named at our Employee Awards Banquet on April 26. Click HERE for the full list of finalists, and HERE for photos from yesterday's surprises. Congratulations to our finalists!
LISD Celebrates 13th Annual Chin Festival
Yesterday, the LISD community gathered to celebrate the 13th annual Chin Festival. Attendees were able to experience traditional Chin music, dancing and fashion and hear a keynote speech from Dr. Gene Crume from Judson University. Thank you to the students and staff members who made this event a success!
From the beginning, Lewisville Independent School District has committed to ensuring all students are confident, equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive and adapt for their future. Visit Best Schools in Texas for more information about joining the LISD family. Need this update in a different language? Visit LISD.net/translate.