Service Center Journal, Volume 29, Number 2, March 1996 Page: 1
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Denton ISD Historical Archives and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Denton Independent School District.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
,MARCH, 1996
Videoconferencing Facilities Available at ESC XIWith the installation of statewide
videoconferencing equipment, it is no
longer necessary for Center staff to travel
across the state of Texas to attend meet-
ings with fellow associates. Instead of fly-
ing to Austin, Houston, or elsewhere, cen-
ter staff move from their office to the Re-
gion XI Teleconference Room to meet with
other people around the state. After the
meeting ends, they return to their offices.
The devices that are saving so much
employee time and Center travel expense
are videoconferencing units installed at
TEA and all 20 of the regional education
service centers. These units are installed
on a system called the Texas Education
Telecommunications Network (TETN.)
This videoconferencing unit, with its built-
in color camera and multiple microphones,
allows educators to see and talk to other
educators from across the state. These so-
phisticated units are audio sensitive so
that as one person begins to talk, the other
sites instantly see who is speaking. This
allows for the interaction and spontaneity
of a normal face-to-face encounter.
The system is even more valuable be-
cause it is wired to a building distribution
system that allows a meeting to be shown
to large groups in meeting rooms that will
seat hundreds of people. This allows an
important topic or guest speaker to be
shown to a large group.
Now these videoconferencing facilities
are available to other educators in the re-
gion. Districts, campuses, universities,
and other educational institutions can use
the videoconferencing network for a fee of
$100 per hour per site from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
and $150 per hour per site nights and
weekends. Most videoconferences should
last no more than 2 hours. For more de-
tails concerning scheduling
videoconferences, contact Dr. Randal Dou-
glas or Larry Wittmann (817) 740-3610.
Expansion of this network to the district
and campus sites is the intent of the Cen-
ter. Those interested in being involved in
planning, developing, and implementing
this expansion are also encouraged to call.REGION XI STAFF participate in a statewide conference using the ! Li .! , i', ringg system.
Region XI Schools Earn Blue Ribbon StatusThe US Department of Education re-
cently announced its Blue Ribbon Schools
for the 1995-96 year. Winners from Re-
gion XI include: Carroll High and
Carroll Middle School from Carroll ISD;
Strickland Middle School from Denton
ISD; Grapevine Middle School from
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD; L.D. Bell High
from Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD; and Ed-
ward S. Marcus High in Lewisville ISD.
The program, established in 1982, hon-
ors schools that exemplify leadership, in-
struction, organization and parent and
community involvement. To qualify for the
program, schools had to have challenging
academic standards, including a rigorous
curriculum for all students; a disciplined,
supportive, safe and drug-free environ-
ment; participatory community; a strong
partnership among family, school and com-
munity; excellent teaching and an environ-
ment that strengthens teacher skills and
improvement; low dropout rates; and docu-
mented student achievement.
Schools were nominated by the state
departments of education, The Bureau of
Indian Affairs, the Department of Defense,
and the Council for American Private Edu-
cation. This year, only middle and highschools were eligible for recognition. Next
year elementary schools will be chosen.
Representatives from the winning schools
will be recognized at a national awards cer-
emony this spring in Washington, D.C.
where they will receive a special flag to fly
at their schools and a plaque.
Exemplary
and Recognized
Campuses
Three campuses were inadvertently
omitted from the list of Region XI Exem-
plary and Recognized campuses found in
the September 1995 issue of the Service
Center Journal. Tanglewood Elemen-
tary in the Fort Worth ISD is an Exem-
plary campus; Boyd High in the Boyd ISD
and Chamberlin Elementary in the
Stephenville ISD are Recognized.
We appreciate these omissions being
brought to our attention and extend con-
gratulations to these campuses for their
success. This brings the totals for Region
XI Exemplary campuses to 28 out of 245
statewide and for Region XI Recognized
campuses to 109 out of 982.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Education Service Center, Region XI (Tex.). Service Center Journal, Volume 29, Number 2, March 1996, periodical, March 1996; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth257144/m1/1/: accessed June 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Denton Independent School District.